Liz describes their love story best in her owns words below:

“Mike and I met in Arizona in February 2008 while Mike was out doing business. He owns a tennis construction company and comes out in the winters from his hometown in Illinois to do some work. Soon after we started dating Mike had to go back to Illinois to run his business there, which began our long distance relationship. Through the rough trials of maintaining a long distance relationship we fell in love and decided that we would eventually stay put in Illinois. In March of 2011, Mike took me on a Northern Arizona road trip where he proposed on my birthday!

We chose a spring wedding for the beautiful weather and because we knew our Illinois visitors would love it during this time of year. We tied in an Arizona Theme. Our save the dates displayed a map of the United States with Mike in Illinois grabbing my hand in Arizona! Our tables were names of places in Illinois and Arizona that were very special to the two of us. “

“The wedding planning was a little stressful; my sister was also engaged and getting married just three months before us! With the help of my amazing and talented mother our wedding was more than we could ask for.  My mother is a true blessing; I could not do it without her!  We had a large wedding party (9 on both sides), but we couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

I love this poignant moment between mother and daughter.  So sweet.

Mike and the boys got ready at the Talking Stick Resort.  Glenn incorporated the casino background in some of the shots, even though “it is not allowed”.  We have come to learn that in these situations, shoot first and apologize later, if you get caught;-)~Lilet

The Ceremony

“The day of our wedding day I was unusually calm. I went to bed the evening before with not much trouble and woke up stress-free the next day. The most important thing I remember from my wedding day and the biggest advice I can give was choosing to HAVE FUN on my big day! So many brides talk about how stressful their day was and how it flew by. I made a decision that I was going to have a blast on my wedding day. I danced, made sure to eat, and enjoyed special moments with my family, friends, and my new husband! Another word of advice is not to sweat the small stuff. My little flower girl was having a tantrum on my wedding day, refusing to walk down the aisle, but I just had to laugh. Your day is not going to go perfect; the imperfections just make it more unique!”

Mr. and Mrs.Laniosz

The Details

“The favors were cookies made by my amazing Aunt of a tennis ball and apple. (Mike owns a tennis construction company, I’m a teacher.) Our cake displayed a special quote about falling in love and being in a long distance relationship. We chose Grayhawk because of its breathtaking views and exceptional service. They were more than accommodating! “

The Reception

I have to say that we love the candle centerpieces that Flowers by Jodi placed in the table settings.~ Lilet

The Party

” I honestly don’t think I would want to change anything about our wedding. It was magical. I am so incredibly lucky to have my amazing parents, siblings, and friends who were so supportive of us. Our day was elegant and truly a day I will never forget!”~ Liz

SPECIAL THANKS

A special thanks to our past bride and groom, Anna and Chris  (whose wedding we did in 2006)  for referring us to Liz and Mike!  Thank you so much for thinking of us!  It was so great to see you again!  Above is a picture of our happy couples!   Congratulations Liz and Mike!!!  May you have a lifetime of love and happiness!  ~ Lilet & Glenn

THE  WEDDING  TEAM

VENUE
Pat Tryhus, Catering Manager
(480) 502-3121
mgrcatering@grayhawkgolf.com
GrayHawk Golf Club

FLOWERS
Flowers by Jodi
602-264-6932

LINENS
Premier Events AZ
480-460-1800

ENTERTAINMENT
Ramsey Bergeron
Citron Music
480-699-2929

Ceremony Music Harpist/Saxophonist
Adrienne – 480-443-1164
Jeremy – 520-490-1031

CAKE
Honeymoon Sweets
480-517-9520

HAIR & MAKEUP STYLIST
Eric Jimenez
602-459-6572

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lilet & Glenn Hamp
LightRain Images
info@lightrainimages.com
480-699-5731

On November 19, Kajal and Nimit literally tied the knot ( a Gujarati tradition) and became husband and wife.  The day started bright and early at their respective rooms where they got busy getting ready for the day.  But first let us go back in time and have Kajal tell the story of how they met.

