A Hindu Wedding Ceremony at home in the Peak District
I was delighted to be photographing Gita and Taner’s Indian wedding celebrations at Gita’s parent’s home in the Peak District. The wedding ceremony took place at their Makeney family home in Derbyshire, with a marquee set up in their garden. It was beautifully decorated and wonderful to take my camera out to photograph all the little details.
Bridal preparations – Indian style
The colourful sari’s were beautiful to photograph. Gita had two sari’s for the ceremony. It is tradition that her parents buy her first sari and after the wedding ceremony rituals, the groom gives the bride a gift of a new wedding Sari and the bride returns in this sari.
I enjoyed all the little details of getting ready. All the Indian bangles, the portraits and the fitting of the saris and other jewellery and adornments. Gita looked stunning and her beauty radiates in these photos.
Some of my favourite Indian traditions
There were so many interesting and colourful traditions throughout the day from pre ceremony traditions with groom to the fun traditions, such as the moment where bride and groom had to both try to get the wedding ring out of the pot of water.
- The smashing of coconuts (which happened several times pre ceremony and during
- The fresh jasmine in all the women’s hair, which smelt divine
- The bowls of colourful fruit and flowers everywhere
- The paining with ash on the grooms head
- More smashing of coconuts
- Searching for the wedding ring in the lemon pot
- The groom combing the bride’s hair
- The prayers to Hindu gods at the shrine
- All the Saris and all the bangles
- The incense everywhere
