Beautiful, magical… we keep such a wonderful experience, being part of Kalpana & Pedro´s Wedding.
During last August, we got involved in this lovely wedding story. It all started with a pre wedding photo shoot, located in Sintra forest and a beach nearby… this mystical forest is one of a kind, and as Kalpana had the chance to visit the special location for the first time, it makes sense in their wedding story, since the couple would marry right in the other side of the small mountain.
A few days later, a pre wedding party takes place, getting both families and friends together, and the ladies, and most important, the bride to be will have their mehndi done… this amazing artwork is impressively crafted by the henna ladies, and the bride preparation takes about 6 hours of work!
Some words, that I keep saying: our work is our love, fortunately! In my personal opinion, results come through empathy and will to produce something unique.
A magnificent setting. The luxurious and romantic Tivoli Palácio de Seteais in Sintra. This palace is located in the mountainside, with it´s spectacular views and magnificent surroundings of lush gardens and spectacular scenery. It´s architecture and elegance, takes us back to older days, with rich art, and beautiful decorations, easy to fall in love with, and quite an experience.
This is the visual storytelling. We love you guys. Wishing you a very long and happy life together.
“According to Hindu scriptures, marriage is a lifelong commitment, representing the strongest social and religious bond between a man and a woman. The Hindu wedding ceremony is performed in Sanskrit and is solemnized in accordance with the Vedas, the sacred Hindu scriptures. The ceremony honors the couple´s love and the joining of their families. The marriage ceremony is held in a Mandap (a canopy) with four pillars, representing each of the four parents and their supportive roll in the lives of their children.
The holy fire in the Mandap is a purifying agent and a wholesome witness to the ceremony. The priest chants mantras (verses) from the Vedas (Holy Scripture), using sacred ingredients like sesame, rice, coconut, jiggery, coriander seeds, kumkum and water: all having their unique significance in the ceremony.
The ceremony begins with offerings to Lord Ganesh and then to the Universe and the planets and the five elements. They are all invoked with chants and prayers for their blessings and support.”
The mother of the bride welcomes Pedro at the entrance of Tivoli. A small ceremony is performed. Pedro is then escorted to the Mandap where he is accompanied by his best men.
The father of the bride, washes Pedro´s right foot with Panchamrut – a mixture of honey, milk, sugar and ghee, all ingredients that provide sustenance to life – treating him as a form of Lord Vishnu, placing him in high esteem:
Kalpana is brought to the Mandap by her maternal uncles and brothers. An Antarpat (cloth) is held between Kalpana and Pedro, signifying their separate identities prior to their union. The priest ties a knot between Pedro and Kalpana´s chundadi to symbolize the fusion of their hearts and the union of their families:
The parents of the bride perform the Kanyadaan, the ritual of giving away of their beloved daughter and creating the foundation of a new life for her. The parents offer Kalpana’s hand to Pedro and request him to accept her as his wife.
After this, a small open fire is lit in the center of the Mandap, and the fire God is invited to witness the marriage. Fire, a purifying agent, is also a source of energy. Only fire can separate this bond of unity between bride and groom:
The brothers of the bride fill Kalpana’s and Pedro palm with rice and other grains, which imply abundance of health, wealth, prosperity and happiness, which they then offer to the sacred fire, invoking the blessings of God.
Kalpana and Pedro then go around the sacred fire four times. Each round represents a vow and duty: that of religion, responsibility, personal fulfillment and salvation:
Pedro weds Kalpana by applying sprinkles of a red powder, known as Sindoor, in her hair and adorns her with a Mangalsutra (a gold and black-beaded necklace). The Mungalsutra and Sindoor are symbols of the eternal bond of marriage, and a long and protected life for the bride and groom. They announce their resolutions of the mutual devotion in the years to come by feeding each other a sweet.
Earlier, Kalpana´s nieces succeeded steeling Pedro´s shoes, adding mischief and humor to the ceremony. Pedro´s family must guard his shoes… Otherwise, at the end of the day, Pedro retrieves his shoes by offering money to Kalpana´s nieces:
The ceremony is completed with the departure of the bride and groom, which is known as Vidaai. Kalpana´s Vidaai is a very emotional episode for her family, as she leaves the abode of her parents to start a new life with Pedro.
Aahh.. Sintra caprices. The mist meets the magic in the mountain side, as the cloudy and later rainy afternoon took part during the ceremony. Such rendered vibrant and beautiful colors! Right after the ceremony, we just could´t miss a brief photo session with the couple, that takes place in the palace rooms, and hopefully some shots it the outside gardens area…
Creatives and Vendors:
Photography: Hélio Cristóvão and Marco Santos Marques / Foto de Sonho
Venue: Hotel Tivoli Palácio de Seteais
Wedding Planners, Mandap, Design: Rupali and Mayuri / Details Event Planning
Hairstylist: Anabela Sousa Pinto
Makeup Artist: Bavica Bhanji
Mehndi Artists: Shradhdha and Reeta
[…] had the greatest time with these two. Kalpana and Pedro got married in Sintra, at the majestic Tivoli Seteais Palace. Just a couple days prior to their wedding, we had this magical photo shoot, having […]