South Asian Wedding
Photographer & Videographer

The families meet, gifts and kara are exchanged, and the couple is formally engaged – at the Gurdwara or a banquet hall.

The groom's mother drapes the bride in a red chunni and gives her the first jewellery from her new family.

Turmeric paste is applied at both homes. In the US this is almost always its own day rather than the wedding morning.

Henna for the bride and the women of both families.

Boliyan, giddha and bhangra, and the Jaago procession with lit pots carried through the party.

Anand Karaj usually begins by 10 or 11am, so hair, makeup and dastar bandi start well before sunrise.

Water is drawn for the bride's ceremonial bath, and the groom's sisters tie the sehra before he leaves.

The groom's procession arrives, then the Milni – matched relatives from both families greet and garland each other one pair at a time.

Shabads are sung in the Darbar Sahib and the Ardas is offered before the ceremony begins.

The couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib once for each Laav. Photography rules differ by Gurdwara, so we confirm with the Granthi in advance and shoot from where we are permitted.

The ceremony closes, Karah Prasad is served, and both families eat together in the Langar hall.

The bride leaves with her husband. Twenty of the most emotional minutes of the weekend.

The groom's mother welcomes the couple into their home.

Grand entry, speeches, dinner, a bhangra floor that does not empty – and the same-day edit played for the room.

The bride steps back from routine and ubtan is applied by the women of the family, usually at home.

Singing and dhol at home. In the US this is often folded into the Mehndi night.

The two families sit facing each other in yellow and green, with choreographed dances and a friendly rivalry. The most photogenic night of the weekend.

Pakistani events run late into the evening, so the day starts hours later than a Hindu wedding morning.

The Imam performs the Nikkah, the Ijab-e-Qubool is spoken and the Nikkah Nama is signed. Some families hold this on its own day.

The groom's side arrives, the couple enters together and takes the stage.

The bride's sisters offer milk and hide the groom's shoes for ransom. The loudest and funniest part of the night.

Family after family comes to the stage. This is where almost every group photograph of the weekend is made, so we staff it accordingly.

The bride's farewell, usually under a Quran held above her head.

The one calm window of the weekend, taken just before the Walima entry.

Hosted by the groom's family. Formal entry, dinner, speeches and the same-day edit.

Dancing, dessert and the last of the family who stayed.

The formal engagement, where the families exchange plates and the wedding date is announced.

The bride and groom are blessed separately at their homes the night before.

Increasingly common for South Indian families in the US even where it is not traditional.

South Indian muhurthams often fall between 5 and 9am, so our call time can be 3am. This is the single biggest timeline difference to plan around.

The groom mock-departs for Kashi and is persuaded back by the bride's father.

The couple is swung gently while the women sing and circle them with lamps.

The thaali or mangalsutra is tied at the exact auspicious minute. There is no second take, so we are in position long before it.

Seven steps together, then the rice-pouring game between the couple.

Lunch on banana leaves, then the family portraits while everyone is still in one hall.

The bride is welcomed into her new home.

A stage line, dinner, speeches and the same-day edit played before the night ends.