Your True-Blue Muslim Wedding Photographer in Chicago
Shan Photography is a passionate and enthusiastic team of wedding photographers in Chicago, specializing in the art of capturing heartwarming love stories across the USA. With more than 15 years of experience in the field, we are experts in the craft of documenting weddings of multiple styles and cultures, including traditional Muslim weddings.
Being a comprehensive wedding photography company, we house a team of professionally qualified photographers who are well-versed and trained in the cultural nuances of Muslim weddings. Put together with our state-of-the-art gear, it makes us one of the most reliable and authentic Muslim wedding photographers in Chicago. We know and understand the intricacies of a Muslim wedding more than anyone else, and this includes traditions that form part of regional cultures around the world.
To document your Muslim wedding in the most real way, we follow a mix of artistic and photojournalistic styles of photography. This allows us to capture the best of candid moments as well as creative portraits that reflect your endearing love story. By doing so, we strive to offer the most vivid collection of wedding pictures that will take you back to your big day every time you flip through.
As a comprehensive Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago, we offer a wide range of services in wedding documentation, including extensive wedding-day coverage, pre-wedding and post-wedding event coverage, wedding album creation, and more. To make our services accessible to all, we also offer complete customizability; this means, you get to tailor our services to fit your unique needs, budget, and vision.
To start curating your unique wedding vision and wedding photography package, contact Shan Photography!
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Muslim wedding traditions around the world
Islam being the second-largest religious community in the world, comprises multiple traditions and customs forming part of different countries. Depending on the part of the world they belong to, Muslims celebrate their weddings in different ways, and their ceremonies involve multiple rituals subject to the regional norms and ethnic compositions prevalent in their local community.
From South Asian to Middle Eastern to North African, and East Asian, Muslim wedding celebrations are diverse and beautiful, not to mention, inclusive of certain regional traditions that may not necessarily be a part of conventional Islamic weddings.
This is why you need an experienced Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago to document your wedding; one who is well-versed in the ritualistic traditions specific to every regional community, so that you get to enjoy a vivid and authentic viewing experience when it comes to wedding pictures.
Irrespective of the country or community, Muslim weddings typically involve a series of common conventions too blended in with regional traditions. These conventions are celebrated minimally or extravagantly, depending on the couple’s taste for events.
As an expert in Muslim wedding photography in Chicago, we have seen and captured a diverse range of styles and celebrations in the city. Combined with our deep-rooted knowledge of the religious culture, it makes us a true-blue service provider who can help make your wedding vision come to life.
Typical Muslim wedding traditions in the USA
Muslim weddings extracted from any regional community around the world are exquisite experiences involving several religious customs and traditions. While the celebration incorporates different rituals and events particularly belonging to the country that the couple belongs to, the ceremony typically has a few common events.
As an experienced Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago, we have had the privilege of capturing many traditional love stories across the city. While some of these have been South Asian Muslim weddings, some have been Middle Eastern.
Regardless, the typical Muslim wedding traditions followed in the USA are as follows.
Mehndi
Mehndi is a pre-wedding event that is commonly a part of South Asian weddings. It typically involves the bride and her family members, mostly female members, including bridesmaids getting together and adorning their hands and feet with henna designs. It is customary for the Muslim bride to have heavily henna-clad hands when getting married to the love of her life. The bridal party also joins in on the celebratory event and gets henna designs done.
Some couples also have a Manjha event following the Mehndi event, which is a purification ceremony similar to the South Asian Haldi. It involves the couple applying turmeric paste to their hands and feet a few days before the wedding.
Nikah
The Nikah, also called katb Al Kitab, is the main wedding ceremony where the bride and the groom are officially declared a couple. It involves the signing of the Muslim marriage contract, which in countries governed by Muslim laws, acts as both the religious and civil marital agreement. It is presided over by an Imam, or a senior member of the religious community with a comprehensive knowledge of the cultural norms. While it is typically held in a Mosque, in Chicago, especially in places where there are no significantly prominent Muslim communities, the ceremony is held privately at home for intimate weddings, or in a rented venue if the couple is inclined towards an extravagant wedding celebration. Needless to say, it is one of the most crucial must-capture moments when it comes to Muslim wedding photography in Chicago.
Mahr
Mahr – an integral part of Muslim weddings is essentially an elaborate gifting ritual, where the groom and his family offer cash, jewelry, or other valuable gifts to the bride as a sign of respect. It is considered a legal right of the bride to receive Mahr and can be used or spent in any way she chooses. It typically happens after the main wedding ceremony or Nikah.
