It’s no secret I love the Turtles . They did an incredible job documenting our wedding day and in the 3 years since, Nick and I feel so blessed to call both Amanda and Nate dear friends. When Amanda asked me some weeks ago if I could help the two of them shoot what promised to be a fabulous Indian wedding, my heart burst a bit inside with two parts happiness and one part “For real, you really want ME to help YOU?” WELL OF COURSE! 
What followed on that warm August day felt like a dream, from sun up to sun down. To shoot alongside a mentor, a friend, an amazing team. To watch Hema and Neil, two ridiculously accomplished people, so in love, get married. To celebrate in the rituals and richness of a beautiful culture I’d never before experienced.
It was amazing, pure and simple. Over-the-top. An event befitting a spread in a wedding magazine. And on the long car ride home from Cincinnati that night, I kept looking in the rear-view mirror to see a giant grin plastered across my face. It’s a grin that comes back every time I think of that day, these friends, and these photographs.
Nate and Amanda, you are AMAZING! And if you’re reading this post, please, please, please take in the eye candy that is Turtle Pond Photography’s two part series of this wedding HERE and HERE.
A photographer couldn’t have asked for better details. Everywhere you looked a picture was begging to be taken!
While Neil waited atop a hill to ride down to the mansion on a horse (SO fabulous!), Hema waited inside (with me! ) with a view out of the celebration.
Hema kept saying during these moments, “I feel like I’m watching a movie of my life right now … this isn’t real.”
The wedding ceremony itself was two hours long and filled with such poignant rituals and tender moments. It was unlike any ceremony I’ve ever attended! 
The children at this wedding, Amanda and I both agreed, were some of the most beautiful little ones we’d ever laid eyes on! How handsome is this fella?
After a day of festivities, everyone left, Hema and Neil changed, and then welcomed their guests for the wedding reception. Hema was BEAUTIFUL!
FAVORITE!
Speaking of beautiful, a peek at some of the guests. Colors, colors, colors, EVERYWHERE! I was soaking this entire day up like a giant sponge!
Hema had a mega-watt smile and I swear I’ve never seen a bride more radiant or joyful on her wedding day. I included this shot just to show you how much fun she was to photograph and how much fun she and Neil were having on their big day!
Nate and Amanda, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU again and again and again! I hope some day I’m blessed enough to help you both once more (or half-dozen times, who am I kidding? )
by Gail Werner
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