How Nimit & I met:

“My younger sister, Kruti, lives in San Francisco which made for incredibly fun visits. I met Nimit on one of my visits back in February 2010. We knew it was the start of something special so we decided to try long distance dating. Luckily, flights from San Francisco to Phoenix were only 2 hours and so we were able to see each other quite frequently.  Otherwise, we spoke on the phone for hours on end and chatted online. Nimit gave me the biggest surprise of my life when he proposed towards the end of 2010.” ` Kajal

Renaissance Glendale is becoming quite the spot for Indian weddings.  We just love shooting there with their spacious and beautifully decorated interiors.  Plus their wonderful staff headed by Joy Rosek are simply wonderful and very helpful.  Below Kajal recounts the reasons why they chose their venue and a description of her well picked out vendors.

“Nimit and I knew from the very beginning that the Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa was the perfect venue for the wedding. The Renaissance has gorgeous ballrooms that could be configured to fit any capacity of guests. The Renaissance wedding coordinator, Joy Rosek, was superb in meeting our every need. For the ceremony mandap we chose traditional wedding colors maroon, gold and ivory and the décor was flawlessly executed by Elegant Creations (Jagu & Sandhya Patel). These decor colors matched my wedding attire/jewelry that Deena Mali gracefully put on me according to the traditional bridal style. Nimit’s outfit was in the same traditional colors and he looked like a prince. Our photographers, Lilet & Glenn Hamp of  LightRain Images and videographers, Todd and Krisanna Hayes of  NoBox Films were there bright and early. I especially love the formal photos of my family and Nimit’s family together that LightRain Images captured. DJ Adi started the celebration with his Dhol for the Baraat and continued to play great music for the rest of the day. We had a traditional Gujarati wedding ceremony conducted. My make-up by Ahseia Adina and hair by Randey Davis remained flawless for the entire ceremony. Our 340+ guests enjoyed a traditional Gujarati wedding lunch by Swaminarayan Mandir Catering and with a wedding this big, we had Suzanne Taussig as the Day of Coordinator so that my family could enjoy themselves.”~ Kajal

The Reception

I love LOVE Kajal’s wedding reception outfit!  Usually Indian brides would choose some sort of blue color and don’t get me wrong, they are nice, but Kajal’s purple outfit was simply stunning!  The whole night was so magical and elegant.  Kajal remained a very graceful and calm bride all throughout.  Nimit looked even more dashing and handsome in his matching ensemble.  Here is Kajal’s account of the night’s festivities.

“The reception party was also held at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa in an adjacent ballroom to the wedding ceremony ballroom. We wanted a very romantic setting with the colors purple, lavender and silver. The backdrop, head table and cake table were beautifully adorned in these colors. The centerpieces included purple orchids submerged in water with floating candles and silver manzanita trees with crystals. The entire reception décor was created by Dora Galindo of Elegant Events. The décor was complemented by the up lighting effects and the unique monogram of our names on the wall created by DJ Adi. The intelligent lighting he used was perfect for the grand entrances, couple’s first dance, speeches and cake cutting. Our wedding cake created by Frosted Art Inc. completed the decor. I absolutely loved my reception outfit and how it sparkled throughout the night. Nimit looked dashing in his black suit with a shirt/tie matching the theme colors. I felt like a princess going to her ball with stunning make-up done by Candice Crocker and hair by Randey Davis. One of the best parts of the night was when our videographers, husband and wife, Todd and Krisanna of Nobox Films played a same day edit of the wedding ceremony for the guests. After a delicious dinner by India Palace, everyone partied long through the night with an open bar by their side. As with all our previous events, we had the awesome LightRain Images husband and wife team, Glenn & Lilet to capture every precious moment. ” Kajal

The Wedding Team

Read on the articles and previous entry for the awesome vendors that contributed their talent throughout this three day wedding.  I have highlighted each with links to their specific web address.   Below are the vendors on hand at the end of the night’s reception party.  Great working with you guys!!!  Hope to work again together soon!

Where is yours truly?  Well, who do you think took the photo??;-)  Just kidding, I’m photo shy when I’m working, which means I look like I’ve been working all day.  So maybe next wedding I will get my own hair and make-up team if you really want me in the picture. LOL  Till next time, thanks for stopping by! ~Lilet

Kajal & Nimit’s  Wedding Festivities:  Pre-Events

Hello, we are back again posting!   It’s been a very hectic month here at LightRain but we are on time with our production schedules and loving all the wonderful weddings we have recently shot.  Boy, do we love our jobs!  So, are you ready for another multi-series of posts?  We bring you Kajal and Nimit’s wedding celebrations in the fall of 2011. We begin with their Mehndi party at Kajal’s house on the 17^th of November.  Kajal is lucky enough to have two wonderful sisters, Kruti and Komal who are so obviously devoted to her as they planned the whole wedding together.  I like to call this wedding the Sister Act, for without them, this wedding would not have been as glorious as it had been!

