Telugu Wedding, ITC Gardenia, Bangalore: A Traditional Wedding With A Contemporary Twist

Young and vibrant couple Shreyas and Sreehitha's Telugu wedding was traditional but with a contemporary touch. The celebration comprised of three ceremonies, each hosted with a character and vibe of its own. 

Click here for our complete Telugu Wedding Guide.

A Burst of Colours

The celebrations kicked off with a colourful Mehendi ceremony. The bride wore tiny white flowers on her hair and looked absolutely stunning in a signature Anita Dongre designer lehenga. Her look complemented the glorious vibe and mood of the decor.

A bangle stall, puppets and colourful hanging lanterns added to the appeal of the venue, making it an absolute delight for any wedding photographer to capture.

As a gesture of love, the groom fed his bride, as she patiently got her Mehendi done. We did a post-Mehendi photoshoot, capturing the bride and groom in a playful mood, and in high spirits. 

An Evening of Song & Dance 

The second leg of the celebrations - the Sangeet ceremony - was hosted at the stunning ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru. The couple was colour-coordinated in yellow, looking perfectly matched and glamourous, all set for a fun night out. The bride looked stunning in a designer Mrunalini Rao lehenga.

The occasion saw friends and family come together to showcase their talent. A live band, made up of cousins and friends, put up their own performances, and the sister of the groom sang her heart out. 

The bridal parents swayed in a couple-dance, while the bridal couple showed off their vigorous dance moves. It was a fun-filled evening for all, including us. Through some very candid wedding photography, we were able to capture the energy, authenticity, raw talent and joy of the evening.  

Tying the Knot 

The wedding ceremony took place on the grand and green terrace lawns of the ITC Gardenia. The backdrop was the perfect setting for the wedding. The pink and white floral decor was tasteful, elegant, and lent an air of royalty. The bride and groom's wedding ensembles complemented this vibe.

If matches are made in heaven, this was definitely one of them! The groom entered with his parents while the bride arrived in style - on a floral decorated palanquin.

Hosted in Telugu-style, the Jeelakarra Bellam ceremony was held to signify the union of the bride and groom. The customary thick paste was made from jeelakarra (cumin) and bellam (jaggery) and placed on a tamalapaku (betel leaf).

The bride and the groom proceeded to put it on each other's heads, while the purohit chanted mantras from the Vedas. This was followed by a loud round of happy cheering from the guests.

Showers of Blessings 

We then experienced the most most fun part of the wedding - the traditional Talambralu ritual - where the bride and groom shower each other with talambralu (a burst of pearls, thermocol balls, or rice coloured with turmeric paste). The couple seemed to thoroughly enjoy this part of the ceremony, and their playful smiles in the photographs said it all!

The wedding concluded with the Arundhati Nakshatra. Again, our favourite part was indulging in some candid wedding photography of the bridal couple, post the ceremony, away from the guests and in the lovely gardens of the ITC Gardenia.

Their playfulness and loving smiles spoke greatly of their love, and it gave us great joy to be able to capture those moments of love and joy, for eternity. 

An Intimate Iyengar Tamil Brahmin Wedding With All Rituals At A Farm House In Bangalore

Intimate weddings are no doubt the latest trend for people who look forward to a quiet experience among select family & friends. Supreetha and Dr Srinand Srinivas's wedding venue was a farmhouse, a little away from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore. The serene and blissful surroundings added to the merriment and provided an intimate setting for the big day.

While the majestic entrance welcomed the guests, the surrounding coconut trees provided a perfect setting for the Iyengar wedding ceremony. It was such a pleasant sight to see the families of the bride, groom and the guests soaking in the salubrious weather with the early morning mist and rays of sun peeking through the coconut palms. 

Click here for our complete Tambrahm Wedding Guide.

The Venue

True to the rustic wedding idea, even the names of the bride and groom were fashioned using marigold on the coconut palm at the entrance. White sofas and wooden chairs with pink décor added to the allure of the event.

While the steps to the mandap were decorated with flower-filled urulis (round brass vessels), a Radha-Krishna statue was also kept decorated. The pillared mandap presented a charming look with flower garland decorations.   

Enter The Bride

The bride, Supreetha, looked gorgeous in a pink silk saree and her neatly plaited hair adorned with jadanagam and jasmine flowers. To complete the Iyengar Tambrahm bridal look, she had worn a sun & moon nethi chutti (headpieces). 

In a wedding, each ritual has a specific meaning and significance. There are many cultural, mythological and sometimes geographical aspects in each of these rituals. The Tamil Brahmin wedding stands out as one of the most ritualistic Indian weddings. The enchanting ceremonies have remained unchanged over centuries and they're still a grand affair. 

Along Came the Groom

While the bride looked resplendent in the silk saree, the groom looked every inch an Iyengar groom with namam, wearing a panchagajam veshti. 

After the bride and groom were welcomed by the elders in the family, the rituals started with a garland exchange. The couple was lifted in the air, and it was a laugh riot to see the families and friends making it difficult for them to garland each other by pulling the bride and groom back and forth. It was great fun and after they garlanded each other thrice; it was time for the oonjal ceremony.

Mystical Ceremonies That Weaved Magic

A swing was kept ready with floral decorations, and the couple was made to sit on it. Ladies sang traditional songs and the elder women threw red and yellow coloured rice balls in all four directions. Elder women of the family took turns to go around the couple, singing songs and blessing them. As the merriment lingered in the air, the couple was fed with sweetened milk and bananas. 

