Indian Weddings: A Celebration of Culture, Color, and So Many Beautiful Moments 🇮🇳
- John Arcara
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
So You're Planning an Indian Wedding? Let’s Talk About All the Fun (and Planning) That Comes With It 🇮🇳
If there’s one thing we absolutely love photographing, it’s Indian weddings. They're colorful, emotional, packed with energy — and every single one is totally unique.
Whether your family’s Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali, or from anywhere else in India, the celebrations are full of meaning, tradition, and a lot of unforgettable moments. But with all that beauty and detail comes a little bit of planning — especially when it comes to the timeline.
Here’s a quick guide to what we’ve learned from covering these amazing weddings, and how to make sure we capture every second without the day getting too crazy.
🌼 Haldi – Bright, Beautiful, and a Little Messy (in the best way)
The Haldi ceremony is always one of our favorites — it’s joyful, intimate, and super colorful. Family and friends smear turmeric paste on the bride and groom, and there’s usually lots of laughter (and maybe some happy tears). It’s all about good vibes and good luck before the big day.
👉 Heads up: This stuff stains, so definitely wear something you don’t mind getting a little yellow — and leave time for a shower and outfit change before the next event!
🎉 Mehendi Night – Henna, Music, and Dance-Offs
The Mehendi is all about fun. The bride gets her henna done, surrounded by her closest people, with music, dancing, and sometimes a full-on party. Some families combine this with the Sangeet, which is basically a full-out pre-wedding concert and dance party.
Gujarati or Punjabi? You might have a massive Sangeet with choreographed dances, dhol drums, and all the aunties showing off their moves.South Indian or Tamil weddings? You might keep it more traditional — but no less joyful.
🐴 Baraat – The Groom’s Big, Loud, Epic Entrance
The groom doesn’t just walk in — he arrives. The Baraat is a mini parade with music, dancing, and sometimes a horse (or car, or even an elephant — yep, we’ve seen it). The energy is unreal, and it’s one of the most exciting things to photograph.
💡 Tip: Let your photographer know the plan so we’re in the perfect spot to capture that grand entrance.
🔥 The Ceremony – Traditions That Tell a Story
This is the heart of the wedding, and the rituals vary depending on where your family’s from.
Punjabi/Sikh weddings: Held in a Gurdwara, with a sacred reading from the Guru Granth Sahib.
Tamil weddings: Full of meaningful rituals like the Mangalsutra tying and circling the sacred fire.
Gujarati weddings: Feature the Mangal Pheras and Saptapadi — walking around the fire while making vows.
Bengali weddings: Include the dramatic Shubho Drishti (first look!) and Saat Paak, where the bride is carried in.
No matter the tradition, there’s so much emotion and beauty happening during the ceremony — and every moment is photo-worthy.
🥹 Vidaai – The Goodbye That Gets Everyone Teary
This is the emotional send-off where the bride says goodbye to her family and heads off with her new husband. There are hugs, tears, rice tosses, and a whole lot of heart. It’s quiet, it’s powerful, and we always make sure to capture it with care and respect.
📷 Why This All Matters for Photos & Planning
With so many outfit changes, rituals, and events, timing is everything. And that’s where we come in. At John Arcara Photography, we’ve got experience with all kinds of Indian weddings — whether it's a multi-day celebration or a one-day extravaganza.
We’ll help build a photo timeline that works with your flow, stay ahead of any outfit changes or makeup resets, and make sure no one feels rushed — so you can just enjoy the day while we take care of the memories.
Let’s Make It Easy and Fun
Planning an Indian wedding can feel like a lot. But don’t worry — we’ve done this before, and we’ve got you. Whether you're dancing into the Baraat, spinning under the mandap, or getting emotional at the Vidaai, we’ll be right there with you.
Hit us up if you want help with timelines or just want to chat about how to make your photos epic. We’re always down to help — and we’d be honored to be part of your story.Indian Weddings: A Celebration of Culture, Color, and So Many Beautiful Moments 🇮🇳
Contact us now for a free Indian Wedding Planning consultation and custom photography & videography package pricing
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