Sikh Wedding Photography
Authentically Documenting Your Sikh Wedding with Candid Moments and Timeless Elegance
Featured In The World’s Top Publications
SIKH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Hi, I’m Soven, a multi-award-winning Sikh wedding photographer, and I provide exceptional Sikh Wedding Photography.
Sikh weddings are energetic, large, colourful and lavish, with lots going on.
I have extensive experience capturing Sikh Weddings, so you can be confident you will receive fantastic wedding photographs of your celebrations!
Sikh weddings are rich with traditional customs and ceremonies. I have extensive experience documenting Sikh weddings, and I’ve captured many stunning Asian weddings. So you are in safe hands with me. I will create lasting memories of your wedding celebrations.
I capture the beautiful, colourful traditions of your wedding celebrations with a fusion of documentary-led images (un-posed and natural photographs of your day) with fantastic wedding portraits.
Today’s portraits are a million miles away from yesteryear’s stiff, formal portraits. So I will capture you together beautifully, naturally – the results are stunning.
Over a Decade OF ExCELLENCE
Experienced in DIVERSE CULTURES, Fusion & LGBTQIA+ Weddings
Destination Wedding Expert
BASED IN THE UK
AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
EST 2012
Award-Winning Sikh Wedding Photographer
DOCUMENTING YOUR EXTRAORDINARY CELEBRATIONS
with vivid emotion and soft elegance
Sikh Wedding Photographer
One of the highlights before the wedding ceremony is the ‘Sagai’ (the engagement ceremony), where the bride and groom exchange rings and the bride is presented with a chunni (ornate stole).
This is a great photo opportunity for the couple and the guests, as almost everyone wears elegant attire. The female guests wear beautiful and colourful lehengas and saris. At the same time, the men wear colourful sherwanis.
The other chief event before the wedding ceremony is the Mehndi party. Again, everyone traditionally wears bright and colourful outfits.
I love capturing the guests mingling and enjoying the party. Things get more frantic once the dancing starts. The groom and bride separately perform dances (usually!).
Followed by everyone jumping on the dance floor. There is so much energy and noise; capturing these moments is great fun for me and those having fun!
01.
PRE-WEDDING
ROKA / TAKA
The Roka (meaning “To Stop” searching for a suitable partner) ceremony is usually the first pre-wedding ceremony for a Sikh Wedding.
It marks the start of the Sikh wedding celebrations, generally attended by the closest family members to celebrate and bless the couple. It is a formal acknowledgement and announcement to everyone from both families for the acceptance of marriage between the couple.
A wedding date for the Sikh Wedding is set during The Taka.
02.
PRE-WEDDING
CHUNNI CEREMONY / SAGAI / MAIYAN
The Bride is presented with gifts and a decorative veil, the “Chunni” from the Groom’s family, which is usually placed over her head by the Groom’s mother.
The Sagai (the Ring) ceremony is the official engagement ceremony and party, often happening on the same day or even part of the Chunni ceremony. It marks the couple’s commitment to each other and is a joyful celebration of the upcoming marriage between the Bride and Groom.
Maiyan: While seated on a patri (wooden plank) under a red cloth held by four guests, a mixture of haldi (turmeric powder), flour and mustard oil is rubbed onto the face, arms, legs and other body parts of the Bride and Groom.
03.
CHOORA CEREMONY
The Bride receives a set of twenty-one red and white Choora (bangles) during the Choora ceremony.
The Bride’s mama (maternal Uncle) will dip the choora into milk before it is placed on the Bride’s wrists. This is often a very emotional moment between the Bride, her parents and close relatives.
Depending on the culture, the Bride can only remove the Choora after a specific time, anywhere between forty days to one year.
04.
MEHNDI / SANGEET / JAGGO
It’s becoming common to hold the Mehndi, Sangeet and Jaggo events simultaneously.
At the Mehndi ceremony, the Bride’s hands, arms and feet are painted with intricate henna patterns and designs. Other female relatives have their hands adorned with henna.
The Sangeet is a popular pre-wedding Sikh Wedding event. It is vibrant and joyful, full of music, dance, and laughter. It might include relatives and close friends performing fully choreographed performances to the more traditional females singing traditional songs as everyone dances the night away.
