This week’s couple is Imaya and Ranuka.  They were supposed to get married 2 years ago but then this pandemic happened.  They put it off twice and finally had their wedding this year!

I have been talking with Imaya, the bride, on and off for two years, planning and rescheduling her wedding.  Since the first time we talked she has graduated law school, passed the bar and has become a lawyer in Georgia.  That is a lot of accomplishments while waiting for your wedding!

The day of the wedding started at Ashton Gardens outside of Atlanta.  Ashton Gardens is a premier wedding venue that combines a blend of city convenience and serene landscapes.  Their signature glass chapel is surrounded by greenery that provides a soft natural light and open feel to the chapel area.  There is also a ballroom conveniently located next door with floor to ceiling windows accented with glistening crystal chandeliers and two grand staircases.

Imaya arrived with her makeup done and got ready in the bridal room.  The couple wanted to do two wardrobe changes.  The first would be in their ceremonial wedding outfit and the second in their reception outfits.  Imaya and Ranuka looked great in both!  The ceremonial outfits were very traditional and tasteful, while the reception outfits were more colorful, classic and fun.  We kept the bride and groom separated during the shoots, so there was an element of surprise when Ranuka would see Imaya for the first time on ther wedding day.

The ceremony was held inside the chapel.  It was a mixed ceremony based on Sri Lanka culture.   Sri Lanka is an island south of the Indian mainland.  Since it is an island it has a rich history of international trade that influences the many religions that are practiced there.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  The bridesmaids sang a traditional song and there was even a person playing the conch shell.  The couple fed each other and shared the cup of life.  The two families exchanged gifts and the ceremony ended with the minister chopping a coconut in half!

After the ceremony everyone went next door to the reception.   The bridesmaids and groomsmen came to the reception at different ends of the ballroom.  Then the groom came down the grand staircase on the left, walked over to the right staircase and greeted his new wife as she entered.  They went into their first dance and you could tell they had been practicing because they had every twirl and dance move down!  The brothers, sisters and parents toasted to the bride and groom.   The parents even sang a song to the newly married couple.  Then the girls and boys in the wedding party each did a routine.  It was a show to behold!

It was a wonderful wedding! I want to thank Imaya, Ranuka, and their families for the honor of being their wedding photographer.  It was a day to remember!

Thanks for reading this blog!  I hope you found it both informative and entertaining! Make sure you keep coming back to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings are up to! If you’d like to contact us go to the contact page and drop us a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks!