Destination Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photographers New York City, NY

This was Nikaah or day two of a three-day traditional Indian Muslim wedding in Miami, FL. Nikaah is typically the biggest day of the festivities, and includes the ceremony of Welcoming the Baraat, signing of the Nikaahnama, Blessing of the Groom, Dinner, Prayers and Aarsimashaf, and finally the Rukshat – when bride’s family officially gives her away to the groom.

Zara, the bride, wore a traditional wedding Sari, adorned by truly fine Indian wedding jewelry. Her arms, hands, and feet still showed the Henna marks (or turmeric paste) leftover from the Mehndi Ceremony from the night before.

Ahh, the colors, the garlands, the outfits, the body art, wedding jewelry, and many many traditions that accompany any Indian wedding, be it Muslim or Hindu or Sikh are simply wonderful to witness and photograph.

Zara chose to get ready at the Hotel attached to the venue, while the groom got ready at his parents house located in Coral Gables some distance away from the venue. Close family members gathered early in the day to start the celebration and properly send the groom off to get married.

Welcoming the Baraat is a tradition of welcoming the groom and his wedding procession with music, dances, sweets, and small pranks. Our groom Faraz arrived on horseback adorned in traditional wedding garlands and was greeted by a mob of friends and relatives, who threw money at him, and as soon as the groom got off the horse the dancing started with surprising intensity.

Nikaah was a lavish affair with abundant supply of mouthwatering food, energetic Bollywood style music, and hundreds of colorful Saris (or Saree – a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine yards in length that is draped over the body in various styles).

Traditionally, on the day of the Nikaah the elder members of the two families decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). In Muslim Nikah, Mehar is a compulsory amount of money given by the groom’s family to the bride. The Qadi conducting the ceremony asks the bride if she has agreed to marry the groom and whether she accepts the amount of Mehar. Once the bride gives her consent the Qadi reads the marriage contract to the groom. After the groom gives his consent, the Nikaah-Nama (marriage contract) must be signed by the bride, the bridegroom, their Walis, the witnesses and the Qadi. The Nikaah-Nama also contains certain terms and conditions, which are in accordance with the religion and agreeable to both parties.

After the marriage contract is signed the newlyweds can finally look at each other and smile. After the Nikaah-Nama is signed, the Qadi delivers a sermon called Khutba, consisting of verses from the Quran which lay particular emphasis on obligations toward women. The Qadi explains the meaning of these verses to the audience with an explanation of the mutual rights and duties of the spouses. And then the dancing starts!

After the reception close family and friends arrived to the bride’s parents’ house for the ceremony of Rukshat, a tearful farewell before the bride departs for her husband’s house. This was by far the most emotional part of the wedding day. The bride’s father barely holding back tears, gave his daughter’s hand to her husband and instructed him to protect and take good care of his only daughter.