Here is Kajal’s description of the Mehndi Party:

The mendhi party was held at my parents’ home on a Thursday night. We chose our home because it gave a personal touch to the event. A beautiful backdrop in our family room was created by Elegant Events (Dora Galindo) and the decor continued on the stairs and balcony. We knew we wanted a festive green color for the decor to go with the Mendhi theme so we chose lime green, pink, and gold. Purvi Galiya did a phenomenal job on my mendhi design; I loved how she created an image of a groom doing sindoor on a bride on one hand and Ganesh on the other hand. Ahseia Adina & Randey Davis executed my make-up and hair way beyond my expectations. This night I really felt the realization that I was going to be a bride. The back yard was fully lit up where everyone enjoyed a delicious south Indian cuisine by Woodlands. Everything was perfectly photographed by LightRain Images (Lilet Hamp).~Kajal

 The Vidhi

Kajal’s vidhi was a whirlwind of mini ceremonies.  The five hours I spent that morning till early afternoon flew by so fast!  I loved capturing all the family traditions and getting to know them .  Here is Kajal’s description of the day.

The vidhi was held the very next day following the mendhi party. It consisted of the Mandap Mahurat (ceremony performed for the Hindu god Ganesh to remove all obstacles for the wedding), Piti (ceremony applying a paste made of turmeric that cleans/purifies the skin) and Grah Shanti (ceremony performed to seek the blessings of a happy and peaceful married life for the couple). The vidhi was held at my parents’ home in our spacious family room. By now all family members had arrived so it was truly an auspicious time to come together for the prayers and to receive all the blessings. I really felt the presence of family and genuinely appreciated everyone who was there. I chose a more traditional look for this day with make-up done by Ahseia Adina and hair by Deena Mali. The day ended with a full course Gujarati meal by Swaminarayan Mandir Catering. Our photographs were thoughtfully captured by Lilet of LightRain Images and video by Eric of Ludwig Video Productions help us reminisce this special day. ~Kajal

Coming up, the Wedding Day!

We first met Kim at a wedding of our past bride and groom, Jen  and Travis at  Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort.  Now you may wonder how we could remember her from all the other guests that were present that night.  Easy… she caught the bouquet!  She later saw us with Jen again when they attended the Bridal Fashion Debut at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Later, it was funny the day she called our studio, I  had just finished enhancing the bouquet garter portion of her friend Jen’s album.  We love it when we photograph friends of past couples because we get to see them again and again

We are excited to shoot Kim and Blair’s wedding tomorrow at La Casa de Christo Lutheran Church with reception following at Ancala Country Club.  We know there’s a chance of rain but then again, that means there’s a chance of rainbows too:-)~ Lilet

Here is their story in Kim’s words…

How we Met…

Blair and I met when we were in college at NAU – Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. We both were in Athletics, he played football and I played soccer.  During Blair’s freshmen year, my sophomore year, we both had 8:00am English class together.  At this point we hadn’t carried a conversation; we had seen each other in the dome crossing paths to and from practice or in the training room.  At the end of the soccer season (we lost in the conference tournament) we had an end of the season party (I was on crutches) at our friend’s house and Blair came.  We started talking at the party because we had a class together.

The next weekend I was driving down to Phoenix and I gave Blair a ride. We became great friends. About seven months later we started to develop feeling for each other and now are here 7.5 years later….

How he proposed…

Blair had arranged a weekend getaway for us to Flagstaff with his mom and stepdad Gene. We stayed at this little bed and breakfast that Cathy would always stay at when she would come in town. We went to lunch in downtown flagstaff and then headed to campus so that I could check out the new soccer facility that was under renovation. We then proceeded to wander around campus and went to this fountain/stream that had been added to central campus. At this point we had ventured away from Cathy and Gene and it was just to the two of us. Blair then hugged me and swung me around and got on one knee, and asked me to be his wife! Little did I know Cathy and Gene were hiding behind a car in the distance taking pictures of every moment.

