Five fun packed days of events for a traditional Indian wedding at Grand Empire

If you have never been to a traditional Indian wedding then you are missing out. In a culture steeped in sacred religious traditions, when the party gets going, it really gets going and spans almost a week!

First let’s begin with our couple, Adi and Aditi, who were a referral from a dear client whose family I have been photographing regularly for the last 4 years.

I covered 5 days of events with the wedding couple and we started out with the Haldi ceremony. The Haldi ceremony involves the application of a Haldi paste to the bride and groom’s bodies before their wedding. The event is usually held at both the bride and groom’s places the morning of the wedding ceremony, although some cultures do this the day before.

After that, I shot the Sangeet ceremony together with the Mehndi. The literal translation of the word ‘Sangeet’ is music, or when used in this context it translates to music night or musical party. This is a time for the families to bond with the other side and is usually a loud, fun event, similar to a reception. Depending on budget, it can range between over the top, lavish events in grand halls, to toned down simpler affairs in the bride’s home. You might also see the division of the sexes where their needs are catered to, for example the ladies have henna applications, the men drink and the children dance.

The Mendhi ceremony sees exquisite henna designs adorning the women’s bodies and is always a highly anticipated event for the ladies.

Ever wondered what a traditional Indian wedding looks like?

We started the wedding day itself with photographs covering the official ceremonies with both Adi and Aditi in their traditional attire. Following this, the pair did a quick dress change and we had a rushed 5 minutes to capture them before the reception entrance at the Grand Empire Banquet Hall in Brampton. With an abundance of food, performances and dancing, we were able to document every last detail and freeze frame the energy from the night.

This is where most weddings climax and end, but following the guidelines of a traditional Indian wedding. The wedding couple threw another lavish brunch at VUE in Toronto, where the two sides of the family got to reconnect before departing.

With so many memories to capture and a week full of ceremonies, good food and drink, and most of all, good, quality family time, Adi and Aditi certainly knew how to make their guests feel special. Some of my favourite photos documenting their Indian wedding tradition at the Grand Empire Banquet Hall were the simplest. The raw expressions of pure love on their faces, coupled with the delicate yet intricate details in their attire and of the henna designs, made for some breathtaking images that will be treasured for a lifetime.