I love listening to the speeches at weddings. You always get so much insight into the couple you’re photographing, from the people who have known them best.
In this case, we learned that Dhanya and her father used to make a game out of working calculus problems together – merely for fun – to see who could finish first. And we learned that Nayan once had his cousins put him in the dryer and turn it on so he could know what it would feel like (by far one of my favorite stories I’ve ever heard at a wedding).
Even though they got roasted a little in the speeches, these two are completely adored by their friends and family. And the feeling is clearly mutual. Dhanya and Nayan wanted to give their guests a unique Indian wedding experience by holding their wedding in a location that many of them had never visited, a place that feels like a destination getaway but is easy to drive to from the Bay Area. Yosemite National Park provided a majestic backdrop to the colorful Indian ceremonies and celebrations that spanned two days and two beautiful Yosemite hotels.
The Sangeet was held at Tenaya Lodge, and the wedding ceremony and reception were held at the historic, 4-diamond Ahwahnee Hotel, located right inside the park. Guests were treated to a breathtaking view of Yosemite Falls from the outdoor ceremony spot before heading inside the solarium for a first-class feast.
The weekend was definitely a unique experience for the wedding guests, and a unique experience for us as well. This was Ben’s and my first Yosemite wedding, and we can’t wait to have another opportunity to photograph among the lush forests, dramatic waterfalls and towering mountain peaks of this amazing location.