Steve and Sheila's Wedding

My little brother got married last weekend.  It's so hard to believe he's a married man!  He's had quite the year since he completed his doctorate at University of Michigan last May, started his first job out of school as a Philosophy professor at Coe College in Iowa, and got married! He met Sheila in Ann Arbor, Michigan while he was in school and they've been together for a couple of years now.  She's a really awesome girl - so sweet and fun to be around, and their personalities balance each other well.  As soon as you meet them, you can tell they're best friends who love to laugh together.  It's the best kind of marriage as far as we're concerned. 

We've loved getting to know Sheila, and it was wonderful to meet her lovely and gracious family. They did a lot of work preparing for the wedding and other events, and many of Sheila's relatives flew in from India, which meant so much to them.  It was my family's first time to attend a Hindu wedding and we learned much about their traditions and culture over the weekend.  I think both families were nervous about everything going well, but we all had a great time and Sheila and Steve were glowing on their wedding day.  We're looking forward to spending more time with them as a couple in the years to come!

A major milestone for us - Emma's first flight!

After she blew out her diaper (and outfit and blanket) during the first hour of the flight, she felt fantastic and slept the rest of the way to Michigan. :)  Changing all her clothes in the tiny airplane bathroom was an adventure and no one fell in the toilet, which I consider a monumental success. 

Dan has embraced the "sleep when the baby sleeps" rule.

When we arrived in Michigan, our first wedding-related event was Sheila's Mehndi, where her hands, arms, and legs were decorated with beautiful henna tattoos for the wedding ceremony.  It took over three hours for her henna to be finished, but it was well worth the time investment.  She said the tradition is that the new bride is excused from all housework until the tattoos wear off. :)

Sheila's parents hosted the Mehndi in their back yard

Getting my henna

Steve got Sheila's name on his hand. Cute. :)

That night, there was a dinner for family and friends on the University of Michigan campus. We took some family photos before the dinner, including this one of both our families.

Steve, Sheila, and my parents

Our little family

Emma getting love from her Aunt and Uncle

And from Nana and Papa

She looked adorable, but in hindsight, the sparkles on her dress were a bad idea.  We're still picking glitter off her scalp, out of her ears, etc.

Monday was the wedding day! The ladies joined Sheila in the dressing room as she was draped with her wedding sari.

Putting the final touches on the gorgeous bride

At the beginning of the ceremony, Sheila's family walked down the aisle way to Steve with traditional Hindu gifts, then walked him back to the front of the temple to join their family.

The ceremonial meeting of the bride and groom - the priest said this was traditionally the very first time the bride and groom would have ever held hands. Which explains the sheepish look on Steve's face. Ha!

This was my favorite part of the ceremony, when they sat on a swing together and swung back and forth. It represents marriage and how it swings from good times to bad times, but you stay on it.

During the ceremony, my Mom, Dad, and I (as well as Sheila's family) sat on stage in front of everyone alongside Steve and Sheila. It was not intimidating at all. :) 

My mom and dad looking elegant.  Sheila visited India last year and bought the gorgeous saris for my mom and I to wear during the wedding.

Me and my girl all dressed up for the wedding!

A picture with the happy bride and groom

Emma slept through the ceremony, but she's happy to now have another doting aunt in the family!

By Monday evening, we were back at the airport heading home. It was a whirlwind trip, but we're so thankful we were able to be there to celebrate with Steve and Sheila!