Sattavis Patidar Asian Wedding Photography

I was excited to be asked to photograph Bharkavy and Edwin’s wedding. The celebration was set to take place over two days, this is traditional for a Tamil wedding ceremony. The couple explained that the second day would follow the traditional course of a British wedding, but that the first day would be a traditional Tamil wedding. I love being invited to photograph the unique rituals and traditions of weddings, and was looking forward to witnessing the two very different celebrations for one couple.
I was invited to join Bharkavy as she prepared for the day, and was keen to photograph the rituals and traditions that she felt were an important part of a traditional Tamil ceremony. The night before the wedding, Bharkavy had spent time with her female friends and family. According to the traditions of a Tamil wedding, Bharkvay’s bridal party had painted her hands, wrists and forearms with mehndi. It looked beautiful on the day of the wedding, and I love the photograph of her hands that shows all the detailing.
Bharkavy had an assortment of jewellery to wear on her wedding day, as is customary in South Indian wedding ceremonies. The jewellery was beautiful, and held a lot of sentimental value for both Bharkavy and Edwin. Once she was ready, I was able to take some photographs of Bharkavy in her full wedding attire.
The ceremony was held at the Sattavis Patidar centre in Wembley. This custom-built building is a cultural hub used for a whole host of religious celebrations and ceremonies. I was honoured to spend the day taking Sattavis Patidar Asian wedding photography, the building is beautiful and is filled with religious artefacts.
Bharkavy and Edwin asked me to use documentary style photography to capture the ceremony. When he arrived at the ceremony room, Edwin was presented with a traditional garland to wear. There is a great photograph of Edwin wearing the garland and joking with his brother.
The ceremony room was beautiful. The walls were neutral and plain, and acted as the perfect backdrop for the lavish ceremony and vibrant colours present under the mandap. The ceremony took place under a traditional mandap, and I wanted to take some photographs setting the scene for the wedding album. I made my way to the back of the room, and photographed the mandap from a distance. Edwin was sat waiting for the ceremony to begin, as family members milled around getting the final preparations ready, it’s a beautiful photo, and I’m sure it takes Edwin back to that moment each time he sees it.
There is a beautiful photograph of Bharkavy walking down the aisle. In Asian weddings, the bridal party arrive holding plates of food to be enjoyed as part of the wedding rituals. I photographed as the family members were blessed under the mandap. The ceremony photographs all turned out beautifully, the bright colours look wonderful against the light background.
The ceremony was lovely, and I was honoured to photograph the rituals and customs as part of the traditional Tamil ceremony. Once the ceremony was over, the guests had been thanked for attending, and the couple had received the blessings of each of their guests, it was time to take some posed shots.
The couple finally enjoyed some time alone, whilst I photographed them as they strolled around the venue. My favourite photograph from the day was taken in the rain. People often moan about rain on wedding days, but in fact I think there is something romantic about a light shower on a wedding day. As the guests poured out onto the street that evening, it started to rain. Bharkavy and Edwin were sheltering together under an umbrella, laughing and smiling together, as the streetlights shrouded them in a golden glow. The photograph is beautiful, and really captures the love and romance of the day.

Asian Tamil Wedding Photography at Sattavis Patidar Centre in Wembley

I am experienced in Tamil wedding photography at Sattavis Patidar Centre in Wembley, but have also photographed at many other locations. I am based in London, but am happy to travel further afield for my work. Please get in touch to discuss your wedding photography requirements.