Originally Blair had planned to do this in front of the English building but when he and Gene went to do the site visit earlier that morning they had discovered the English building was in the process of being renovated and had a chain link fence all the way around it.

We continued to walk around campus and took pictures, we then returned to the bed and breakfast to discover roses on our bed and a bottle of champagne.  We had some champagne and got ready for dinner and went to an amazing dinner!~Kim

LIFE IS SHORT EAT DESSERT FIRST

Kim and Drew chose the lucky date of 11.11.11 for their wedding.  Their backdrop was the beautiful Encanterra Country Club, in San Tan Valley.  With Christmas around the corner they decided to have  a winter wedding theme.  The day couldn’t have been more beautiful with the wedding taking place in the afternoon overlooking the lake.

Kim is not only beautiful but probably the happiest bride we have ever worked with, she is bubbly and full of energy, ALL THE TIME!  Her exuberant smile and happy countenance is so contagious that being around her is like getting a dose of endorphins!  What a lucky man Drew is to have someone like her by his side.  Kim is a blessed woman herself to have Drew.  Beyond the obvious part that he is uncommonly good-looking, he is attentive and loving, not to mention down to earth and quite the clown. He had us in stitches during the fun bridal party shots.

Every wedding has its own detail to remember by, and I will always remember this wedding by the Cinderella shoes that the bride painstakingly labored over thirteen hours to glue Swarovski crystals on.  As you can tell I had a bit of fun photographing the shoes! (as usual;-).

The day couldn’t have ended better as after the first dance; the couple announced that everyone will have their dessert FIRST before dinner!  You can tell this couple KNOWS how to have fun! Glenn and I, from LightRain Images, a Phoenix wedding photography company, had such a great time capturing the day and partying till late in the evening.~Lilet

THE  WEDDING  TEAM

VENUE
Emily Baird
Catering and Special Event Sales
Encanterra Country Club
http://www.encanterraweddings.com

 

WEDDING COORDINATOR
Erin Rohr
Owner/Wedding Director
Inspired Events
http://www.inspiredeventsaz.com

 

ENTERTAINMENT
Rob Young
Got You Covered
http://www.gotyoucoveredmusic.com

 

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lilet & Glenn Hamp
LightRain Images
http://www.lightrainimages.com

On April 7, 2012, this coming Saturday, these two young couple will tie the knot as husband and wife.  Read on the story of how they met and how Kevin proposed to her at the top of Camelback Mountain which ended up on the news of AZCentral.com!  (See the news video here).  Below is their story in their own words.

How they Met

Kevin and Tricia met at Charleston Southern University at the end of their junior year. They had chemistry class together that semester although they had had several other classes together before that. They started dating in early May. They finished their senior year together and graduated from the university in early May. It was at a graduation celebration where Kevin spoke with Tricia’s parents and asked for permission. It was then the end of May when Kevin proposed.

The Proposal ( as recounted by Tricia)

I flew home to Arizona the Sunday before Memorial Day for a party with my family. My sister and maid of honor, Becca, has been getting into photography and had asked me if I wanted to hike Camelback Mountain with her in the morning so she could take some pictures at the top. I willingly agreed because I love hiking this mountain. So Memorial Day morning Becca and I got up and drove to the mountain and started hiking. I of course got a little irritated because Becca isn’t the fastest hiker and before we left everyone was nagging me to stay with her. So we finally reached the top and Becca told me to follow her because she wanted to show me something. So at the top of the Mountain we go over to the left and I’m looking around trying to figure out what could be so cool that Becca wanted me to see. This guy stands up and I’m staring at him. I was thinking that’s funny Kevin has that exact same shirt. Then I realized that it was Kevin. So naturally I yelled and said, “What the hell are you doing here?” Of course, he responded like a smart ass, “Hiking, what are you doing here?” So I laughed and walked over and gave him a hug. Then he knelt down and proposed. It was so perfect to just be in the moment.

We are looking forward to the wedding at the Top of the Rock of The Buttes Marriott Resort!