The Jaggo (“Wake-Up”) is loud and joyous, with the Bride and Groom and their families and friends dancing and singing traditional Punjabi folk songs while carrying the Jaggo (a decorated brass or steel pot decorated with lights) and banging on the floor with decorated sticks (Jaggo sticks).
THE SIKH WEDDING DAY
Several religious rituals are performed on the wedding day. I always arrive early to capture the bride getting ready. I like the wedding party to get used to my being present and for them to relax.
Unless the Groom is getting ready nearby, it’s a good idea to have two photographers, with the second photographer capturing the Groom getting ready.
As parts of the wedding preparations take place at different locations, it’s a good idea to have a second photographer to capture the different events happening around the same time.
05.
SEHRA BANDI, SURMA, KALGI, KIRPAN
Hiring a person to tie the Groom’s turban has become common. Once the Groom’s turban has been tied, the Groom’s sisters will place the palla (scarf) across his shoulders.
After the Groom is fully dressed, his father will present him with a kirpan (sword). The Groom will hold the kirpan for the rest of the Sikh wedding day.
Before leaving for the Sikh wedding ceremony, the Groom’s sister-in-law applies surma to his eyes, thought to deter any evil eye.
Lastly, the Groom’s sister will attach a kalgi
(turban pin) to the turban.
Although not as common nowadays, some Grooms will still have the custom of tying a Sehra (an embroidered veil) to his turban by a sister or female relative.
06.
BARAAT
The Groom, accompanied by his family and friends, announces their arrival, with great pomp and dancing enthusiasm, at the wedding venue – usually the Gurdwara – in a procession called The Baraat.
The Groom usually arrives in a decorated car or on a horse.
The Bride’s family and friends will welcome the Baraat and sometimes join in with the dancing and singing!
07.
MILNI
The fun between the two families starts when the Groom arrives at the Gurdwara. Family members are introduced to each other during the Milni.
This is a beautiful photography moment, where key family members are introduced to each other, exchanging garlands.
Sometimes, the younger family members will try to lift each other.
08.
ANAND KARAJ (BLISSFUL UNION)
The Bride’s arrival is another significant part of the wedding ceremony, and I love capturing these lovely moments for the couple.
Once inside the Gurdwara, the guests will pay respects to the Guru Granth Sahib and take their seats. The Groom’s sisters will remove the kalgi and, if worn, the sehra.
Eventually, the Groom will sit before the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy Sikh scripture) and wait for the Bride to enter. The Bride is escorted down the aisle by some family members and friends to join the Groom.
The Sikh Wedding ceremony starts with the Bride and Groom and their parents standing to offer Ardaas (prayers) to Waheguru (the Wonderful Lord/Teacher).
09.
PALLA RASMA,
THE LAAVAS
Once the priest explains the importance of marriage to the couple, the Bride’s father will place one end of the Groom’s saffron-coloured palla in the Bride’s hand, known as The Palla Rasma, signifying the father handing over the care of his daughter to the Groom.
The couple is ready to take their marriage vows – The Laavas.
A significant part of the ceremony is the Lavaan, which consists of four prayers, where the Bride and Groom circle the Guru Granth Sahib four times clockwise.
This is a fabulous opportunity to capture unobtrusive documentary photographs from different heights and locations.
After the Lavan Pheras, the wedding ceremony concludes with the singing of the Anand Shaib, the Song of Bliss and an ardaas is offered to indicate the couple is now married and the Sikh Wedding ceremony is complete.
10.
DOLI
Besides the wedding ceremony, one of the biggest tear-jerking moments is the ‘Doli’, which marks the bride’s official departure from her family home. I have been lucky to witness this beautiful part of the celebrations and have even been fortunate to have won photography awards.
Besides the wedding ceremony, one of the biggest tear-jerking moments is the ‘Doli’, which marks the bride’s official departure from her family home. I have been lucky to witness this beautiful part of the celebrations and have even been fortunate to have won photography awards.
Arrange A Video Call
If you’re drawn to documentary-style photography with a touch of editorial and you want a wedding photography album that feels real and unscripted, let’s talk.
I’m excited to learn more about your wedding. From the moment you reach out to the delivery of your images, you’ll have my complete care.
