A couple is dancing at their wedding reception in an elegant, grand ballroom filled with guests and decorated with chandeliers, flowers, and table settings.

Sikh Wedding Photographer

Sikh Wedding Photographer and Videographer

Sikh Weddings

Sikh weddings, rooted in the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, are joyful, spiritual celebrations that bring together family, faith, and community. Central to the wedding is the Anand Karaj — the “ceremony of bliss” — held in a Gurdwara, where the couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib as hymns are read and sung. Los Angeles’s Sikh community celebrates these traditions with deep pride, and Lulan Studio is honored to photograph these ceremonies with the reverence and attentiveness they deserve.

Photographing a Sikh Wedding

A Sikh wedding often unfolds over multiple days and events, from pre-wedding gatherings to the Anand Karaj ceremony itself and a festive reception afterward. Lulan Studio approaches each celebration by learning the couple’s specific customs and Gurdwara requirements ahead of time, so we can move respectfully through sacred spaces while still capturing every meaningful moment.

The Anand Karaj Ceremony

The Anand Karaj takes place in a Gurdwara in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib. The couple walks around the holy scripture four times — the Laavan — as hymns describing the soul’s journey toward union with the divine are sung. It’s a serene, spiritually significant ceremony, and we photograph it with the quiet respect it calls for, following Gurdwara guidelines at all times.

Every Gurdwara and family has its own customs around photography during the Anand Karaj — we always confirm expectations in advance so we can document the ceremony respectfully.

The Baraat Procession

Many Sikh weddings begin with a baraat, a spirited procession in which the groom and his family arrive at the ceremony venue with music, dancing, and celebration. It’s a high-energy moment full of color and personality, and one of our favorite parts of the day to photograph.

Traditional Attire and Rituals

From the groom’s turban to the bride’s vibrant attire and bangles, Sikh wedding traditions are rich with color and symbolism. We take care to photograph these details thoughtfully, alongside pre-ceremony rituals that are meaningful to the couple and their families.

Community and Connection

Community is central to Sikh life, often expressed through langar, the tradition of a shared community meal. Sikh wedding celebrations reflect that same spirit of generosity and togetherness, and our experience spans South Asian wedding traditions more broadly, including North Indian wedding ceremonies and Haldi celebrations, giving us a deep appreciation for the rituals that bring families together.

What to Expect from Your Coverage

Because Sikh weddings can include multiple events — from pre-wedding celebrations to the Anand Karaj and reception — we work with couples ahead of time to build a coverage plan that fits their specific schedule and traditions. Our coverage runs anywhere from two to sixteen hours, built around your day.

Elegant banquet hall decorated for a formal event with rows of round tables with white tablecloths, floral centerpieces, and candles, ornate gold and beige decor, chandeliers, and draped curtains.

Ceremony Coverage

  • Baraat procession and arrival

  • The Anand Karaj and Laavan

  • Family blessings and rituals at the Gurdwara

Reception Coverage

  • Grand entrance and first dance

  • Traditional music and dancing

  • Toasts, dinner, and candid family moments

We’re glad to walk through your specific timeline and traditions ahead of your wedding so nothing important is missed. To see more real weddings we’ve photographed across Los Angeles’s diverse communities, visit our journal.

FAQ for Sikh Weddings

Does Lulan Studio have experience photographing Sikh weddings and the Anand Karaj ceremony?

Yes. We’ve photographed Sikh weddings in Gurdwaras across Los Angeles and take time before each wedding to understand the couple’s specific customs, the Gurdwara’s photography guidelines, and how the family would like the day documented.

Can you photograph both the baraat and the Anand Karaj ceremony?

Yes. We build coverage around your full schedule, from the baraat procession through the Anand Karaj and into the reception, so the entire celebration is documented from start to finish. View our wedding photography rates to find the collection that best fits your celebration.

What should we know about photography inside the Gurdwara?

Every Gurdwara has its own guidelines around photography, including where photographers may stand and what attire is appropriate. We’re happy to coordinate with your Gurdwara ahead of time to make sure we follow all expectations respectfully.

How do we check availability for our wedding date?

Reach out through our contact page with your date and details, and we’ll let you know our availability and how we can support your Sikh wedding celebration. If the date itself is still open, our guide to auspicious wedding dates for 2027 and 2028 shows which months the Hindu calendar closes, and which weekends that leaves free for an Anand Karaj.

