If you are going to get married twice, you might as well do it in the same day!
We started off the day at the Mayflower Renaissance for Zoe + Shekar’s Hindu ceremony. After putting the final touches on their clothing and hair and makeup, it was off for their first 1st look of the day (with two ceremonies in one day, you can have two 1st looks!). We don’t overly stage our first looks. We like to pick a location and then just back off and let the couple enjoy a moment. Not only does it make for a great moment for them but it also gives us the best photographs because you see that happiness come through.
After that, we had some time for portraits with the two of them. We love transforming spaces for our portraits. Whether it’s a busy hallway in a hotel or a small, out-of-the-way window, with the right touches, they can make for some dramatic photos.
The Hindu ceremony was beautiful. We love being a part of weddings like this. Watching many of Zoe’s friends and family experience a Hindu wedding for the first time was a lot of fun. Later in the day, many of Shekar’s friends and family attended their first Jewish ceremony as well.
After changing for their second ceremony, it was off to a second 1st look and then off to Arena Stage. I love how opposite these two locations were. You had history and elegance at the Mayflower and a very modern look of Arena Stage.
It was pretty warm outside so I promised Zoe + Shekar that I just needed two minutes outside with them on a balcony. Boy am I glad they agreed! I LOVE the photo of them on the balcony with the sky and all the hard lines of the architecture coming together. Of course, there were a ton of spaces all throughout the building that made for perfect photos!
Their Jewish ceremony was actually held on stage in one of the theaters there. After the ceremony, it was off to party for the rest of the night. Whether it was up on the chairs in the hora or their beautiful first dance, it wasn’t hard to just see the happiness that these two had in them.
We can’t say thank you enough to Sara Bauleke and her team from Bella Notte for bringing all of this together!
Wedding 411:
Wedding Planner: Bella Notte | Sara Bauleke | 703.979.5887
Hindu Ceremony: Renaissance Mayflower
Jewish Ceremony + Reception: Arena Stage
Hindu Decor: Nivanjoli | Prabha Bhambri
Floral: Petal’s Edge
Makeup: Leah McKay
Catering: Design Cuisine
Lighting: John Farr Lighting Design
Photography: Connor Studios | Michael Connor, Jonathan Newton, Whitney Leaming | 202.527.9768