The most sacred of the Brahmin wedding rituals is the Kanyadaan. This ritual is said to bind two people into one. This is a tradition that is a beautiful blend of bittersweet feelings, wherein the father of the bride gives away her hand to the groom.

Supreetha changed into a red nine-yard saree for it and sat on her father’s lap. As the groom got ready to tie the thali around her neck and waited for the auspicious time to arrive, to lighten the emotional moment, the entire family did a countdown making it one of the most cherished memories of the event. 

As soon as the thali was over, Supreetha and her mom hugged each other with moist eyes. It was a very heartfelt occasion, and everyone hugged each other and congratulated the couple. Those perfect moments offered us the opportunity for some candid wedding photography, and we captured all of it.

An established singer and family friend, Sangeeta Katti, sang a beautiful song to conclude the wedding. We had a gala time capturing all the beautiful moments that will become reasons for the families to smile-wide for years to come. 

Hindu-Christian Wedding, St. Patrick's Church: A Magical Wedding Across Udupi & Bangalore

Weddings always transport us to magical places. And what we loved about Abhishek and Shirley's special day was the beautiful coming together of two faiths and cultures. This Hindu-Christian wedding was a delight to shoot, because of the joyful vibe through the entire wedding, and the contrast of the inter-faith wedding ceremonies. 

A New Chapter Begins 

The journey began with a traditional Udupi-style Kannadiga Hindu wedding ceremony in a temple. A small puja was hosted at Abhishek's home.

As the couple got ready for the ceremony, we managed to do some candid wedding photography of them donning their bridal finery - the groom at his home, helped by his elder brother, while the bride got ready at a hotel in the vicinity.

A Touch Of God's Own Country

First, the bride entered under the traditional phoolon ki chaddar. She walked to the beats of the chande, a traditional instrument from Kerala, and the vibrant movements of the Yakshana dancers, followed by the groom. 

The couple exchanged garlands with a lot of love. This was followed by the thali ritual, the most important part of the traditional Hindu marriage rites.

It was a beautiful sunny day, and the lighting was perfect for a blissful photoshoot with the couple and their loved ones. 

Romance In The Air

As the marriage ceremony concluded, it was time to get ready for an evening reception hosted at the UVA Meridian Bay Resort & Spa. The perfectly colour-coordinated couple emerged in a crane, amidst a dazzling cloud of smoke, and a burst of confetti and pyro!

The groom and his besties put up an energetic dance performance, first performing the tiger dance, a traditional folk art form of Udupi, followed by a 90s Bollywood music routine. The bride and her friends put up an equally energetic performance to their favourite Bollywood tracks as well. 

Of course, the best part of the night for us was the couple shoot. Abhishek and Shirley were a picture of serenity as they posed for us, amidst the backdrop of the beautiful UVA Meridian Bay Resort. 

The Chime Of Wedding Bells

The beautiful church wedding service took place at the majestic St Patrick's church in Bangalore. The church, built over 175 years ago, was the perfect backdrop for the traditional Catholic ceremony. 

As the bride got ready in her elegant white wedding gown, her bridesmaids, mother and sister were close at hand, helping her every step of the way.

We captured some lovely pictures of her jewellery, veil, tiara and sweeping white gown, followed by some candid shots, as she laughed with gay abandon with her bridesmaids, who wore light pink gowns. 

Here Comes The Bride 

The bride looked stunning as she stepped out of the car and walked down the aisle by the arms of her father. The bridegroom looked dapper in a contemporary suit, vest and bow-tie. 

The couple proceeded to exchange vows, followed by the exchange of rings.

As the service concluded, we captured some beautiful portraits of the couple, against the backdrop of the church facade.

The Wedding March 

After the solemn church service, the wedding party proceeded to the open-air green and serene Aadya Farms & leisure, Yelahanka for the final reception.

The decor looked absolutely gorgeous, and we indulged in some wedding photography of the bridal couple and their entourage of bridesmaids and groomsmen. 

The reception started on a lively note. The couple, followed by the bridesmaids and groomsmen, made a grand entry amidst the fiery pyros. 

They gathered in the centre, followed by the raising of toasts and cutting of the wedding cake. The guests participated sportingly in a shoe game, along with the bridal couple, adding to the suspense and excitement of the evening.

Let The Dancing Begin!

What came soon after was the first dance. The father of the bride danced with his daughter, a beautiful, moving sight to behold. The mother of the groom danced with her son, followed by the groom dancing with his mother-in-law. 

The bridal couple then got together and set the dance floor on fire with their moves! The night ended on a high note with all the guests joining the couple on the dance floor.

We were absolutely honoured to be the wedding photographers for this magical journey of young, bold, fearless love. 

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Kannadiga Wedding, The Tamarind Tree: A Charming Wedding In Bangalore

It's one of our favourite venues in Bangalore, Tamarind Tree is stunning in every way with step-wells, pretty tiled roofs and a little waterbody by the mandap. And this pretty wedding with two NRIs was the toast of the town with gorgeous kanjeevarams, pretty temple jewellery and a beautiful jhada that's so insta-worthy. 

Gomati & Siri were a delightfully friendly couple. They were a joy to shoot, always smiling and happy to be with each other. At a gorgeous venue like the Tamarind Tree in Bangalore their life journey got off to a beautiful celebratory start.

Click here for our complete Tamarind Tree Bangalore Wedding Guide and here for our complete Kannada Wedding Guide.