A Sikh Wedding.
Anita and Anil’s ceremony took place at the Ramgarhia Sikh Gurdwara in East London, they were peddled on a London rickshaw to WestHam park for some photos and then were driven onto their reception venue at Tobacco Dock where we had the chance for a few more photos.
Unusually for me I had to share the photography time with the grooms photographers and videographer, thankfully they were pretty considerate guys and fairly easy to work along side, it still feels slightly limiting and you have to be very conscious of trying to keep them out of your shots all day – but thats just the way these super large weddings work and it’s something you get used to.
The day for me lasted about 16hrs – or there abouts. Something like a 5.30am start with the bride, finishing back at the brides house around 10pm – the grooms photographers carry on until the final tradition where the groom has taken his new bride from her family home (where I finished) and traveled back to his own family home with her, and her brother (or male relative) and where she is received by her new family – which happened to be the other side of london for this couple.
There is just so much to shoot all day long – as perhaps you can imagine after seeing these ‘few’. The colour and outfits are amazing and the food heavenly for a lover of indian food such as I am! ….. thats almost my favourite reason for covering them! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming, there is a lot of laughter and banter between the families – EVERYONE LOVES to dance – and I mean EVERYONE! From the youngest to the oldest, as soon as those beats pump out everyone is up throwing their best shapes and boy were there some shapes thrown! hehehe
Imagine a standard British wedding and times that by 3, thats what covering an Asian wedding is like – in terms of length of day, amount shot, edited and supplied.
I love them!! But I’m pretty sure I couldn’t manage them on a weekly basis ;)
This was my first full day indian wedding as a primary photographer. Many years ago when I was starting out I shot several different kinds of Indian weddings as a second and even third shooter, so I had a good idea of what to expect, but Anita was really thorough in providing me with a complete breakdown of the whole day and explanations for each ritual. It also helped that I had got to know her family really well the day before at the bangle ceremony so I knew who to go to if I needed any direction or help. Basically just don’t miss anything!! – it’s all important. Keep your eyes on the bride and groom and the camera to your face ;) ….. but make sure you put them down when the food is served and get stuck in! ;)
(Since this wedding in 2013 I have shot several others – still to be blogged, so keep your eyes out!)
