This was a Gujarati Hindu wedding ceremony on the top floor of the Rio Grande, which allows for great views over the city during daylight hours

Hindu wedding party in Barnsley , South Yorkshire, DVD cover design from HD  video stills

Hindu wedding ceremony pictures with Miyaan , ( Mayan) and Sangeet in South Yorkshire.

Hindu Baraat wedding ceremony in Birmingham

Hindu Sainth – pre- wedding ceremony by the priest

This is the second wedding we’ve videoed  for this beautiful family in Barnsley, and are now looking forward photographing and videoing the first birthday party of the first groom’s son!

See more on http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

Vishal’s Hindu wedding comprises of several individual ceremonies. After the Mayan (Miyaan) comes the Sangeet – bit of fun for all the wedding guests – then the  Sainth, a religious ceremony with oils,  natural plants and seeds. The priest conducts the ceremony – which could be on the floor of the temple, or as here in the family home.  The key family members sits round in a circle in front of the priest, and participate throughout.

What a beautiful buttercup yellow sari with mehndi - so just couldn't resist starting with this glorious splash of colour!

natural green leafy plants during the Sainth ceremony

The coconut always appears at Hindu weddings, and has many different levels of significance

The coconut is passed to one of the family by the Hindu priest.

The marks on the coconut maybe perceived as representing the three-eyed Lord Shiva so it brings good luck.  Sometimes it is smashed to reveal its soft white centre, representing the human brain, as it looks a bit like a human head, thus the ego is squashed and presented to the Lord.

flower petals in a dish - all part of life...

Here is more of the evening’s story in pictures…..

Hindu priest with the Groom's Father

Colourful offerings

Oh such happiness!

Oh little baby...!

Prayers

Hands...

Young and old sit down on the floor together.

The headdress that the groom will wear the next day at his Sehra Bandi and Baraat

Candles are lit...

Hands held out above the burning candles...

 Money is given here too.

Just a moment in time, as the candles are passed round and hands add money to the tray.

Petals garnish the offerings, like so many strands of hundreds and thousands on fairy cakes

Blessing from the priest for the little boy

Glasses of milk brought in by the Groom's mother

Happy smiles again as the milk arrives.

Time for gifts...

Presents.

So much happening!

Everyone - nearly...

Groom Vishal and his brother Dinesh causing a stir!

Night!

Visit www.LeedsWeddingPhotographers.com for more info or to contact Elaine, the wedding photographer here.

This is the second wedding we have covered for the same family of boys in the South Yorkshire town of Barnsley, so now we feel part of their extended family: many hours work – but all great fun.

Its a bit like a Stag-Do where the bridegroom is smothered in a turmeric paste and coloured powders, but in front of all his family and close friends in the garden of their family home.

Vibrantly coloured pigments ready for use in creating a Mayan wedding design

Wonder what this is going to be used for...

Let's start with a little snack before the ceremony starts

Such rich colours...

beautiful henna designs

hands fit for a magazine..

more beautiful henna designs

The women start to get ready for the ceremony.

The arty bit begins...

beautiful little detail...

birds-eye view of the art in progress

Art in the making...

Almost ready...

One of my favourite shots of the artists at work

Now we see the artists too...

All set!

The groom's mother make the first move. Here she is about to smear him with thick turmeric paste

Oh how they are loving it!

The groom's torment hots up!"

Oh such fun!

How carefully they avoid his eyes and mouth. Seems they all love him!

Ooh this is getting a bit daring!

I actually won first prize in an international  wedding  photography  competition – $1,000, from the Professional Wedding Photographers’ Network and was awarded the top wedding photographer excellence award for pictures from this couple’s Hindu wedding this year 2012, just days after the wedding had taken place!

More pics and wedding info on www.LeedsWeddingPhotographers.com