Love Before Lockdown
At the beginning of 2020 before the pandemic started we were lucky enough to photograph a wedding in India. Raj has family out there so we’re able to stay with them. It was Jade’s first time in India and she had a fantastic time!
The wedding was in Chandigarh, North India.
Family travelled to the wedding from all over the world.
Sabina the bride is actually living in Australia. Family travelled to India from Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Haldi Ceremony
We started with the Haldi Ceremony and Mehndi Party with the Bride, Sabina, the day before the wedding. Everyone sat outside the beautifully decorated front garden full of colourful fabric drapes everywhere.
It was a special moment for Sabina’s Dadima (grandma) as this was her first grandchild in the family to get married. She was proud to host her granddaughters Mehndi Party from her home.
For the Haldi ceremony the Bride is covered in turmeric paste. A paste prepared with turmeric (Haldi), sandalwood, and curd. This pre- wedding ritual is to give them good luck in their marriage for their future.
Traditionally this celebration was for the women but now close relatives such as the father and uncles join the celebration. Eventually everyone ends up covered in Haldi!
There’s lots of dancing and singing! It was wonderful to see the local women from the nearby village as well as the family members from all over the world take it in turns to lead a song.
Even Jade was pulled into dance! There was no hiding out the way at this party! Everyone had to join in. Jade loved it and everyone else seemed very entertained as well!
The Mehndi
Later on in the day the Mehndi/ Henna was applied. The bride looked through an album to choose the design she would like. The other women also get mehndi applied but a less intricate design to the bride. Then the evening continued with more food and dancing.
Celebration Evening
The night before the wedding each side of the family have a party and dance the night away before both families come together for the wedding day. This was a very casual night and we just took a few family photos, photos of people dancing and having a laugh.
The Ceremony
Narinder (the groom) and his family enter the venue with a band of musicians.
The groom arrives with his side of the family and guests present their gifts to him.
Narinder then has to make his way to the ladies on the bride’s side of the family who are waiting to test him out with a few more questions before the ceremony. He essentially has to prove himself to them and meet their approval! They all have a good laugh and joke as well!
Once he meets their approval they let him through to his bride where they make their way to the stage to greet family together.
Temple (Gurudwara)
Once they have greeted everyone together they head to the Gurudwara for the official ceremony.
After the ceremony they went back to the venue for dinner together.
Congratulations Sabina and Narinder!
We loved everyday of these wedding celebrations! From the smaller family mehndi party with family singing and dancing to the wedding venue that looked like a film set!