Telugu wedding photography in Chennai
We're based in Chennai, and we've photographed Telugu weddings here and across the region, from a reception-and-temple wedding at Sheraton Grand Whitefield in Bangalore to a full multi-day ceremony at Sri Narayani Mahal near Vellore, and destination weddings in Kurnool and Mahabalipuram. Different venues, but the same ritual sequence, and the same thing that makes it worth doing properly: it moves fast, and most of the meaningful moments happen once.
The rituals we've covered
Panthakkal, the day before, at each family's home separately, seeking blessings for the wedding ahead. Pellikuthuru and Pellikoduku, the bride and groom's Mangala Snanam, smeared with turmeric and given a holy bath at the muhurtham time. Mangala Arthi and Nalungu, warding off the evil eye before the wedding itself begins. Nandi Devata Puja, marking the actual start. Jeerakalla-Bellamu, cumin and jaggery placed on each other's heads. Mangal Sutra Dharana, the thaali tied in three knots to the beat of the shehnai. And Talambralu, where rice mixed with turmeric is poured over each other's heads, which starts formal and turns into a proper contest by the third round.
Reception first, ceremony after
Several of the Telugu weddings we've shot run reception first, sacred ceremony after, sometimes at a temple rather than the main venue. It's the opposite order to a Tamil wedding, which is worth knowing if you're planning one in Chennai, and it changes how we plan the two days, since the bigger, louder event comes before the quieter, more sacred one rather than after it.
When times are difficult
We once shot a Telugu wedding at Sri Narayani Mahal near Vellore during Cyclone Nivar. We hired a minibus instead of taking our own vehicles, to keep the gear dry and together. We planned the drive to avoid the worst of the waterlogging. And knowing Chennai's power was already out, we arranged backup power at the venue after the wedding ended, so we could finish backing up every photo and video onto three separate hard disks before driving back.
Nobody plans for a cyclone. But it's the kind of day that tells you whether a photographer actually has a backup plan or just says they do.
The traditional photographs
Both families, properly arranged, planned in advance rather than assembled on the spot.
One wedding a day, never two. Both of us lead every wedding and shoot alongside our own team.
