Outdoor Indian Wedding Ceremony At Micklefield Hall
Where to begin with this wonderful outdoor Indian wedding ceremony at Micklefield Hall? I’ve had the privilege of photographing at Micklefield Hall before. It’s a stunning venue that can accommodate large weddings, whilst at the same to feeling intimate and friendly. I guess that’s because at heart, Micklefield Hall is a family run business and the exclusive use of the venue means that the wedding day doesn’t feel at all rushed. So when Jiten and Geli first got in touch and told me about their plans to hold their outdoor Indian wedding ceremony at Micklefield Hall, I was super excited, as you can imagine!
Photographing a beautiful outdoor wedding at Micklefield Hall
However, before photographing this amazing outdoor ceremony, there was the small matter of a worldwide pandemic to navigate! The couple had booked me way back in the summer of 2019, and I’m so glad they stuck with me through a couple of postponements along the way. It also felt that after this extended time, as was the case with a few of my weddings this year and last, that when the big day did finally come around, a real sense of trust had been built up and I felt as if I was among friends.
The Morning of the Wedding
It’s so nice to arrive early for a wedding when the whole day is taking place on site. Apart from taking a stroll around the venue and looking at portrait locations I might like to return to later, it was lovely to see the Indian “Mandap” being constructed on the lawn at Micklefield Hall. Was also a great opportunity to meet Jiten and Geli’s videographer and my good friend Az at Lemon Tree Photography who stepped in to help me with the first half of the day. Az was tasked with following the groom in the build up to the ceremony, and I remained with Geli as a well oiled team of ladies worked to get everyone ready.
The Outdoor Indian Wedding Ceremony At Micklefield Hall
Although I’ve photographed smaller Indian wedding ceremonies in the past, the couple very kindly provided me, and their guests with a detailed explanation of the ceremony, that I studied the night before, and had in my back pocket throughout the ceremony. The priest was also brilliant at talking though the ceremony and explaining the significance the every part of the Indi wedding ceremony. From a photography point of view it was so nice to be able to move freely around the outdoor Indian wedding ceremony at Micklefield Hall without disturbing proceedings, to capture not only the traditional parts of the marriage ceremony, but also the stunning panoramic backdrop that Micklefield Hall provides.
The Wedding Reception
After a little break in the middle of the day, and some wonderful food, we began the evening reception with an outfit change for both the bride and groom, and a second portrait shoot, in some beautiful early evening sunshine, before the couple began to greet their evening guests. A lot more food was of course consumed and some very heartfelt speeches took place with guests, young and old, listening intently to every word. The love for this wonderful couple was palpable in the room, and from the moment the music started the dance floor was packed, which I’ll never get tired of photographing, and can often find myself getting swept up in the music and going overtime to capture just a few more pictures!
Why I Love Photographing Indian Wedding Ceremonies
- As a documentary wedding photographer one of the things I crave is moments of emotion and opportunities to tell a story though my photography. The Indian wedding ceremony provides so many moments like this, as every part is significant for a different reason, and symbolises different parts of the families coming together and forming a new marriage.
- Light is critical to any photography, and it’s so nice that a ceremony such as the outdoor Indian wedding ceremony at Micklefield Hall that I was able to photograph here, is able to take place outside. From a practical point of view it’s so much easier to move around discretely outdoors, and the natural light in the open makes colours pop and is so flattering to skin tones in photos.
- Within photography circles it’s a perennial question to ask what part of the day photographers enjoy the most. It’s often the party, or the drinks reception when we get the most quirky/documentary pictures, but for me, I do really enjoy photographing the ceremony, and rather controversially, I also enjoy a long ceremony. It gives me the opportunity the get the so called “safe” expected shots, but then to also look around the ceremony to hopefully capture the more unexpected kinds of shots that are less obvious. The Indian wedding ceremony provides the time to find ways to document the event that go beyond the obvious.
- Of course I also love colour in my photographs. I provide my couples with black & white and colour images, and there is of course a place for black & white images, but there is just something so joyous about the saturated colours of this outdoor Indian wedding ceremony at Micklefield Hall, and I hope to capture many more like this in future.
- The fun part of the Indian wedding ceremony is the game that is often played at the end of the ceremony in which, the couple search for a ring submerged in water. It’s a great way to break with the formality of the ceremony and is of course a brilliant photo opportunity as the couple are surrounded on all sides by the wedding party cheering then on.