Tonima & Tushar's South Asian Wedding

From Naperville to the Loop, from the Haldi to the final dance, Tonima and Tushar’s 3-day wedding weekend was one for the books!

6.23-6.25.23

When Tonima and Tushar asked me to shoot their wedding, I was so excited! When they told me it was a 3-day event, I was even more excited. I had been wanting to shoot a South Asian wedding for years. Not only would this be the perfect wedding for me, but it would be an amazing chance to learn about the rich and colorful traditions of South Asian Weddings. A three-day wedding is a huge deal; you have to have a vision, be able to work quickly and efficiently, and make sure that your couple is always at the front of your mind. But, Tonima and Tushar were the most fun, chill couple ever! Each day felt like a party in which I was lucky enough to be in attendance.

Before I dive into their weekend, I need to give a massive thanks to Victoria Schultz from DVS Events! DVS took care of everything and made sure we were on schedule, plus Victoria is a blast to work with!

The first day’s festivities are known as the Haldi-in South Asian tradition, the couple is surrounded by friends and family and blessed and cleansed days before their wedding. The family covers the couple in turmeric powder and paste in a close-knit ceremony. Tonima’s parents hosted the Haldi at their home in the suburbs. The day was filled with tradition, laughter, and absolutely beautiful moments.

An Indian couple partake in the Haldi before their wedding day.

The next evening, we gathered for the Sangeet, which is a big musical celebration the night before the couple’s wedding day. Tonima and Tushar welcomed family and friends from all over the world to dance, sing, play instruments, and party with the happy couple! The South Asian tradition of the Sangeet invites both families to celebrate together and informally welcome one another as the two families become one. Both Tonima and Tushar’s relatives performed for guests, including extended family who traveled from India to be a part of the big day. As the night went on, the DJ played electronic and house music while friends spun lights and jammed out on the guitar. The Sangeet went well past midnight, and although everyone had to be up very early the next day, no one showed any signs of slowing down!

A Sangeet for an South Asian couple's wedding at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Chicago

The couple’s wedding day was one of the most beautiful (and intense!) wedding days I’ve ever been a part of. If you’ve never been to a South Asian wedding, the day is filled to the brim with different traditions and customs, and most of them are high energy! I spent 15 hours with Tonima and Tushar on their wedding day, and I loved every minute of it. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Congratulations Tonima and Tushar!