Sean and Eileen’s vibrant Indian wedding celebration at the Harper beautifully captured traditions of Indian culture, combined with a modern flair. The festivities began with traditional Sikh ceremonies at the couple’s home and then headed into a lively reception at the Harper in Orange County! 

Meet Cute

Sean and Eileen first crossed paths in California, where they met through mutual friends at a Halloween party after often spotting each other at the gym. Born in the US to Indian parents, Sean connected with Eileen, who had recently moved from New York to California. They quickly discovered they shared many values and interests, setting them on a wonderful journey towards becoming life partners. 🙂

Proposal

During the Fourth of July weekend, Sean proposed at his Uncle Paul’s house while everyone was celebrating his cousin Binnie’s Jaggo. He surprised Eileen by asking her to marry him on the mic in front of all their friends and family. Everyone was thrilled and celebrated with the couple, looking forward to the next family wedding.

Indian Pre-Wedding Celebration 

The wedding festivities began with a Mehendi ceremony, where women received beautiful and intricate henna tattoos, symbolizing beauty and spiritual awakening. It was one of the most spectacular customs!! This intimate gathering was followed by a lively evening of dancing and singing, truly capturing the essence of Indian wedding celebrations. People were dressed in a rainbow of bright colors– it was SO stunning! The perfect festivities going into the wedding day! 

Wedding Day

Sean and Eileen’s wedding ceremony, held at a local temple, was a vivid celebration of Sikh traditions. Before heading to the temple, Eileen got ready at her friend’s home in Costa Mesa, surrounded by her family and close friends. Sean started off the day at home with his family who helped him get ready with a few ceremonial customs including attaching some decorative elements to his clothing and giving him a sword to carry throughout the day.

Sikh Religious Ceremony

Before the ceremony, the couple welcomed guests at the temple with a communal breakfast buffet. It was the perfect way to have a warm welcome and set the tone for the rest of the day. Choosing to have a traditional ceremony,  Sean and Eileen followed a Sikh religious ceremony. To honor the sacred temple guidelines, guests followed customs like removing shoes before entering the ceremony space and covering heads with scarves. During the ceremony, the couple circled the altar four times, a symbolic act representing their journey together, while sacred Sikh texts were read aloud. Guests also participated by placing money at the altar as blessings.

Modern Photos

After the ceremony, the couple explored a nearby stunning desert garden backdrop so we could capture some photos of them enjoying a quiet moment together. It was so fun to get their traditional attire juxtaposed against the modern scenery. Really loved the entire vibe of this session- working to capture that essence of their union and contemporary spirits!! 

Before heading to the reception, the day-time festivities concluded with a ritual welcoming the couple into their home as newlyweds. Surrounded by family, they shared treats, drank chai, and talked about all the new beginnings that would be coming their way. A perfect moment to capture their promising start to a blended life together as a family. 

Evening Celebration at The Harper

The day progressed to the reception at Harper, where Sean and Eileen changed into their second outfits, adding a touch of glam to their multicultural celebration. Eileen wore a Galia Lahav couture gown complete with custom tulle & beaded gloves her seamstress created from leftover fabric once the wedding dress was tailored to fit her. The overall look was a modern bridal vision! Paired with Sean in a black tux, these two couldn’t have looked more refined on their wedding day.

The reception was SO joyful , with the  dance floor bustling with guests of all ages. People danced the night away, and the energy was evident. Sean and Eileen included all the kids in the family, easily 25% of the total guest list! The little ones played  and laughed all night. Loved that they welcomed the entire family to be part of their special day. From newborn to elderly, everyone felt included and partied the night away! 

A Wedding to Remember

Sean and Eileen’s wedding was more than a celebration. It was a day of vivid moments– tradition, love and cultural richness. It was an unforgettable event that not only honored their respective heritages but also symbolized the beautiful union of their families and traditions. So thrilled for them and their new beginnings!! 

In Their Words

“Not only is Erin a very talented photographer, she is personable and made us feel so comfortable. We have never had professional photos done so we weren’t sure what to expect but were blown away, we had so much fun and the results were amazing. 10/10 Recommend!” – Eileen & Sean

Vendors 

Ceremony venue- Sikh Center of Orange County

Reception venue- https://www.theharperoc.com/

Planner- Tamara from https://www.firstpickplanning.com/

Florist- https://thebloomoftime.com/

Dress (American wedding dress)- https://www.galialahav.com/

Catering and bar- https://www.roomforty.com/

Hair and makeup- https://luonglasting.com/

DJ- https://www.fusionsounds.com/

Henna- https://www.instagram.com/artzappeal/

Rentals- https://bright.com/

If you liked this vibrant Indian wedding celebration at The Harper, check out this destination wedding weekend in Mexico!