pretty city: wedding day

i'm not big on weddings or wedding photography, but this was a sort of delightful encounter.

i walked alongside this couple for a block or two. they seemed a little unnerved by all the attention and the strangers like me who snapped unofficial wedding portraits. but if you decide to have your photos taken on fifth avenue near rockefeller center on a saturday afternoon, you're kind of asking for it.

in any case, when the real cameras went up, they put on their best, happy faces.

i wish you could see this bride's shoes...navy blue wedges. very cool.

i've not seen this move before--"the claw."

the photographer held his hand up for a while and made like he was squeezing one of those foam stress balls.

absurd, but he got them to laugh.

the shadow of the trees makes the photo work, for me.

and then he got them to make a heart with their arms.

if i ever get married, i hope i won't be so out of my mind that i'll agree to play simon sez with the photographer.

it's cute on these two, though.

Shilpa Shetty Wedding

Finally Shilpa Shetty got married to her British Indian beau Raj Kundra. The ubiquity of her wedding talks on television and print has been a bit much, but we still can't miss the bride's and her friends' pictures on her wedding ceremony and reception.


Shilpa Wedding's Grand Reception

Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra's grand wedding reception was held at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai and, it goes without saying, was attended by who who's of the business and glam world.

For the reception Shilpa wore a sequineed golden Tarun Tahiliani contemporary lehenga, inspired by a dress, while the British businessman, Raj Kundra wore a black sherwani by the duo Shantanu and Nikhil.

I'd say I was disapponted by the bride, who didn't pay much attention to her groom. His sherwani was rather disappointing and we wish he would have worn something better. As for Shilpa, she certainly looked stunning. But considering it was her wedding, a more traditional lehenga would have been better suited for the reception. There's nothing like a demure bride. She's looking more like ready for an item number, than a bride.

Well it was their 'Big Day', so everything is forgiven.
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Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra Wedding
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Shilpa Shetty at her wedding reception

The Guest List

Shilpa Shetty's wedding reception was a star-studded affair with bigwigs Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan attending the wedding ceremony to wish the couple a happy life ahead. Let's see who wore what at the occassion.
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Shamita Shetty, certainly not the guest but family, wore a blue green Manish Malhotra saree for the reception. Weddings are the perfect occassion to bring our your blingiest saree, but this one does not work at all. The colour and the design both are a turn-off. Shamita, it was your own sister's wedding, you surely could have done better.

Shamita Shetty at Shilpa Shetty's Wedding Reception

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Rani Mukherjee was one of the most well-dressed attendees at Shilpa Shetty's wedding. She turned in a lovely pink Manish Malhotra wedding and looked quite a stunner.

Rani Mukherjee at Shilpa Shetty's Wedding (above, below)

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Aishwaya Rai Bachchan attended Silpa Shetty's wedding reception with her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan (why is Abhishek always missing?). She wore a pink Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla pink anarkali, that she also wore back in 2007 at Bachchan Sandhya in New York.

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Aishwarya Rai and Amitabh Bachchan at Shilpa Shetty Wedding (above, below)
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Rekha attended Shilpa's wedding in her classic kajevaram style. I am already not a big fan of kanjevarams and this look is too blingy and passe for me. The drape does not look too good, too much jewelry with the already bright saree and the blouse looks bit ill-fitted. Rekha sure looks lovely despite everything though.

Rekha at Shilpa Shetty's Wedding Reception

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Among the other high profile guest, the always flamboyant Vijay Mallya made a grand entrance at Shilpa's wedding reception at Hyatt in a black suit and smart smart shoes. Smart and Sophisticated, nothing too overdone.

Vijay Mallya at Shilpa Shetty Wedding Reception

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the wedding party

i shot my first wedding last saturday--a friend's wedding. a loving and low-key affair in upstate new york.

i'd been keyed up for weeks, a little ball of nerves.

but it was fantastic. who knew that someone else's wedding day would be one of the happiest days of my life?

i am sort of vexed by the shots i missed and could have done better. but i suppose that's just the way it goes and how i'll improve...

of the 2700+ that i shot, a few stood out to me as favorites from the moment they were taken:

i had nothing to do with this. we were contemplating a wide shot...and then into the frame comes flying the maid of honor (she's too hot to be a "matron"...) my lovely friend, teresa. completely unexpected and one hundred percent fun. just like her. and that photo inspired this one:

for obvious adorability, there is this one...

and this one...



sweet...