This is the final post of a three part series we are doing for Payal and Vin!  Hope you have enjoyed what you’ve seen so far!  Continuing on from the ceremony to the evening festivities, the wedding guests were treated to a sumptuous lunch buffet till about 3 p.m.  After which, as is typical, everyone went for a break to rest and change,  including our now newly married bride and groom.  But before they retired to their suite to relax for a bit, my second shooter, Kelvin, and I photographed them for a few minutes in the main courtyard of the hotel.  Two hours later at dusk, we went back to photographed them this time dressed in their resplendent outfits for the evening.  Here is Payal once again describing her evening reception.

“I may be a little biased but I must say that our  evening reception  was one of the most inspirational and beautiful nights I have ever experienced. My vision for the reception started out with crystals, roses and candles. I’ve always thought antique candelabras with a rustic finish was very romantic and so to incorporate that look with hanging crystals and mauve & ivory roses was a perfect touch. To personalize the reception look we had a fun gobo that said “Payal & Vinod” below a silhouette of the Chicago skyline.

I have to admit this to everyone, I LOVED my reception outfit…everything from the color to the style to its comfort.  It’s called an anarkhali suit and I fell in love with it the minute I saw it in the store in India.  Typically, many brides wear beautiful outfits which include a top, a skirt and dupatta, but I knew the anarkhali suit would be unique and totally my style.  Beyond all of this, the reception was full of love and emotions.  Not only did we have speeches and dances (including a surprise Bollywood appearance by Vinod!) by the people we love the most, but it was an opportunity for us to tell them how grateful we are for all of them.

On a more personal note, this was my chance to truly thank the one person who has allowed me to accomplish every dream of mine: my kidney donor. While no words can express that kind of gratefulness, I hope he, my family & Vinod know that all of them are the “Wind Beneath My Wings.”   From what I hear, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.  Vinod and I are blessed to have the wedding we envisioned and we are grateful to all those who made it possible and a special thank you to Light Rain Images for capturing the memories that we will treasure forever.”~Payal S.

Payal & Vin

The Evening Reception

 And there you have it!  Hope you enjoyed this post as much as we did making it.  Please let us know what you think by commenting below (it will appear as soon as we get notified).  Thank you so much and hope you visit us again soon!

Congratulations again Payal & Vinod!!! May you have a lifetime of love and happiness together and look back on this very special day with much fondness and happy memories!

Glenn and I would like to thank our second shooters, Kelvin Leung and Art Mendoza!  You guys ROCKED!!!  Below are the wonderful  team of wedding vendors that Payal and Vin chose for their wedding.  GREAT JOB guys!!!  Hope to work again together soon!~ Lilet

Venue – Mike Krohmer, Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort

Hair & Make-up – Jewel di Fabio and Kim Roberts, Artistic Freelance Cosmetology

Decor -  Jagu and Sandhya Patel, Elegant Creations

Entertainment – DJ Isaac, Hyper Production DJ’s

Videographer – April Robles, Robles Video Productions, see the wedding highlight video here! 

PHOTOGRAPHERS – Lilet & Glenn Hamp, LightRain Images

MEHNDI PARTY

“The Mehndi evening was the kick-off to our wedding celebration so we wanted to make sure it set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The majority of our family & friends were arriving on this evening so we wanted to make them feel welcome and excited for the rest of their stay. We chose the Aviano Clubhouse at Desert Ridge because we were able to utilize the outdoor patio for 200 guests and it allowed for an intimate décor with candles, soft music and beautiful henna. To keep with the enchanting and airy feeling for the Mehndi evening, I wanted to make sure candles were used throughout the patio along with the vibrant colors such as the purples, oranges, blues and pinks. The decorators did a fantastic job of turning an outdoor patio to something from an Arabian Nights movie!”~ Payal S.

Vidhi – Grah Shanti & Pithi

Going to the bride’s house for the Vidhi ceremony is always a favorite of mine, the reason being that I can meet and get to know the family members for a solid three to four hours.  A lot goes on at these events, it keeps me on my toes uncles and aunties are always helpful with what’s going on, I get to know the family members more by name.  In all you become a part of the family documenting the flurry of activity all around.  I also love seeing the little touches that each family member contributes and I make sure to capture these little details to preserve them forever.  But most of all, I love seeing the laughter and the tears that abound in these ceremonies.  I especially love how Payal’s dad got emotional as the reality of giving his daughter away sinks in.  It’s impossible not to get teary eyed.  There is so much love and blessings around these intimate ceremonies and you just can’t help but feel good about life and the beginning of a new family unfolding before your eyes.

