The final day of Ashmita and Kevin’s Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles wedding was the perfect conclusion to a glorious event. The couple structured it to be similar in many ways to the previous day. They had us on hand to document them getting ready, for example. They also had another first look that was originally intended to be a copy of the same event the day before. We did another round of family formal pictures and couples portraits. But after that, the fourth day took on a character all its own. Because Ashmita and Kevin’s reception was the centerpiece, the atmosphere was celebratory from beginning to end. And their Indian wedding reception pictures reflected that. They captured all the joy, excitement and of course, love that permeated the coda to Ashmita and Kevin’s wedding.
Preparations for Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Wedding Reception
As we mentioned above, the couple designed the fourth day of their Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles wedding celebrations as a companion piece to the third. Particularly the first parts. For example, the day started with us photographing Ashmita and Kevin getting into their wedding clothes. One biggest element that made the final day of the wedding distinct from the previous was the more “Western” theme. Instead of traditional Indian clothes, Ashmita wore a stunning sequined white dress. Kevin sported a perfectly tailored tuxedo. The photographic highlights included some really cool shots of a cloud of hairspray enveloping the bride’s head. We also loved the images of the groom fiddling with his engagement and wedding rings. (A professor of ours once told us you can always tell when a man has recently married by the way he plays with the rings he is unfamiliar with wearing!)
Second First Look Using Unique Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Spaces
Ashmita and Kevin were so excited about their Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles wedding reception outfits that they planned a second first look. Like we mentioned above, the original idea was to do this exactly the way they did it before the reception. Unfortunately, that proved impossible, because the reception food stations and tables cluttered up the second floor of the atrium area. If we’ve learned one thing as wedding photographers, though, it’s the value of flexibility. And also how the second choice can sometimes be pretty awesome!
We brought Kevin to the ground floor of the atrium and had him stand with his back to the two-tiered staircase connecting the two levels. Then we had Ashmita descend from the second floor before coming up behind him for the big reveal. The setting allowed for some really cool angles and a more layered storytelling. In addition, it led to a nice moment when the bride paused on the landing to look out at her husband.
Perhaps our favorite moment from that part of the day, though, came before the first look. While waiting for Ashmita, Kevin spent some time hanging out with his best man and new brother-in-law. While chatting, the three came up with a hilarious idea for a prank. They would “accidentally” record a conversation in which they discussed (in mock seriousness) how Kevin had lost the couple’s house by gambling online. As funny as that was, what really struck us, though, was how much like actual brothers the groom and Ashmita’s brother had become. The whole scene reminded us of the way we often joke around with our own siblings.
Gorgeous Couple’s Portraits at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles
Just like the day before, the first look led straight into a round of formal family photos in the atrium. Anxious to get to the party, the bride and groom cut this part short and skipped ahead to the couple’s portraits. With a bit more time to play with than on Day 3, we explored the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles and used our artificial lighting to amp up the creativity. Just like in their engagement photoshoot back in November, the obvious connection between Ashmita and Kevin shone through in just about every picture.
Beautiful Wedding Dances and Heartfelt Toasts
The real highlight of the final day was yet to come, though. As the guests began to congregate near the entrance to the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles ballroom that was hosting the reception, you could feel the sense of anticipation growing. The bride and groom used that time to go practice their dance moves in private. Their bridesmaids and groomspeople watched Kevin and Ashmita got their timing down just right.
When at last ARJ Productions threw open the ballroom doors and let everyone in, the guests couldn’t wait to get the party started. So when the lights went down and the wedding’s main players entered, the crowd roared with a little extra intensity. The loudest cheers were for the couple, of course, who raised their arms triumphantly as their family and friends twirled their napkins in the air. They went straight into their beautifully choreographed wedding dances. Their first dance was actually two songs long. The first was a lovely Bollywood number; the second an Adele hit. That mix was a perfect reflection of how the couple’s own marriage blended their two cultures so beautifully. The highlight of the dance, though, came when Kevin dipped Ashmita. At that exact moment, sparklers went off by the stage.
Next up was a touching parent-child dance. Because Kevin’s mother could not be present, Ashmita’s mom filled in. Afterwards, she and Ashmita’s father grabbed a microphone and took the couple and the crowd through a moving, funny and entertaining toast. It was no surprise that we got lots of photos of the bride laughing and wiping away a tear simultaneously. The subsequent speech Ashmita’s sister gave was just as sweet and touching. As were the words of thanks the couple offered to close out the toasts and officially open up the dance floor.
Crazy Dancing and Indian Wedding Reception Pictures
As soon as Ashmita and Kevin finished speaking, Destiny AVE cranked up the music and invited everyone onto the floor. And after three-and-a-half days of partial celebrations, everyone was ready to give it their all. The energy and excitement on the floor was utterly contagious, and we found ourselves bouncing and moving to the beat as well.
We have been on a lot of crazy dance floors during wedding receptions, but Ashmita and Kevin’s guests took things to a new level. The Indian wedding reception pictures we took were some of the most striking (and in some cases, strangest!) we have every captured. As we waded around the crowd, we got photos of a guy in a walking boot pretending to talk on his shoe like it was a cell phone. Another young guy, who was celebrating his 21st birthday (wink, wink), dropped to his knees with a crowd of girls singing and dancing around him. Later on, we photographed one of those young women flying through the air as she executed a leaping turn.
In all, it was the perfect end to a beautiful celebration of the love that brought together two very sweet people. Thank you so much, Ashmita and Kevin, for the privilege of preserving your wedding-day memories for you! It was an honor for us to carry out that sacred duty!
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