A Haldi Ceremony at Big Sur River Inn — Bay Area Indian Wedding Photographer
A Haldi Ceremony at Big Sur River Inn
Big Sur does something to light. We were blessed with sun in May at Big Sur River Inn. The lawn in front of the river was a perfect setting for a Haldi ceremony that was, from start to finish, about joy.
The Haldi is one of my favorite pre-wedding rituals to photograph. It moves fast, it’s messy in the best way, and it pulls everyone in. There’s no standing around waiting for a moment. The moments are everywhere, all at once. Turmeric paste on hands and cheeks, and laughter, and someone’s grandmother getting involved, whether she planned to or not. This ceremony had all of it.
Big Sur River Inn sits right on the river at the edge of the redwoods, and the outdoor space gave us soft, filtered light throughout the morning. I shot the ceremony on digital, 35mm film, 120 medium format, and Polaroid. The grain and the color rendering on film does something to the yellows and oranges of a Haldi that digital just can’t replicate. The turmeric reads warm and saturated, the skin tones stay true, and the whole thing feels like a memory rather than a document.
Indian weddings often span several days and several ceremonies, each with its own emotional register. The Haldi tends to be the loosest and the loudest, which I am 100% here for. The couple is surrounded by the people who have known them longest. Photographing it documentary-style means I’m not directing anything. I’m just there, close, moving with the high energy.
If you’re planning an Indian wedding or multi-day celebration in Big Sur, the Monterey Peninsula, or anywhere in the Bay Area, I’d love to talk about coverage. My approach is hybrid film and digital — 35mm, medium format, and Polaroid woven into the full day — and I work in a documentary style that keeps the ceremony feeling like itself. You can see more in my portfolio here.
There was an amazing team behind this gorgeous multi-day Big Sur Wedding
Venues: Big Sur River Inn, Pfiefer State Park Amphitheater, The Village, Big Sur Lodge
Coordination: Golden Coast Planning
Florist: Big Sur Flowers
Video: Frame Story Studios
Rentals: Chic Event Rentals, Cultural Event Rentals
Mehandi: Henna Fremont