Asian wedding photography is one of my favorite kinds. These events have so much colour, vibrance, and fun in them. Every corner is noisy, and every moment is worth capturing. There’s happy chaos all around the wedding and lots of emotion on every face. It’s all so lovely! But my take on Asian wedding photography is somewhat different from the traditional style. I like them to be fun, vibrant, and as natural as they can be. It helps me capture the real emotion and the true essence of the wedding.
Sikh Wedding Photography
It amazes me how welcoming and peaceful Sikh weddings are. Of course, there are people in the crowd who like to have fun. But the overall ambience is exceptionally calm and positive.
Generally, the wedding celebrations can go on for 2 to 3 days. The first one being the Kurmi (engagement) and the last one a big, fun-filled (usually crazy!) reception. Each of these events is beautiful and a feast to the eye. From the morning of the wedding, where the groom has his turban tied, to the bride having her dupatta placed, every part is rich with stunning imagery. I love that the groom has a kirpan (sword) which adds to the possibility of great images.
On the wedding day, it is a tradition that the bride arrives at the venue before the groom does. Once the groom gets there, the Baraat (groom’s procession) is lively and loud! The dhol (drum) players create energy and atmosphere, signifying the groom is approaching. The two families meet and greet each other at the Milni. Next, they have breakfast inside the temple.
After this, the Anand Karaj (wedding ceremony) begins. Anand Karaj means ‘blissful union’ and the wedding ceremony in the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) is peaceful, emotional and beautiful. All eyes are on the bride as she enters, surrounded by her family. The sound of the Kirtan (musical recitation from the Holy Book) encircles the room in a melodic trance. I especially love the tradition where the bride’s father places the groom’s scarf in her hand. The ritual symbolizes that he is giving the responsibility of her daughter to her new husband.
Incredible Asian wedding traditions…
The bride and groom move around the Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Book) and repeat the walk four times. The priest conducting the marriage performs the four Laavan (prayers). The whole process is smooth and calm. Another one of my absolute favourites is when the family helps the bride as she circles the Book clockwise. This particular tradition represents the support of the bride for joining her new family.
The small but important traditions here and there keep the events lively and make sure everyone is engaged. The crowd are respectful of the peace wedding ceremony. There is so much colour around the room. The family are also very emotional.
After the wedding ceremony and langar (lunch) it is finally time for the Doli. Before the groom can enter his new brides’ house, he must pay. Here is where all kinds of crazy things can happen. I’ve seen water pistols and silly string come out for action! The Doli is part of the wedding that involves the bride leaving for her new house and saying goodbye to her family. As the bride throws rice over her shoulders, giving thanks to her parents, the sadness in the air is fascinating. This moment is the most emotional out of all the wedding events. As they hug each other goodbye, real, genuine emotions and feelings can be seen on the faces. Many tears are shed, especially as the bride sits in the car and gives her final goodbyes.
Providing stunning photography…
These traditions bring all the people together and make it look like a cohesive gathering. Capturing these moments is not only essential but also very fulfilling. Personally, I think that the wedding pictures of such an event should tell a happy story of the day filled with laughs and colours. But the emotional side of the day is equally important. I, as a photographer, like to swiftly move around without disturbing anyone or anything and capturing the moments at their most natural stage.
For me, it is crucial that the picture, as well as the people in them, are naturally present and indulged at the moment instead of posing for the camera. While you can manipulate the angles and colours, you cannot do that with emotions. These emotions, when natural, show on the face. And that is precisely what I love to capture for long-lasting, heart touching Asian wedding photography. Such a picture brings back memories and the feelings from that exact moment when you look at it years later. Check out this beautiful Sikh wedding I photographed.
Hindu Wedding Photography
I have captured a lot of Hindu weddings around the world, including Spain, Portugal and India. But the one thing that always makes me excited for one of these is how festive they are. Not like a holiday, but like a real, magical celebration. There’s glitter; there’s glamour; people are wearing extravagant wedding attire to the event. It is especially incredible how everything turns from simple to lavish, looking like something out of a mystical movie.
Hindu weddings can also last many days. The artistic imagery begins with the Mehndi ceremony. In a lavish event, the bride is adorned in henna. The Sangeet (pre-wedding party) is an electrifying event where the families come together to sing, dance, and enjoy the festivities of the upcoming marriage. The family even give incredible dance performances, which creates an amazing show with incredible images to photograph. I hope you can see I am fascinated with Asian wedding photography.
On the wedding day, the groom’s entrance is a whole celebration in itself, similar to its Sikh wedding counterpart. The groom sometimes enters on horseback, along with lively dhol players, creating more stunning imagery and making it so different from the usual entrances. The families greet and exchange garlands as a symbol of coming together. Sometimes there’s even a ruckus as the men wrestle each other for superiority!
