Regeti's Blog

Pheww! What a quick flight it was in and out of Georgia! Our couple was simply fabulous … and their families more pure than tapping a spring. We can’t thank the Georgia and Hancock Families enough for making us feel so loved and at home while in Georgia. Every time we head south that southern hospitality is almost enough to send us packing to retire out in Georgia!

Rehearsal as you will see started on the knoll just outside this beautiful venue and for those of you following us on Facebook you are quite aware that the Georgia skies let the rains pour down all day on Saturday limiting us to an indoor ceremony and very limited space for Megan’s enormous bridal party to formal it on up. Needless to say as we went through some of the images we ourselves are overjoyed with the outcome and if we must say so ourselves for the limitations we were left with I say we did a fine job… everyone was so happy and uplifting about the day that the rain was more considered to these two families as “Liquid Sunshine” as Mama Hancock herself called it!

Megan and Brendon we certainly hope that you two will keep us in your hearts as well within your reach! We can’t wait to watch your families grow as we now feel so much a part of it. Enjoy your trip to the Dominican! Happy and safe travels to and from…

With coordination services provided by Ms. Lisa Shulz and floral decor done by Mrs. Holly Chapple what more could a venue ask for, but the wonderful services of Aaron provided by Chris Laich DJ’s! It was fabulous as everything and everyone cooperated and worked together nicely to create perfect harmony together!

Sara and Jonathan had this fabulous candy bar that turned out to be the hit of the party and the fabulous tall centerpieces were breath taking. It was great working at the Airlie center and seeing some old friends after what felt like a long time.

Sara and Jonathan it was a pleasure to have spent the day with you and your families. We wish you both lots of fun filled days of happiness as you venture into this new life as one. We will be in touch soon with your full gallery of images, but until then here is a little tease!

The very first Indian wedding for this hotel, the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Chesapeake Bay and beautifully done it was! Many hours went into planning this flawless day for Rachna and Nitin and we must say that every minute was so well worth it.

Rachna and Nitin had a traditional Hindu ceremony as Nitin entered in like the prince that he is via an elephant that was brought in by R.W. Commerford and Sons (860.491.3421), bringing him in with style. There were so many fabulous wedding professionals attending to Rachna and Nitin’s needs as we feel it would not be fair not to mention the ones that truly made everything what it was! First and foremost Prabha Bhambri for her talent behind the decor, Jag SIngh with EventEQ, Bill and Cara Bowen with Suburban Video and Moghul Catering for the cuisine provided throughout the entire duration of the Goyal/Goel events the food was needless to say superb and beyond measures untouchable for taste!

The wedding processed with the starting of Nitin’s Baraat (the arrival of the groom’s party). Rachna’s family and friends received him and his family as they arrived to the front of the hotel where this beautiful water fountain was found. Manju Auntie, Rachna’s mother appeared as if a goddess as she awaited Nitin’s arrival. This was probably one of my most favorite photos of the actual wedding day itself among several of a handful that I love… and we have not even completed the edit yet.

It was almost Bollywood style to watch their wedding play out as Rachna’s parents walked her midway down the aisle as she walked the rest of the way to join Nitin, this formally being called the Jaimala as they greet each other for the first time by exchanging garlands.

The ceremony began with the invocation of Lord Ganesh. Followed by the following aspects of the Hindu ceremony:

Kanyadaan, the giving away of the bride by her father. In the Hindu way of life, a married woman is given special status and respect in society. This is a very special moment for Rachna, as she accepts her change of status from an unmarried woman to Nitin’s wife. The father of the bride gives away (“daan”) his daughter (“kanya”) to the groom, who affirms his commitment to the marriage.

Ganth Bandhan, the formal Tying of the Knot. As the Punditji (Hindu Priest) ties the knot to bind Rachna and Nitin’s name together for life. Throughout the ceremony, oblations are made to God to invoke His blessings in the form of “Havan” (ceremonial fire), Samagree (crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar and rice), Ghee (clarified butter), Camphor, and Samidhan (twigs) are offered into the Agnikunda (fire pit).

Panigrahan which is the joining of hands is done as Rachna;s parents join her right hand with Nitin’s right hand as a symbol of giving their daughter’s hand in marriage. Her father asked Nitin at this time to treat her carefully, with love, respect and honor. At this time Nitin’s brother-in-law welcomes Rachna into her new family by giving her a silken scarf.

Shilarohan and Lujahuti is the offering of “Kheel” (purified rice) offered to the God’s by Rachna. Her brother then assists her while stepping upon a rock, which signifies strength of purpose and firmness. Nitin asks Rachna to be firm like a rock, to resist foes, and to help thwart undesirable forces.

Magalphere, is the symbolic walking of the fire. The couple agrees to work together to meet the following four goals: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Saptapadi, is the seven sacred steps and marriage vows that the couple take together signifying prosperity, strength, wealth, happiness, progeny, nature’s bounty and the last for companionship.

Shuaang, the official mark of marriage for the Hindu bride happens as Nitin place Sindoor in the parting of Rachna’s hair.

The Punditji then concludes the ceremony as he blesses the couple which is then followed by the guests showering the bride and groom with rice and flowers as they depart.

