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MeiLin@MeiLinBarralPhoto.com
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Welcome to the blog, home to Chicago's intimate wedding, elopement, & dog photographer for couples grounded in the present moment.
(I'm here and queer!)
1. My first name is Mei Lin (she/her)
2. I'm part of the LGBTQ+ & BIPOC communities
3. I really love pugs!
4. I’m a huge musical theatre fan
5. I care deeply about animal welfare as well as social justice issues.
6. I incorporate sustainable practices throughout your wedding photography experience
Five years ago in India, while planning a surprise party for a friend, Amrita needed help. It was late the night before said party when she called Bharat, a mutual friend of hers and the friend she was throwing the party for, and asked if he could help her plan and execute the party. The following morning, just mere hours after their initial phone call, Amrita and Bharat met at a grocery store to get supplies for the party.
Fast forward to February of this year, Bharat created one of the most beautiful and sentimental proposals for his partner. Amrita, an avid reader, loves to read with a glass of wine to relax. To personalize the proposal experience for his future-wife, Bharat created his own book for Amrita to read. The Next Chapter was a beautiful book full of memories of their relationship, of their family, and of quotes from Amrita’s favorite books and authors. On the second-to-last page, instead of a photo was Amrita’s engagement ring. On the very last page, was the question “Will you marry me?”, a quote written by Bharat from the book The Next Chapter.
Amrita & Bharat bonded with a core group of friends in the States who have been through the very beginning of their relationship to the beginning of their married lives. All of Amrita & Bharat’s guests are part of their “American family” and have grown together for five years.
The wedding day was forecasted to storm but the rain held out until the very end of their time outside. Amrita & Bharat were able to say their adoring and powerful vows to each other outside with their guests in the States as well as back home in India who were tuning in to the live broadcast of the ceremony. Throughout the entire day, someone, somewhere was livestreaming the event so that everybody could attend and feel the joy and love.
Amrita & Bharat didn’t want to include all of their Indian traditions because it would make them too homesick, so instead they included key traditions in order to blend the American and Indian side of them. Bharat had his baraat where he was dancing with all his friends pre-ceremony. Amrita & Bharat partook in the hand-holding ceremony where they stood back to back before the wedding and were able to hold one another for the last time before they became husband and wife. Then, Bharat continued his baraat all the way into the ceremony where more dancing and screams full of happiness occurred.
The castle was beautifully surrounded by fog which added an incredibly romantic element to their captivating ceremony. The vows resulted in tears and laughs from everybody; it was their reaction to how stunning their promises of love were to each other. Bharat even spoke words of love to Amrita in her mother tongue which was incredible. They finished their wedding celebrating through the evening with great food and even greater friends.
Congratulations Amrita & Bharat!
Venue | Grahall Estate in Cavendish, Vermont
Photography | Mei Lin Barral Photography
Cinematography | Wood & Ether
Officiants | Caroline Burke & Chaitanya Saxena (Friends + wedding guests)
Cake | Friend + Wedding Guest
Dinner | B&W Catering
Wedding Gown | Vera Wang
Rings | David Yurman
Bridal Shoes | ASOS
Hair & Makeup | Amrita, the bride herself
Groom’s Wear | Men’s Wearhouse & Bonobos
Groom’s Shoes | To Boot
Bowtie | Bow + Lapel Pin
Tabletop Rentals | Grahall Estate
Mei Lin (first name, she/her) is a Chicago intimate wedding, elopement, & dog photographer who's passionate about commemorating diverse couples grounded in the present moment. Animal welfare, social justice, and sustainability are three things that are really important to her. Trans rights are human rights. Love is love. Stop AAPI Hate. Black Lives Matter.
about the author
for couples grounded
in the present moment.
Utilizing sustainable practices INCLUDING LEAVE NO TRACE.
Chicago intimate
Wedding Photographer
LGBTQ+, BIPOC, & Woman-operated
© 2024 Mei Lin Barral Photography
brand + web design by inkpot creative, llc
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