Often people leave Thanksgiving weekend reserved for family, but what about your new additions? Jocelyn and Tiroca took this holiday period to celebrate two big occasions. First, the Thanksgiving itself, and the day after — their joyous wedding held in St. Claires Shores, Detroit, Michigan.

The chilly winds that day put a little damper on our outdoor shooting plans, but everything else from the preparation to the reception was exceptionally blissful. At the end of the day, I was glad to be an instrument in preserving those memories.

Hope you enjoy the photos, and feedback most welcome!

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To me, weddings are one of the most challenging events to photograph (in the same echelons as news and war photography). Every instance is important, and a moment lost could be a lifetime opportunity wasted. Before, I had been very wary of shooting a wedding on my own, but after some formal training in photojournalism, I became confident of my skills.

Renu and Sachin are traditional Indians living in New York. Their plan is to have a bigger ceremony back home, but wanted the exchanging of rings and gifts  between the two families to be held in the U.S.

That Saturday night was overcast but fortunately it was an indoor ceremony. Families from both sides met, exchanged gifts, and partook in an official Indian ritual. When the courtesies were done and dusted, the festivities lit up the night. An abundance of Indian food and Western liquor kept guests busy even when they were not mingling with each other.

As the night wore on with drinks and hearty laughter, tensions wore off. This was the DJ’s cue to ramp up traditional and pop Indian music through the sound system. Just about everyone hit the dance floor at least once, of course surrounded and preceded by the couple’s ‘first dance.’

Weddings are naturally a happy occasion, though it’s often a hurricane of stress for the photographer. While I don’t deny there were moments of anxiety, I felt the event turned out gloriously and I shot without many hiccups. Weddings are indeed tough, but I know I’ll only get better with more experience and gear under my belt.

See below for a short slideshow of the wedding:

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