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Sindhu and Subash at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa, Photography by Adam Houseman

This past year was full of many abrupt changes and challenges, but also so many bright moments and deeply meaningful memories. Back in April, the beautiful couple, Sindhu and Subash, were originally drawn to us by our incredible owner’s diversity and shared Indian/Hindu background. Sindhu, Subash, and many of their immediate family members work in the medical field, so Covid-19 precautions were incredibly important to everyone. Sindhu and Subash selected Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash, Colorado, just 75 miles west of Denver and 15 minutes from Winter Park, mainly due to tighter restrictions and regulations, so their ceremony had a total of 35 guests, mostly all family, and were all involved in their gorgeous outdoor wedding ceremony.

Photography by Adam Houseman

Safety was their main priority, so all guests and vendors were tested prior to the ceremony. Because their original event choices changed once Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions began, they both decided on Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa by mid-July, shortly after, everything fell right into place. 

Their ceremony and reception were both full of so many special traditions and details. traditional part of the Indian wedding ceremony is when the bride and groom exchange floral garlands, a ritual called jaimala or varmala. These garlands are intricately woven of blossoming flowers, usually jasmine, roses, and marigolds, although the type of flowers used can vary with the season.

Photography by Adam Houseman, Mandap and garland florals by The Stalk Market

It is another tradition in an Indian Wedding to have the Mandap (Alter or Chuppah) decorated with many fresh flowers. It is also a tradition for the bride and groom’s family to lift the bride and groom to see if the bride or groom can garland their partner. It it meant to be a fun challenge. 

Photography by Adam Houseman, florals by The Stalk Market

In Western culture, couples typically exchange rings. In Indian culture, the bride will always wear her toe rings. The groom puts those on at the wedding ceremony. The toe ring, known as bicchiya, is commonly worn by married Hindu women in India. The bicchiya is worn in pairs in the second toe of both feet and are usually made of silver. They are worn by the women as the symbol of being married and are not removed throughout the bride’s lifetime.

Photography by Adam Houseman

Sindhu and Subash used a dictionary as their guest book, so guests would find a word that meant something special to them and their relationship, and then they would write a special note next to that specific word. 

Photography by Adam Houseman, Florals by The Stalk Market

Sindhu and Subash’s family are from all over the world, so we recommended professional videographer and drone pilot Zac Fabian at Wedding Videos Colorado as their Videographer. Zac and his talented team were able to live stream the entire ceremony, as well as pre-ceremony rituals, so all family members could be a part of the special day, even if they could not all gather together. Zac is currently working on adding other additional virtual elements for weddings in 2021, including some interactive options due to the pandemic and the increased demand for smaller weddings. We absolutely loved planning this safe and socially distanced celebration, with so many beautiful colors and traditions. 

You can contact Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash for availability and reservation at (970) 726-7000 and visit their website at devilsthumbranch.com. Also be sure to follow on Instagram at @devilsthumbranch. To reserve professional videographer Zac Fabian, Wedding Videos Colorado for your special event, contact him directly at fabian-productions.com/booking/ and also be sure to follow his work on Instagram at @fabianvideo.