“The vidhi, which includes the Grah Shanti and Pithi, is traditionally held at the bride and groom’s own home. The vidhi was at my home and it was emotional and fun all in one. Not only was this the place I grew up but to be surrounded by my closest family and friends who are a part of my life adds a very sentimental touch and it signified the unconditional love that was present in the air through the tears and laughs. To have the vidhi at home was wonderful because everywhere you looked, there was a little creativity contributed by a family or friend. For example, there were beautiful paintings and photographs made by my sister. The lively centerpieces on the lunch tables were created by cousins. The abundance of food which was made so lovingly by my aunt. The fresh flower garlands which were used during the vidhi were hand-made by family members. It was these little touches, which cannot be re-created during any other event, which made the vidhi so personal and memorable..”-Payal S.

WELCOME DINNER

“The welcome dinner was an event meant for our family & friends to come together and enjoy an evening of togetherness. Sometimes, with a traditional Gaarba or Sangeet party, it’s difficult for both sides of the family to come together and enjoy good company; therefore, Vinod and I decided an evening of mingling, scenery and good food would be perfect. And what better venue than The Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens? When I initially visited this location, I could not believe that such a place existed in Phoenix! Set up like a Japanese Zen garden, The Boojum Tree provided the ideal set up for our welcome dinner. The venue provides a set-up for approximately 225 guests complete with tables, chivari chairs, and linens in a multitude of colors. I decided on a jade blue table linen that added a beautiful touch of color against the gold chairs, candles, and string lighting. We decided to have food catered from Macayo’s Mexican Cantina along with a full bar set up that completed the meal with margaritas and sangria. Our guests were in awe! You can imagine, along with some roasts & toasts from family and friends, how fun the evening turned out to be.” ~ Payal S.

Stay tuned for Part III!:-) ~ Lilet

When we first met Payal during her consultation with us at a Starbucks coffee shop, I sensed a down to earth, no- nonsense, very thoughtful and sweet young woman.  Her demeanor indicated that she knew what she wanted and was also trying to honor what her parents wanted for her wedding.  We liked her instantly and knew she would make a beautiful, calm and gracious bride.  We had so much fun doing her destination engagement photo session in La Jolla and San Diego.  Little did we know that it would coincide with the Comic Con at the time.  Walking with her, Vinnie (her fiance’)and her gregarious sister Pooja through the colorful crowded streets of the Gaslamp District was a blast.  See their engagement session here.

The wedding of Payal and Vinnie happened on October 29, 2011.  Her pictures were on-line two weeks later and though I wanted to blog about them right then, it was in the middle of high wedding season.  Since work comes first, the blog got shelved till now.  This is the first time I’m doing a series of collages for a wedding.  This wedding had so many wonderful and colorful events that each needs to be shown on its own.  Then a thought came to me upon seeing all this beautiful imagery and wondered how a bride like Payal implemented her wedding vision from her dream to reality.  It might help other brides out there who are starting from day one and want to see how others came up with their own dream wedding.  So without further ado, here is Payal and Vinnie’s wedding events in her own words.

” An Indian wedding is incomplete without family. This was the core of our thought process as Vinod and I started planning our wedding. Knowing that we would have well over 200 family & friends attending our events, we wanted to make our wedding celebrations as festive and memorable as possible. As the bride, my vision for my wedding weekend was for it to feel light, classy and elegant.

Let me start with the wedding venue because that was the first location that was crossed off our list. There were a number of reasons why we chose the Pointe Hilton at Tapatio Cliffs but perhaps the primary reason was the stunning views from the property that would allow for an outdoor ceremony. As soon as we saw Falls Terrace, a deck that can accommodate approximately 300 people and the waterfalls as a backdrop, we knew it would make for a picturesque site. Since the landscape was scenic, I didn’t want the mandap to take away from it so I decided on a combination of lime green fabrics, fuschia flowers and aqua blue beads to compliment the outdoors. As the bride and groom, Vinod and I couldn’t appreciate the details on the day of the wedding but our fantastically talented  wedding vendors  Light Rain Images , Robles Video Productions and Elegant Creations spectacularly captured my vision and the wedding site was everything I pictured and more. ” – Payal S.

