I drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle according to Wikipedia.  It is usually thought of  as a weapon of  war used  by Special  Forces Operations to keep pilot’s safe. There is a small but growing  number of civilian application  using drones  in policing, security, inspections, border patrols, and now wedding photography !

My friend Keyur , an amazing Indian photographer who specializes in candid  images, said the  best, most fun wedding he shot had a drone filming as well! Visit Keyur Panchal at his blog below. He shoots  weddings in a number of locations throughout India.

http://keeppicturing.wordpress.com

Well, back to the wedding to which we were invited.  This large reception was the fourth event out of 5 of the week long wedding celebration. I have been to some lovely weddings in the United States but this is right up there as far as glitz and glitter, complete with fireworks.

Here is one pair of waitstaff passing juice and water to the seat guests. There is no alcohol at Hindi weddings.  Notice the helper’s celebratory turban.  We sat waiting for the bride and groom to make their entrance.  First came the bride. . .

then the groom.  It is my understanding that the actual marriage was the day before.  We didn’t go to those ceremonies and lunch as it would taken most of the day.  This huge event  (many hundreds of guests) was hosted by the groom’s family.  The bride and groom will live with his family when in India. They both are practicing doctors in the United States and will return to live and work there.

Not sure about these dancers, but my guess it that they are scaring away evil spirits for the new couple.

Here we are in our glory with Zill , our hostess who is the sister of the bride. Zill was an exchange students at RPI so the students know her.

Here are the guys looking quite elegant, don’t you think?

Little girls dreaming of such a fairy tale wedding, someday !

We were so hungry when it was time to eat. I didn’t take any pictures of the tables and tables along the perimeter  of three sides of the elegant wedding “plot.” It was an unbelievable spread.  There was traditional Indian cuisine, a table for Indian Jains who eat no root vegetables, there was Spanish food, Italian food, a sweets station as well as  one for desserts.  The service was impeccable, the food plentiful,  and I might add, delicious.  Not institutional food cooked in large quantities but delicious  and fresh  at each table !  We ate as if it was our last meal and were soon  resting back in our comfortable chairs trying to stay warm. It was a chilly night . . . . unseasonable for this time in India.

Now here comes the “drone” in the title. Bet , if  you are still reading, you thought I had completely lost my topic, with my meanderings. . . . . but no. .

This is the actual blurry picture I took with my phone!  I had no idea what it was or what it was doing but the guys did.   We were startled and amazed all at the same time as it flew round and round the large party.

For me, the mood changed rather abruptly, not because of  anything at the wedding but with the entrance of the drone. Pretty much after a few seconds, I remembered the drones, and two  weddings  which changed lives in an instant and forever in “Homeland”.  Also the news about hits at weddings to kill terrorists.  Weddings, not unlike this one, where families, the bride and groom, friends, and acquaintances  gathered to celebrate the birth of a new family. A joyful time changed in a second with devastatingly destructive bombs!  I looked around at all these happy people, just imagining. For a moment, I could see the terrible pain and destruction.  It was a horrible glimpse into  the hell of war.

I am blessed that my wedding experience ended this way. . . . .

This Is Incredible India!

I would love to hear about any wedding experiences you have had. . . . . your thoughts on the drone. . . .  or just your reaction  to the post !