South Asian Wedding at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, Michigan

This South Asian wedding at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit was truly legendary. Anjali and Abhi were joined in marriage after nearly a decade together. The best part? We were there to capture every big, beautiful, bold moment filled with utter joy and all the belly laughs.

First Look

Before the ceremony and before the baraat, we made time in the wedding day timeline for Anjali & Abhi to share a first look. We always encourage our couples to share a first look before their wedding festivities kick off. But that sentiment rings all the more true for South Asian weddings. Timelines are tight, and honoring culture, tradition, and family is always a top priority. However, oftentimes, that leaves the couple getting married with very little time alone before joining their families.

A first look is a great way to carve out that time and soak it all in, right at the beginning. Which, ultimately, sets the tone for the rest of the day! For Anjali & Abhi, their venue, The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, is right in the heart of the city. Giving us plenty of epic, nearby Detroit skyline and backdrop to set up their first look.

It’s easy to say that Anjali & Abhi were all smiles, all day, because they were. But the joy they felt when they laid eyes on each other during their first look was overflowing. For them, it was smiling so hard their cheeks hurt, while also being filled with the awareness that their wedding day had arrived and they were ready to embark on this amazing journey together.

After photographing weddings throughout Detroit, The Westin Book Cadillac remains one of our favorite venues for South Asian weddings. Its historic architecture, elegant ballrooms, and downtown location make it easy to move between portraits, ceremonies, and celebrations while giving couples incredible backdrops without traveling far from the venue.

Baraat

After their first look and some wedding day portraits in the streets of Detroit, it was time for the baraat. If you’ve ever attended a wedding where the groom made a grand entrance in a car, on a horse, or by being carried, then you know just how infectious the energy level is! It’s an entire procession filled to the brim with music, dancing, friends, and family. And it all went down right before the ceremony, in the streets.

It’s a festive, high-energy pre-party. Basically, it’s an experience like nothing else! Abhi made his way into the baraat in a Ford Mustang with the top down as friends and family lined the streets, dancing alongside the procession. Once Abhi officially arrived, his groomsmen picked him up and carried him for the remainder of the procession. It’s just as amazing as it sounds, and the entire experience allowed us to shoot some of the most lively wedding photos we’ve ever captured!

At the end of the baraat, both the entrance to the Westin Book Cadillac Detroit and Anjali were waiting for Abhi. As he made his way to his bride, the dancing continued with the vibrant red skirt of Anjali’s gold-embroidered lengha spinning through the air. Everyone stopped for a larger-than-life group photo, and it was officially time for Anjali & Abhi to get married.

The Ceremony

Anjali and Abhi’s wedding ceremony at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit was the coming together of two families. Having spent the previous decade in each other’s company, each family felt that their wedding day solidified the bond that they’ve already forged, honoring the unconditional love that Anjali & Abhi have for each other.

Their ceremony was filled with all the traditions of an Indian wedding ceremony. Including the exchange of varmala, the sacred seven steps, and the talambralu (ritual of happiness), where they shower one another with rice. When it was Abhi’s turn to receive this blessing, Anjali did not hold back, and it made for some vivacious laughter from, well, pretty much everyone!

The beauty of their union brought happiness to every generation in attendance, with loud applause and guests who quickly pulled out their phones to snap Anjali & Abhi as they walked down the aisle together. But their grand exit as a married couple was just an interlude. One that allowed them to go for a spin in that awesome convertible Mustang before changing into their reception attire.

Southeast Asian Wedding Ceremony Detroit

A Night of Celebration at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit

The party that erupted that evening for Anjali and Abhi was nothing short of amazing. Every inch of their venue space at The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit was filled with lush florals, soft drapery, lit candles, white rose petals, and cold sparklers. But it was Anjali and Abhi on the dance floor who lit up the reception, with the help of cheers and applause from their friends and family.

One of the reasons we love photographing weddings at The Westin Book Cadillac is how seamlessly the entire celebration can unfold in one location. From getting ready through the reception, couples can spend less time traveling and more time celebrating with family and friends. Combined with the hotel’s historic architecture and downtown Detroit location, it’s one of our favorite venues for large South Asian celebrations.

South Asian Wedding Photography Detroit

Planning a South Asian wedding in Detroit?

We’ve photographed more than 75 South Asian weddings throughout Detroit, Michigan, Tampa Bay, and beyond, and we’ve created a guide that walks through what it’s like working with us, how we approach multi-day celebrations, and what you can expect throughout the photography process.

Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding day or a full weekend of events, we’re experienced with Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Pakistani, Indian, and multicultural celebrations. From the haldi and mehndi to the sangeet, baraat, ceremony, and reception, our goal is to document the traditions, emotions, and moments that make your celebration unique.

As a husband-and-wife photography team, we’re able to photograph multiple perspectives throughout the day while ensuring the moments happening simultaneously aren’t missed. While one of us is documenting the energy of the baraat, the other may be capturing family reactions. While one of us is photographing portraits, the other is often documenting the candid moments unfolding around them.

Explore our South Asian Wedding Photography Guide to learn more about our approach, view full galleries, and see what couples can expect when working with us.

If you’re ready to start planning, we’d love to hear more about your wedding and how we can help document your celebration.