After so much knowledge aren’t you just dying to see the outcome of such a detailed wedding day, at this point enough is said. Understanding the meaning of such weddings we feel is the only way to allow one to truly appreciate the documentation of Rachna and Nitin’s awesome wedding day!

Rachna and Nitin’s haldi ceremonies were held coinciding with one another on the same day. This is a ceremony where close family and friends gather together and provide blessings to the couple while covering them in a paste using turmeric powder. The haldi ceremony involves smearing first the groom with copious amount of turmeric paste, starting from the feet and moving upwards to his face. It is said to be a purification ceremony. It is some what of an organic way to create a spa-like treatment meant to clear your skin of blemishes, etc. most Indian’s believe that it gives the couple somewhat of a certain glow to them before the wedding day itself.

Weddings in India are considered to be a sacred and sanctified ritual. They are long ritualistic and elaborate affair with lots of pre-wedding, wedding, post wedding rituals. The occasion of Mehendi is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals. It is a fun filled ritual, which is celebrated mainly by the bride’s family. Different regions of the country celebrate the ritual in a different way according to their own marriage customs, rituals, and culture. The celebrations also depend on the wealth and status of the people. The bride’s family celebrates with a mehendi party for the gathering of friends and relatives for blessing the bride as well as for amusement.

The ceremony is mostly held at bride’s place or sometimes in a banquet hall on the eve of the marriage ceremony or few days before the marriage. On this occasion a professional henna designer or some relative applies mehendi to the bride’s hands and feet. There are few places in India where it is a ritual that the first motif of henna or mehendi is applied by the bride’s sister-in-law whereas there are some places where the first mehendi motif is said to be auspicious if applied by bride’s mother.

The Mehendi or henna motif is not only the adoration of the bride rather it epitomizes her transformation from a virgin girl to a temptress for her husband. As per Kama Sutra, henna is one of the sixty four arts of women. Popular motifs of the bridal mehendi are conchshell, flowers, Kalash, peacock, doli and baraat patterns. The intricate motifs of the bridal henna also hide the husband’s name. It is said that the husband’s name in the intricate henna motifs is made for the groom who has to find out his name in his bride’s mehendi as an evidence of his sharp eyes and active brain to impress his girl.

The mehendi function is usually organized with the sangeet function. So, it has a festive feel to it with the women dancing and singing traditional songs on the mehendi ritual. The bride is dressed in light color clothes with light jewelry. According to the custom the bride must not step out of the house after the mehendi ritual until the wedding day. It is believed that the darker and deeper the henna stains the more the husband and the in-laws will love her bride. The ritual of mehendi signifies the strength and power of love in a marriage so it is regarded as a good omen for the would-be bride. It is said that the longer the bride retains the mehendi, the more auspicious would be her future.

Now aren’t you dying to see some photos!

For Hindu’s it is with the start of any celebration/function that Lord Ganesh is invoked. Typical invocation of Lord Ganesh is as follows for those of you unfamiliar with who/what Lord Ganesh is and yearly in India festivals are held in celebration of this particular Gods birthday, being the God of Knowledge.

Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. Ganesh is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, who is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, and this day marks his birthday.

The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the fourth day of the waxing moon period. Typically the day falls sometime between August 20 and September 15. The festival lasts for 10 days.

The worship of the deity involves getting a corner ready to receive the god. Ganesha is invited with a special phrase and with material and verbal offerings, and the puja begins. It involves the panchamrut (five nectars), which includes milk, curd, ghee, honey and jaggery, with which the god’s icon is bathed, cleansing in between with water.

Ganesha is then given a red garment and the sacred thread – saying it is silver. He is then smeared with red sandal paste and offered red or yellow flowers. A lamp is lit, bells chime and food is offered in six symbolic mouthfuls – not to the god’s body, but to his five panchapranas or ‘vital breaths’ and the one beyond – the absolute.

Ganesha is offered special leaves and flowers, 21 of each and white durva grass. The murti is formally installed on the first day and given life in the presence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and the Vedas. Touching the murti with blades of durva grass, he is brought to life step by step and made to go through 15 of the 16 rites of passage that each Hindu goes through in his lifetime. (The sixteenth one, which is for death, is omitted.)

The Ganesha mantra is chanted, followed by a Ganesha prayer. Ganesha is called by his 108 good names. The last puja done, the family or congregation gathers around and rice grains are placed on the head of the murti, which is moved, symbolically unseating him.

Now on to the pooja photos for which this special celebration for the Goyal/Goel’s took place.

That is what we spent our last week of August doing with great joy as we celebrated with the Goyal/Goel Families! So much so that I think it is going to take some convincing that they are not really our family!

It was a blast as we finished their engagement ceremonies and flowed into August to begin the traditional rituals of pooja’s (prayers) that would bring us into the wedding day. First starting with Rachna and Nitin’s Sangeet as they celebrated through song and dance the start of the weeks upcoming festivities. It is a joyous occasion where the family and friends of the couple perform dances to celebrate the upcoming wedding. More or less a time for all the guests to become acquainted with one another as they will be spending a lot of time together over the next few days to come, that we sure did!