Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North Wedding | Tali + Gil

VENUE:
HOLIDAY INN CHICAGO MART PLAZA RIVER NORTH
HAIR:
LIA RIVETTE
MAKEUP:
JEN BROWN MAKEUP
PHOTOGRAPHER:
EVERLY STUDIOS
SECOND PHOTO:
BRITTANY NOKER

When an old New York friend moves to Hong Kong and years later messages you to say she wants you to photograph her big fat Indian wedding (her words, not mine) in Chicago, the answer is always “yes.” And as expected, Tali and Gil’s Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North wedding was eye candy from start to finish.

From the moment I saw the bride’s red-and-gold wedding garb (and second reception outfit to boot) and the mountain of jewelry she was going to pile onto every limb, I knew this wedding was going to be a sight to behold. And that’s not even to speak of the groom’s attire; I’ll take a bejeweled turban over a bow-tie any day. Plus, I loved his Americanized taken on henna by writing his soon-to-be wife’s name on his palm.

The groom rolled up in style in a flower-covered pedal rickshaw (!), caught in a cloud of rainbow-colored saris. Then followed the intricate Indian rituals: foot-washing, floral garland-giving, being showered with rice. The hip-hop-bhangra mash-up reception was just the cherry on top.

If this is what a “big fat Indian wedding” always entails, count me IN.