Surah Al-Fatihah
Surah Al-Fatihah marks the official beginning of the journey of the couple as husband and wife. It involves a collective recital of the first chapter of the Quran and is an important moment to be captured by a Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago.
Arsi Mushaf
Arsi Mushaf is an interesting ritual where the groom looks at the bride’s face through a mirror. It is marked by a lot of fun and celebration where the bridal party teases the bride making her blush and laugh with happiness.
Baraat
Baraat is a ceremony typical to most South Asian weddings. It is a high-spirited event where the groom and his entourage arrive at the wedding venue; the groom usually rides atop a horse. Modern couples also use other extraordinary things in place of a horse, such as an exotic car, a vintage vehicle, etc. It is one of the most highly anticipated moments in Muslim wedding photography in Chicago, as it is more about togetherness and celebration. Middle Eastern and African Muslim weddings may not have a baraat event.
Zaffe
Zaffe, typically a part of Arab weddings, is when the couple makes their official entrance as a newlywed couple into their reception party. It is a fun and joyous event where friends and family wholeheartedly celebrate the union of the couple and is followed by more celebrations.
Walima
Walima is a reception event, typically hosted by the groom and his family. It involves a formal and lavish dinner that serves as an official welcoming of the bride into the groom’s family.
In the South Asian culture, the entire wedding event is conducted by the bride and her family and it may include a reception, in which case a Walima is hosted by the groom as a second reception event.
In the Middle Eastern culture, the wedding is conducted by the groom’s family, in which case the Walima will be the only reception event.
It is marked by wholesome meals, heartwarming wishes, song and dance performances, and togetherness; indeed, an eyeful feat to capture for a Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago.
Dabke
Dabke refers to the traditional and fold performances that form part of Muslim weddings, particularly Arab weddings. Couples usually hire professionals to grace the occasion and entertain the guests.
Barmet Al-aroos
Barmet Al-aroos marks the official grand exit of the newly married couple at the end of all events. It is a celebratory affair where friends and family follow the couple in their own vehicles, cheer them on, and bless them wholeheartedly to have a happy married life ahead.
As experts in Muslim wedding photography in Chicago, we offer completely customizable wedding photography packages covering pre-wedding, wedding day, and post-wedding events. You can choose to have any of these events and more and have them documented vividly to cherish for the rest of your life.
Top-rated Muslim wedding venues in Chicago
Chicago is home to some of the most exquisite wedding venues with unique settings perfect for Muslim weddings. Each one offers distinct attributes and features that suit the needs and preferences of all types of couples. While some venues offer a traditional Mughal-inspired palace setting, others offer a contemporary elevation that appeals to modern couples.
As a veteran Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago, we have captured many beautiful wedding stories across many exotic venues in the windy city.
Here are three top-rated venues that we have previously serviced.
Hilton, Chicago
Hilton presents one of the most luxurious Muslim wedding venues in all of Chicago. It features a palace-like ballroom with shimmering metallic hues, crystal chandeliers, carved ceilings, silk drapes, and grandiose pillars – a collective setting that forms the perfect backdrop for a regal Muslim ceremony.
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk
Sheraton Grand, situated in the heart of the windy city is another exquisitely ambient wedding venue that offers regal-inspired elements perfect for Muslim wedding photography. Its ballroom features colossal floor-to-ceiling windows, colorful and stylish chandeliers, and stunning views of the Chicago skyline, all of which serve to form excellent frames for wedding portraits.
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
Four Seasons is one of the most popular locations for Muslim weddings in Chicago. Featuring a dramatic ballroom with champagne-colored silk drapes and wall coverings, sparkling chandeliers, and a majestic staircase, it offers stunning backdrops for ceremonial pictures as well as portraits. Additionally, it features an exotic art collection with masterpieces created by legends such as Picasso and Warhol. A Muslim wedding held here will be a sight to behold.
The windy city boasts many more royalty-inspired wedding venues, including some hidden gems known only by experienced professionals such as Shan Photography. As a hands-on Muslim wedding photographer in Chicago, we can help guide you in your venue selection process, and help you nail the perfect setting for your Muslim wedding vision.
Count on Shan Photography to make your Muslim wedding vision come true
With our diversely experienced and qualified professionals, state-of-the-art equipment, and a profound love for capturing unique love stories, we are one of the most reliable Muslim wedding photographers in Chicago. Our deep-rooted knowledge of the Muslim culture spanning multiple regions of the world will help us ensure that you receive the most accurate documentation of your big day. Count on us to fulfill your wedding vision.
Contact Shan Photography today! Let’s discuss your vision!