Pakistani Wedding, New York, NY, 1985

For the festive mehndi, celebrated before her Muslim marriage, Sophia entered under a long shawl known as a dopatta, a gold sari canopy that had been her mother's wedding veil. Her hands and feet have been delicately decorated with henna. Now she is given seven green and gold glass bangles for good luck by seven happily married women.

Katrina Thomas's notes: Few Pakistanis emigrated until 1971 but half a million live in the U.S. today. In Pakistan most marriages are arranged, the Muslim men and women celebrating in separate rooms or tents. I photograph two weddings, but agree not to release photos of the arranged marriage because although the sexes celebrate together, the women of the Ahmadiyya movement, a strict Muslim sect, must not have their pictures published. The marriage illustrated was not arranged. The bride and bridegroom, schooled in both Pakistan and the West, fell in love. They are the children of international parents, each with a Pakistani father and a mother of mixed heritage. During a pre-wedding henna evening in a private apartment, they retain but reorder wedding traditions of the Sindh province. On the following day, they are married in a Muslim nuptial rite. Their wedding is celebrated at a diplomatic reception that evening.