Today we get to share the mehndi and nikkah ceremonies of Amber and Joe taken by Cameron Leung and Tracy, South Californian based wedding photographers who are newly engaged… to each other. Congrats!

Cameron and Tracy had this to say about the Asian pre wedding ceremonies.

“Amber is a practicing Muslim, as her father is originally from Pakistan. The bride and groom wanted to incorporate Amber’s family’s faith in the celebration of their union. They had a Western-styled wedding in November.

Day 1: Mehndi Ceremony

Traditionally the Mehndi Ceremony takes place a day or two before the main wedding day and is a festive celebration of the bride and groom. Amber’s guests sang and danced before Joe arrived. Once Joe arrived, guests partook in the Sadka (warding off evil). Guests then donate money by circling three times on the Bride and Grooms head.

Amber’s hands were beautifully decorated with henna and often in these designs the groom’s name or initial is hidden within the design.

You will also find Amber’s hands were beautifully decorated with henna and often in these designs the groom’s name or initial is hidden within the design. See if you can find Joe’s!

Day 2: Nikkah Ceremony

The Nikkah is a solemn and sacred social contract between the bride and groom. Both parties mutually agree and enter into this contract where both the bride and groom have the liberty to define various spiritual, monetary, and symbolic terms and conditions for the life they will share.

Both the bride and groom have the liberty to define various spiritual, monetary, and symbolic terms and conditions for the life they will share…

The contract requires the father to give his daughter with her permission, the groom to offer a Mahr (gift), and two adult male witnesses to confirm before the contract is made public (to guests of the ceremony).”

A big thank you to Cameron and Tracy for sharing these photos today. See more of their lovely work on their website, blog or on Facebook!