I was recently invited to photograph the rehearsal dinner of Julie and Mark at Chickasaw Country Club in Memphis. It was a beautiful setting for an evening filled with friends and family who had gathered to honor Julie and Mark.
There were several toasts given, which were funny and touching, resulting in plenty of laughs and a few tears too!
I was honored to be there to document this wonderful night. Congratulations, Julie and Mark!
Last weekend, I was asked by our friend Venisha to take photos one evening during the weekend retreat she was hosting for a group of girls from her church (including my niece!) The night I was there, the girls were getting ready for a dressy night where they were going out for a special dinner. They got dressed in their finest, and one of the girls was chosen at random to receive a hair and make-up makeover by a stylist Venisha brought in. It was a lot of fun getting to spend a little time with these girls!
I’ve already given you a glimpse into Shiv’s mundan. Now, I’ll show you photos from the other birthday events from that same weekend! The mundan took place Saturday morning, and that evening, there was a casual birthday party for Shiv at a family friend’s home. Dubbed a “Beer, Barbeque, & Birthday Cake” party, to be exact!
Happy birthday, Shiv! 
A little impromptu chalk art for Shiv’s birthday party, by Jason
It turned out wonderfully, don’t you think? 
Cute cute cute party decorations!
Shiv’s pretty cool. He had specially designed graphics for his birthday party.
Mama and Gigi help Shiv blow out the candles on his birthday cakes
The adults were mingling and enjoying one another’s company, while the kids took advantage of all the fun things to do! There was a trampoline and playset with a slide, a little deck to play on, and ‘hanging crow’s nest” style swings. The kids had a ball!
I discovered the Shiv naturally struck poses that made him look like a professional toddler model
Do you get the idea that Shiv loved the trampoline? 
Shiv loved being spun around in the swing by his Gigi! 
Gigi, Shiv wants to play some more!
The nighttime birthday party came to an end when the guest of honor needed to head off to bed. But that wasn’t the last of his birthday festivities! Sunday morning, there was a small brunch held at Kate’s house. It was a more intimate gathering, but it was really special nonetheless. Here are some fun moments from that brunch!
Beautiful dining room at Kate’s house, with some of the brunch foods laid out 
That ball is almost as big as you are, Shiv!
Some sweet time between Shiv and Gigi 
Shiv and Mama open some of his presents. He’s so excited to have new books! 
(baby kisses!) 
After witnessing the sense of family that Shiv, Jill and Nishta had with people from various aspects of their lives who came together for Shiv’s mundan and birthday festivities. I think the hopes for that weekend expressed in the mundan invitation were fully realized:
We also hope this occasion will be a way to bring together many different parts of Shiv’s extended family, to celebrate with you and thank each of you for your love, support, and guidance in our lives.”
The celebrations for Shiv’s 2nd birthday were so great that I hardly know where to begin!
I do know where to begin, actually: the mundan ceremony.
Don’t know what a mundan ceremony is? That’s okay. Neither did I before I was invited to photograph Shiv’s. Shiv’s parents, Nishta and Jill, were kind of enough to send the invited guests a little card with an explanation of what the ceremony involves and what it signifies. Here’s what it said:
“The mundan is an ancient Hindu sacrament marking a child’s first haircut. During the ceremony, the child’s head is shaved to bestow a long life and a prosperous future. As with all Hindu rites, a sacred fire, or havan, is built to invoke the presence and blessing of the divine.
Our family view Shiv’s mundan ceremony as an opportunity to honor the Indian heritage that constitutes part of his multifaceted identity. We also hope this occasion will be a way to bring together many different parts of Shiv’s extended family, to celebrate with you and thank each of you for your love, support, and guidance in our lives.”
The home where Shiv’s mundan took place was GORGEOUS
Meet Shiv – the man of the hour! With his Nani (Nistha’s mother)
Shiv with his mothers, Jill and Nistha (his Gigi and his Mama)
Aunt “Coco” (Courtney) with Shiv, Gigi, and Mama
Shiv, clutching his mama’s sari – the sari Nishta’s mom had worn at Nishta’s mundan as a child!
Sweetest face!
It is traditional to remove your shoes when entering an Indian home
The priest, preparing for the ceremony
Shiv, having a look at the set-up for this very special ceremony
Time for Uncle Sacha to have the honor of performing the haircut. The priest hands over the scissors.
Snipping locks from Shiv’s hair
Only a little of Shiv’s hair was cut in the room where the ceremony took place, as he was taken into the bathroom to properly finish the haircut with clippers. Then he was bathed, as another step of the ceremony dictated. Since electric clippers would be a new experience for Shiv, his mothers wisely had his beloved Uncle Sacha come over and buzz his own hair with the clippers a few days before the mundan, so Shiv would hopefully be more at ease with having his hair shaved.
Shiv looks at the tufts of his hair as they fall to the counter. This was his first haircut, after all.
Shiv didn’t even flinch when Uncle Sacha began buzzing his hair. He was very well behaved!
GiGi and Mama lovingly hold Shiv during this process
All those little curls!
Guests were serenaded
A little boy with a fresh haircut and freshly bathed had a change of clothes and returns for the rest of the ceremony
Guests participate in the blessing of Shiv
A reading by Shiv’s Uncle Dave. He read from R.M. Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet”
Aunt Coco read a poem by Rumi
Kate led those in attendance in call-and-response blessings for Shiv
Some of the items used in the mundan
Centerpiece on one of the tables where the guests had lunch after the ceremony
the littlest mundan ceremony guest (and such a cutie!)
Guests, enjoying some good Indian food and wonderful fellowship after the mundan
Shiv and the other young men, playing around the back yard after lunch
Coming up next: Part Two of Shiv’s birthday weekend festivities!