Payal’s preparations were done in a huge suite at the Tapatio Cliffs.  My photographic crew and I busily took detail shots while she, her sister Pooja and mom got their hair and make-up done by the fantabulous Jewel di Fabio and her right hand gal Kim Roberts of Artistic Freelance Cosmetology.  I loved that there was this huge waterfall right in front of their suite which had glass windows all around.  It was quite a gorgeous view and I knew I had to incorporate the waterfall somehow in a photo:-) Meanwhile, Glenn took photos of Vinod while he got ready in his own suite with his family assisting him with his wedding attire.

For the Baraat, a celebratory dance procession of the groom and family heading to meet the bride’s family, Vinod, family and friends danced to the beat of the drums thoroughly enjoying the whole ritual culminating in the Milni with Payal’s mom prior to entering the ceremony site.  Meanwhile Payal and I hid behind one of the rock structures just to the left of the ceremony site where I took some final portraits of Payal as a single woman.  I could sense Payal getting a little nervous at this point and so I chatted with her a bit to hopefully allow her to relax while we heard the crowd cheering and the loud beating of the drums in the background.

Stay tuned for Part II!:-) ~ Lilet

Wedding Highlight Video by April Robles Patel, Robles Video Productions

Ahh, February, the month of love, this post is for all the lovers out there, those who are in love, about to be or currently engaged and about to be married.  They are the lucky ones who found their piece of heaven on earth.  Yes, LOVE…that one word that makes the world go round.  It brings out the best in us.  So, you think you’re in love but are wondering if you’ve found the right one?  This is for you.  ( Be sure to check out our tribute slideshow below.)

Recently I stumbled upon a movie (I can’t remember the title!) with the premise that if you register your likes and preferences in an agency and wear a bracelet, it will count down to the time and actually beep when you encounter your true soul mate. It was quite interesting and had me thinking, wow, what if indeed it was possible to find your soul mate in (gasp!)  junior high? It was an interesting premise.  What if there was a sure fire way to increase your chances of happiness in an unknowable future?  There is so much advice on how to know.  We’ve all heard the common “When you’ve found the right one, you’ll know”. But that doesn’t really help much does it?  So upon looking around a little bit, here are some of my favorite things that are commonly said to be essential in knowing if you’ve found the one.  For sure, there are a lot more, feel free to add your own criteria by commenting below.

1. Know thyself, once you do then you know what you want.
2. How does your loved one make you feel about yourself?
3. Does your loved one help you nurture your dreams and try new things?
4. Can you talk about anything and everything?
5. Does your loved one excite you and make you come alive?
6. Does he/she love you and accept you as you are?
7. Is this relationship different from your past ones?
8. Are they genuinely interested in what you are doing?
9. If you are not dating him/her, would you be friends with this person?
10. How do they treat their family and your family?
11. Would you consider this person as a co-parent to your child/children?
12. Do you complement each other?  Opposites do attract, to a certain degree.

Let’s face it. “No one is perfect. Everyone has baggage. Making that decision is like skydiving: It’s a crazy thing to do if you think about it logically, but you pray that the ride down will be exhilarating and that you’ll land on your feet. People take that leap of faith with naïve confidence.” –Rachel Greenwald

This one is one of my faves.

“A relationship is about give and take, yes. But if he is the one, he will protect you and make you a better person, even if you’re the only person stopping yourself from going ahead in life.

All of us suffer from sudden bouts of irritation or frustration, both men and women.  But most men have a lower tolerance for mood swings and unpredictable behavior. Can your man smile with you and put up with you? Can he shower you with affection when you’re feeling lonely, and put up with your tantrums when you’re irritated?  You’ll know if he is the one when he can bear with your tantrums.

How to know if he or she is the one? You’d never know until you take the plunge and give them a chance to love you.  But remember to communicate, learn and give love a chance to blossom into a great one.”- Lovepanky.com

We all want the same thing, to love and be loved in return.  Find out how these real LightRain Images couples found their one true love.  If you haven’t found yours, keep an open heart, if you have, cherish and protect it.

May you have the kind of love you have always dreamed about.  Happy Valentine’s month! ~ Lilet & Glenn 

(Music by Train “Marry Me”)