Explore more: Indian wedding photography · Wedding photography services

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South Asian Weddings  ·  Indian Wedding Photographer  ·  Punjabi Weddings  ·  Muslim Weddings  ·  Multicultural Weddings  ·  Haldi Ceremony  ·  Mehndi Ceremony  ·  Sangeet  ·  Baraat  ·  Malibu Hindu Temple  ·  Indian Hills Golf Club  ·  Temple Wedding Venues  ·  Auspicious Wedding Dates 2027 & 2028

Planning your day

How a Sikh wedding day is usually built

The Anand Karaj is a morning ceremony at the Gurdwara. That single fact shapes everything: coverage starts early, family formals and langar follow, and the reception sits a long way from it, often on another day.

Gurdwara morning, reception later the same day

Around 80 to 100 guests at the Gurdwara, more later. Eight to ten hours with a break.
  • 7:45 AMCoverage begins at the getting ready location. Bride's portraits and immediate family photographs.
  • 8:30 AMArrival at the Gurdwara. Exteriors, head coverings on, shoes off, family arriving.
  • 9:00 AMThe baraat arrives and the Milni welcomes the groom's family.
  • 9:15 AMAnand Karaj. The Laavan, covered quietly and without flash. Allow one to three hours.
  • 11:00 AMFamily formals at the front of the darbar hall, elders first.
  • 11:45 AMLangar, then couple portraits on the temple grounds.
  • 12:45 PMA break and travel before the later event.
  • Afternoon or eveningReception or welcome event. Details, entrances, toasts and dancing, then coverage concludes.

Two days, temple then reception

Around 100 to 250 guests at the reception. Ceremony one day, reception the next.
  • Day 1, morningGetting ready, then the baraat and Milni at the Gurdwara.
  • Day 1, late morningAnand Karaj and the Laavan, followed by family formals.
  • Day 1, middayLangar and couple portraits. About four hours, often with two photographers and two videographers.
  • Day 2, afternoonGetting ready, a first look or portraits, and immediate family photographs.
  • Day 2, early eveningCocktail hour candids and the reception room before guests enter.
  • Day 2, eveningGrand entrance, dinner, toasts and the first dance.
  • Day 2, lateOpen dancing, then coverage concludes between half past nine and eleven.

Three or four days, with pre-wedding events

Pre-wedding events around 50 to 150 guests, the reception larger.
  • Day 1, morningMaiyan or haldi at the family home, around two to three hours.
  • Day 1 or 2, eveningJago, an engagement party or a welcome evening. Three to six hours of dhol, performances and dancing.
  • Ceremony day, earlyGetting ready and details, with the team arriving about an hour before the Gurdwara.
  • Ceremony day, morningAnand Karaj, family formals and langar.
  • Final day, eveningReception. Entrances, first dance, toasts and dinner.
  • Final day, lateOpen dancing and night portraits, then coverage concludes.
Good to know

What shapes a Sikh wedding timeline

The practical facts that make these days different from most weddings we photograph.

Ceremony lengthThe Anand Karaj can take from about an hour to three hours, depending on the Gurdwara and the kirtan. Ask the Gurdwara how long to allow, and build the rest of the day from that rather than from a guess.
Morning startThe ceremony is a morning event, so coverage often begins between half past seven and nine. That means an early call for hair and makeup, and a short night after any evening event before it.
Gurdwara etiquetteHead coverings, removing shoes, no flash during the Laavan, and where the team may stand are all set by the Gurdwara. We confirm the rules in advance and brief the whole team, so nothing has to be raised on the day.
LangarThe meal after the ceremony is part of the day, not an interval. It photographs warmly and it is where a lot of family interaction happens.
One day or twoWhere the reception is the same day, a long break after the Gurdwara is standard, and booking it as unshot standby is usually the better decision. Many families hold the reception the next day instead, each booked as its own block, often with a larger team for the reception.
Guest countsGurdwara ceremonies commonly run from forty to a hundred guests, with receptions well over two hundred. Give us both numbers, because they change the team size for each event. Some couples keep the whole wedding to around forty guests, with four to six hours of coverage.
Family group listsWith large extended families, a written list of groupings, elders first, is the difference between twenty minutes of formals and an hour.
Where these weddings happen

Where these weddings happen

Temples and venues that recur across the Sikh weddings we photograph.

  • Sikh temple, Covina
  • Santa Ana temple
  • Gurdwaras across Los Angeles
  • Bel-Air Bay Club
  • Paséa Hotel & Spa
  • Twin Oaks
  • Hotel ballrooms
  • Family homes for pre-wedding events