This three day wedding was by far one of the most vibrant and thrilling wedding experiences I have ever participated in! We got to witness the union between two very rich cultures – the Nigerian Edo culture and Indian culture from Rajasthan. Not only was it a blend of cultures, it was an intersect of two faiths – Hinduism and Christianity. John and Reena met in 2014, and it only took 6 months for Reena to know that John was the one for her. John is a physician, and Reena is actually in the wedding industry like me – she started Kahani Events & Design to offer full wedding planning services and decor rental. She truly knows how to make a vision come to life! She planned their entire wedding, all of the meticulous details and well thought out cultural symbolism.
Now, a bit about the traditions that made up their wedding! The mehndi party takes place two nights before the wedding ceremony, and is for all the ladies in the family and wedding party to get mehndi, also known as henna. The following night is the sangeet – it’s like a pre-party where there are songs, skits, and dances, all performed to entertain the guests who are close to the family. For this, Reena’s family prepared a variety of Bollywood dances, and John’s family put on a fashion runway, showcasing a few different ethnic groups in Nigeria. Even the kids participated and it was hilarious to watch their runway walks! This night was a favorite for many, even for me. Just watching two families from different sides of the world, come together and taste each other’s food, try each other’s dances, and sing each other’s songs… it was just a beautiful thing!!
To see their official wedding the next day, go here! John + Reena’s Indian Nigerian Wedding
Sangeet Attire:
Reena’s silk lehngha: @kalista.official
John’s light peach kurta: @korabynm
