As part of my work experience with my dad, I have been assisting in photographing weddings. This was my first Indian wedding, and it was very different from the ones I had done before.
Two days before the wedding, I went to the house of the bride’s parents with my dad to photograph the friends and family as well as the bride doing the Mehndi ceremony.
Two days later, my dad and I returned to their house to photograph the bride and her friends and family preparing for the wedding. After an hour and a bit, my dad and I headed to the Shree Bharatiya Mandal, where the wedding would take place, to meet the third photographer (Rob Georgeson) and set up and get ready for the ceremony.
After we were set up, we got details about what would happen when the groom arrived. This is known as the Jaan Arrival ceremony, where a Dhol waller (drummer) plays while the groom and his family parade to the venue; then, everyone goes inside and sits down to start the wedding ceremony.
The groom then goes onto stage and sits on a chair to have his feet washed by the bride’s parents; after that, there were some blessings. Then Groom was shielded by a blanket while the bride entered, led by her sisters and uncles. Then the bride was revealed to the groom, and many more ceremonies began, including burning offerings and a few games.
After the ceremonies, everyone had a lovely Indian lunch. When Rob and I finished eating, we captured people interacting; then, some group shots were taken on the stage while my dad grabbed some food. Then the couple left.
After that, dad, Rob, and I went to the reception at the White Heart in Lydgate. When we arrived, we took some couple portraits while they were still in their Indian wedding finery. After Rob left, we went home to back up before returning later.
Dad and I returned to the evening venue and photographed the interactions between different people for a while. Then the buffet was opened, and we entered quickly so we could eat and get back to photographing the guests.
Then the cake cutting was announced, and everyone surrounded the couple in a semi-circle to watch them cut the cake. After that, the groom made a speech, and the couple gave gifts to close family members and the wedding party.
Not long after the speeches, the first dance happened, and then everyone joined in the dancing. Finally, we took some more candid shots, said bye to the married couple and left.
I had a really good day and enjoyed it much more than the English weddings I helped with.