Pavan & Isabelle’s destination wedding was a celebration not only of the love they had found but also of the years of friendship they had started over 13 years ago in grade 7, this friendship ultimately laid the foundation for their amazing relationship and after a romantic engagement in Thunder bay Ontario they decided to combine their love with a colorful Shaadi and traditional wedding celebration at Dreams Macao Beach, Dominican Republic!
Shaadi weddings are rarely small, and involve numerous rituals and ceremonies with joyous and elaborate celebrations that are often spread out over several days, enjoyed by family and friends and full of laughter and fun. Each ritual is full of cultural significance and celebrated with vibrant colors and outfits as we had the pleasure to see throughout the events in the wedding of Pavan and Isabelle.
Read on to learn more about how Pavan and Isabelle were able to incorporate some of the traditional aspects of a Shaadi wedding into their stunning celebration.
The Mehndi Ceremony
During the Mehndi ceremony, the bride-to-be, along with her close family and friends, gather to apply intricate henna designs on their hands and feet. The designs are often elaborate and symbolize joy, beauty, spiritual awakening, and offering. Mehndi is considered auspicious and is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the newlyweds.
The Colorful Haldi Ceremony
The HaldI ceremony is a traditional pre-wedding ceremony in Hindu weddings. It is a joyful occasion filled with music, dance and laughter and is symbolic of the blessings for a happy and prosperous married life. Additionally, the yellow color of the Haldi is considered auspicious and thought to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Family and friends participated in the ceremony, by applying the Haldi paste (made from turmeric, sandalwood & other ingredients), on to Isabelle & Pavan’s face, neck, hands, and feet.
“I think one the most memorable moments was exchanging vows at the symbolic ceremony. It was so special, intimate, and vulnerable and a chance to share our love with our family and friends”
“Another memorable moment was when it was raining for 10 minutes at the reception, we were soaking wet, dancing and enjoying ourselves in the rain. It was a special moment and everyone made the best of it. “
The Grooms Arrival
During the Baraat ceremony (Grooms arrival) for Pavan, the atmosphere was filled with music, dancing, and celebration as the procession made its way to the wedding venue for both families to come together, celebrate, and mark the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the bride and groom.
The Mandap
In a Hindu wedding, The Mandap is a sacred structure or canopy under which the main wedding rituals take place. It is traditionally a four-pillared structure and is considered the sanctified altar for the marriage ceremony, and various rituals and traditions are performed within its confines, from the Jai Mala to the saptapadi and many more, each one with immense cultural meaning for Pavan, Isabelle, and their families. The stunning red flowers and exotic location added to the powerful significance of these rituals
The Wedding Attire
In all Hindu weddings, the attire of the bride and groom is typically vibrant, rich in color, and adorned with intricate designs. Pavan and Isabella’s wedding was absolutely stunning with their numerous outfits throughout their different ceremonies, each one more beautiful than the next.
Red is a popular and auspicious color for Hindu brides, symbolizing love, fertility, and prosperity. The outfits are adorned with intricate embroidery, zari work (metallic thread), sequins, beads, and other embellishments and the bride’s ensemble is complemented by elaborate jewelry, including a maang tikka (headpiece), earrings, nose ring, necklace, bangles, and anklets.
The groom typically wears a sherwani, a long coat-like garment, or an achkan, a knee-length jacket, paired with churidar (tightly fitting trousers) or a dhoti (traditional draped garment).
The groom typically wears a matching or contrasting turban, known as a safa or pagdi, adorned with jewels or decorative pins. The turban holds cultural and religious significance.
The Traditional Wedding
As well as the traditional Hindu ceremony Isabell and Pavan we also able to incorporate a more traditional white dress ceremony, which was just as vibrant and colorful as their Hindu wedding and also had significance for both families as cultures and traditions were merged together.
Choosing a Destination Wedding
Having attended Pavan’s sisters’ destination wedding in Mexico the previous year and then exploring local options, the benefits and joys of holding their own destination wedding seemed to be the perfect choice for this couple. They immediately recognized the extended quality time they would get to spend with their closest friends and family and chose the sun kissed beaches of the Dominican Republic to get married
“It might be one of the only reasons your closest family and friends will travel together, and you get a whole wedding week instead of a wedding day. It becomes a week-long celebration, and the quality time you get with them can’t be beat. Everyone also gets a vacation out of it so it’s a win win.
The quality time you get to spend with your closest friends and family was the most fun part of our wedding”
Adventure photos were honored to be part of this incredible celebration for Pavan and Isabelle. Our photographers Joes and Roberto along with our videographer Gabriel were able to capture not only the major events like the ceremony and reception but also the candid moments, emotions, and details that make each wedding special and tell the unique story of the couple.
“They were amazing, beyond any expectations we might have had. We’ve gone through the photos so many times now and we still can’t get over them, we’re so happy we have them and will cherish them forever. 5 events and 5 different looks it’s so hard to pick a favorite photograph! “
A huge thank you to Pavan and Isabelle for trusting Adventure Photos to ensure their vision was captured in all its glory and that they will have amazing memories to look back on and relive each joyous and colorful moment.
