Smita & Richard ~ Wine & Roses, Lodi California Wedding

Ahhh!! This wedding will definitely go down as a favorite of mine. It was my first Indian/American wedding and I truly hope I get to shoot more in the future! My camera and I loved all of the gorgeous details and jewel tones. Smita & Richard had the most kind and fun family and wedding guests I have ever come across. Everyone was all smiles all day and I am so honored I got to be a part of Smita & Richard’s wedding day! It was also my first time shooting at Wine & Roses in Lodi, California and I am really excited to get to shoot there again this August! It is such a beautiful venue with so many gorgeous little nooks for photos! The staff there is amazing and the coordinators a joy to work with! They even have talking parrots people!

The Bridesmaids all had matching Tangerine Sari’s that Smita’s mom carefully ironed while the girls got their makeup done.

Smita wore traditional Indian Jewelry which was so beautiful and heavy!!!!

These two opted for a first look which I am always excited about! First looks allow for plenty of time for all the necessary photos throughout the day and even give the bride and groom some time to just relax and enjoy each other. It is always a super special and sweet moment that I love to capture!

Wine and Roses has a gorgeous patio above their reception hall which is where all of Smita’s bridesmaids and closest family helped her into her headpiece. The light up there was perfection!!

Smita and her ladies had a henna party a couple nights before the wedding. The designs were so intricate and beautiful! It is an Indian folk tale that the more your mother in law loves you the darker your henna will be. They say this because if your mother in law loves you a lot she will not make you do a lot of chores like washing the dishes which would make your henna fade. ;)

I always do a little jump for joy when the ceremony site has yummy light. Brides take note! Full sun or dappled light will not result in images like these!! Light is key so take that into consideration when choosing your ceremony site and where you will be standing. When in doubt shade is best!! Beautifully back lit with no squinting or harsh shadows. Yes please!!