A beautiful wedding ceremony…
The mandap (pillared structure) is where the groom awaits. The bride then enters surrounded by her brothers or uncles. This is an emotionally charged part of the wedding day. The tension grows as the groom is ‘hidden’ from his soon to be bride. The look on the couples faces are priceless as the curtain is lowered. Sometimes they pull funny faces! Other times just pure love and eagerness to see each other.
in the ‘Kanya Daan’, more emotions follow as the bride is given away by her parents. Proud, loving tears sometimes fall. The bride and groom then circle the fire during the ‘Mangal Phera’. Again, the imagery is outstanding as the small fire roars in between the couples’ steps. Family and friends throw flower petals at the couple and cheer. The atmosphere is amazing!
Among all the essential traditions and steps that are a part of a Hindu wedding, the Saptapadi is the most significant. During this ritual, the bride and groom take seven steps. They represent a marital vow and a promise to be committed to each other. The priest offers blessings for strength, food, family, wisdom, prosperity, and health. They also pray for their lives together and wish to stay happy and content. The Mangal Sutra is another amazing ceremony to photograph.
Fun and games!
When this ritual is over, it is time for the fun part. The families of the bride and the groom play games with the couple. The moments captured during this time always turn out to be my personal favourites. The smiles are so genuine, the faces so bright, and the photography emits happy, uplifting vibes. Especially when friends and family gather to watch the couple look for a ring in a bowl filled with opaque milk. Action and drama continue!
But once this part is over, and the couple is officially married, there’s still time for more fun. Pranks, competitions, and challenges begin. The friends of the bride demand ransom money for the groom’s shoes after stealing them. Such traditions and several more bring life to the event and make the atmosphere so energetic and enthusiastic.
For me, these are the photos I take the most carefully. I don’t want to disrupt the moment and also want to capture everything beautifully. I want my pictures to depict the message without being too overwhelming. And when the couple sees these photographs later, it makes me immensely happy to see that the bride can remember her emotions. During the Vidaai, where the bride bids farewell to her family, there is sometimes tears, other times a fun, happy exit!
Good vibes…
Another great thing about Hindu weddings is how welcoming they are. For example, we are always encouraged to eat! It is so warming to be constantly offered food as it is such an important part of the day. Their positive and uplifting attitude makes it so easy for me to adapt and adjust to the environment. The smiles on their faces and the cheerful atmosphere keeps me motivated and indulged. As a result, the more comfortable I am, the easier it is for me to capture brilliant photos. Have a look at this gorgeous Hindu wedding I photographed.
Muslim Wedding Photography
Out of all kinds of Asian Wedding photography I’ve done, Muslim weddings are the most versatile ones. They greatly vary when it comes to their aesthetic sense. Muslim weddings are elegant and give off a spiritual vibe. The wedding takes place in a mosque or a home, and everything is tranquil. There are lots of events involved, similar to other Asian Weddings.
From the engagement ceremony onward, a Muslim wedding can involve so many incredible days of celebration. Similar to Sikh and Hindu weddings, there is also a Mehndi. The bride looks phenomenal in a colourful attire loaded with gold and silver embroidery. Not to mention the jewellery that takes your breath away. This versatility is what inspires me to do more Asian wedding photography.
The Nikah is the marriage contract. The groom is not allowed to see the bride before they are officially married. And while the bride’s family teases the groom, his curiosity and eagerness is an adorable sight to capture. As both say, “Qubool Hai” three times, which means “I accept”, a rush of emotions spreads around the gathering. Happy tears and nervous laughs fill the atmosphere.
An emotional farewell…
When it is time for the girl to leave her parental house and move to her husband’s, it is known as Rukhsati. The bride walks from under the holy book of Islam, and she drives off with her husband to start a new life. This particular moment, like the Sikh Doli, can be emotional for everybody present there.
The Walima is always a spectacular event. It is the marriage banquet and similar to a reception. An entire venue is dazzling with lights, flowers, and sparkly decorations. Everyone is wearing amazing colours, and the bride always looks beautiful and extravagant. And the food! I’ve seen the most incredible spreads of food, and it is always delicious! Yes, even as a working photographer, we are encouraged to eat and join in. It is always so humbling.
Another great thing about Muslim weddings is the versatility of setups. If the family decides to have a mosque wedding, you get the most beautiful, spiritual background you could ask for. If not, and they choose a different location, it is still fun and unique. Thus, each photography album of a Muslim wedding is different.
A wealth of traditions…
For me, I like to capture the spiritually important and culturally rich moments of the wedding for a couple and their families. I want to keep the photographs natural and elegant for such Muslim weddings. Some Muslim weddings are also more modest. I acknowledge this and respect the preferences of these families and couples. Hence, I make sure I make everyone I encounter at the wedding feel relaxed. It’s just a part of my own personality.
To conclude…
When it comes to Asian wedding photography, there is no denying how fond I am of it. In addition to these, I also love to photograph Tamil weddings as well. Another type is the Sri Lankan ‘Poruwa’ ceremony which is a unique sight to behold. These weddings are some of my favourites. Their charm and vibrancy make them incredibly fun to capture. So, when an Asian couple invites me to cover their events, it is not only a great honour for me, but I am also thrilled.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch to let me know about the requirements for your Asian Wedding Photography.
