So, What Is a Fusion Wedding? - Part 2
If you missed part one of this article, a fusion wedding is simply a wedding that honors both distinct cultures when you’re a couple that comes from two very different worlds. For example, the photography featured in this article is from a wedding where the bride was Indian/Hindu and the groom was Filipino/Catholic. As you can imagine this was a pretty lengthy celebration. The Indian portion of this wedding is a large portion of the time that’s spent celebrating. This particular wedding had several different highlights over the course of four days. Celebrations like the Engagement Ceremony, Haldi Mehndi, and the Baraat. Photographing a fusion wedding is particularly interesting because, the couple is learning more about their significant others culture at the same time as you. It’s beautiful, fun, insightful, and full of some of the best food ever.
The Engagement Ceremony (Sagai)
Though I don’t fully understand the engagement party, what I do know is this is where the couple formally commits to getting married. There’s alot going on here like family blessings, exchanging of rings, gifts, and a ton of dancing. This was so interesting and beautiful to watch.
The Haldi Mehndi
This part of the celebration was even more interesting and fun. I won’t even begin to try to explain what happens here. What I will say is that they use a paste made from turmeric is used to bless the bride and groom. The Mehndi is when they apply the Henna to the bride and sometimes the guests as well.
The Baraat
This kinda felt like something out of a movie. The groom arrives with his groomsmen, dressed in the most immaculate clothing you’ve ever seen. Greeted with music and dancing in the streets. This is the grooms formal entrance to the venue and is a way that they not only celebrate the groom, but kind of “break the ice” between the two families.
The Hindu, or Indian, Ceremony
So, there was one little issue at this wedding and that was completely out of anyones control, sorta. A room somewhere above us in the hotel caught on fire, but even though it was small, controlled, and caused no need for evacuation, the alarm went off for the entire ceremony. Technically it was a “quiet alarm” but blinked like crazy and had the occasional “there’s a fire, but don’t go anywhere” alert. Even with that, they still managed to have a beautiful wedding ceremony.
The Common Factor in a Fusion Wedding: The Reception
If there’s something that every culture and walk of life understands it’s the wedding reception. A beautiful party to celebrate the bride and groom being married at last. This fusion wedding came with a few cultural twists though. Something anyone who’s shot the Cupid Shuffle & Tennessee Whisky 4 million times can appreciate.
So Much Work but So Rewarding
The fact that I got to experience this fusion wedding is still so cool to me. I’m so thankful when people from a different culture invite me into their world and give me the honor of photographing their wedding day. The food, the dancing, the traditions, it’s all so interesting to me.
