Surbhi and Dale’s Wonderful Haldi Ceremony

I absolutely love being a wedding photographer.

Over the years, photography has taken me to some incredible places and allowed me to witness things I never imagined I would experience. I have photographed hundreds of weddings, met thousands of wonderful people and been trusted to capture some of the most important moments in their lives.

Even after all this time, I never take that privilege for granted.

Every wedding is different. Every couple has their own story, every family has its own personality, and every celebration brings something new. That is one of the things I enjoy most about my work. Wedding photography is not simply about taking beautiful photographs. It is about meeting people, building trust, experiencing different traditions and documenting moments that families will treasure for generations.

The past two days have reminded me exactly why I love my job so much.

Yesterday, I had the honour of visiting Surbhi and Dale’s home to photograph their beautiful Mehndi ceremony. It was an incredibly colourful and joyful occasion during which intricate henna designs were carefully applied to Surbhi and members of both families.

Surbhi’s bridal Mehndi was truly breathtaking, with detailed designs covering her hands and arms. The atmosphere throughout the day was warm, relaxed and filled with laughter. It was the perfect beginning to what promises to be an unforgettable few days of wedding celebrations.

Today, I returned to their home to photograph the next part of their journey: the traditional Haldi ceremony.

Once again, I was welcomed with incredible warmth by Surbhi and Dale’s families. From the moment I arrived, I felt less like somebody who had simply been booked to take photographs and more like a guest who had been invited to share in a very special family occasion.

The ceremony took place outside in the beautiful sunshine, which could not have been more perfect.

The warm sunlight, the bright clothing and the striking yellow turmeric paste created a wonderful setting for photography. Everyone gathered together outside the family home, chatting, laughing and enjoying the excitement of the occasion.

There was a lovely sense of anticipation as the family prepared for the ceremony to begin. After yesterday’s Mehndi celebrations, everyone seemed even more relaxed in front of the camera, allowing me to capture some wonderfully natural photographs.

For those who may not be familiar with the tradition, the Haldi ceremony is an important pre-wedding ritual celebrated by many Hindu families. It usually takes place shortly before the wedding and involves a paste made primarily from turmeric being applied to the bride and groom.

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice produced from the root of the turmeric plant. It has been used throughout South Asia for thousands of years in cooking, traditional practices, religious ceremonies and family celebrations.

Its vibrant golden-yellow colour is associated with happiness, prosperity, purity and new beginnings, making it especially significant during wedding celebrations.

For the Haldi ceremony, turmeric is traditionally mixed with ingredients such as water, oil, milk, yoghurt, rosewater or sandalwood to create a smooth paste. The exact mixture can vary between families and regions, and some families have their own recipes and customs that have been passed down through generations.

The paste is then applied to the bride and groom by members of their families.

Turmeric has traditionally been valued for its cleansing and soothing qualities. Applying it before the wedding is believed to purify and prepare the couple as they approach one of the most important days of their lives.

The ceremony is also seen as a way of offering blessings and protection. Each person who applies the Haldi is sharing their love, happiness and good wishes with the bride and groom as they prepare to begin married life together.

Although the ceremony has a deep cultural and symbolic meaning, it is also incredibly joyful and playful. There are plenty of opportunities for laughter, particularly when relatives begin applying larger and larger amounts of turmeric to the couple’s hands, arms and faces.

The order of today’s ceremony was particularly lovely to watch and photograph.

One family member would step forward and apply the turmeric paste to Dale first. They would place it carefully onto his hands, arms and face before moving across to Surbhi and doing the same for her.

Once that person had completed their blessing for both Dale and Surbhi, another family member would step forward. They would again begin with Dale before applying the paste to Surbhi.

This continued throughout the ceremony, with each relative being given their own opportunity to bless both the groom and the bride.

It created a wonderful natural rhythm to the occasion.

Rather than Dale completing his ceremony separately and then Surbhi beginning hers, the focus moved continually between them. Each family member was able to share a personal moment with both the bride and groom before the next person took their place.

From a photography perspective, it was absolutely fantastic.

There were beautiful moments unfolding in two directions. I could photograph the concentration and laughter as somebody applied the paste to Dale, followed immediately by the smiles and reactions as they moved across to Surbhi.

It also showed how closely connected the two families had become. Every person was there to celebrate and bless the couple together, rather than treating them as two separate parts of the ceremony.

Initially, the turmeric was applied quite carefully.

Family members stepped forward, dipped their fingers into the golden paste and gently placed it onto Dale’s hands, arms and face. They then moved to Surbhi, offering the same careful blessing to her.

However, as the ceremony continued, people naturally became slightly more enthusiastic.

More turmeric was applied, smiles became wider and the laughter grew louder. Dale and Surbhi gradually became covered in bright yellow paste, while the sunlight made the colours look even more vivid.

The expressions were priceless.

There were moments of anticipation as each person approached, followed by laughter when the turmeric was placed onto a cheek or spread enthusiastically across an arm. Dale and Surbhi accepted everything with wonderful humour, smiling throughout as their families took turns.

These are exactly the moments I love to photograph.

There were no forced expressions or carefully arranged poses. Everything happened naturally. Every smile, laugh and reaction was completely genuine, allowing me to document the ceremony exactly as it unfolded.

The bright sunshine gave the celebration an uplifting, almost glowing atmosphere. The golden turmeric looked incredible against the colourful clothing worn by the family, while the natural light brought every expression and tiny detail to life.

I photographed close-up images of turmeric-covered hands, the paste being carefully applied, family members laughing together and Dale and Surbhi sitting at the centre of the celebrations.

There were also wider photographs showing everyone gathered outside in the sunshine. These images help to capture not only what happened, but the entire atmosphere of the occasion.

However, something happened during today’s ceremony that I was not expecting.

I was invited to take part.

I was genuinely astounded and incredibly honoured when the family encouraged me to put down my camera for a moment and become involved in the ceremony myself.

As a wedding photographer, I am usually standing slightly to one side. I observe everything that happens and document it through my camera. I become part of the wedding by recording the memories, but I am rarely asked to participate in a traditional ceremony personally.

To be invited to apply the turmeric paste to Dale and Surbhi was an experience I will never forget.

Following the same tradition as the other family members, I applied the Haldi to Dale first and then moved across to Surbhi.

For those few moments, I was not simply photographing the occasion. I was sharing in it.

It was such a generous and thoughtful gesture. It made me feel incredibly welcome and showed the warmth and kindness that Surbhi and Dale’s families have displayed towards me from the moment I first arrived at their home.

Being invited to participate gave me an even greater appreciation of the meaning behind the ceremony. I could feel the sense of happiness and goodwill surrounding the couple, and I was genuinely touched to be included.

I would personally like to thank Surbhi, Dale and both of their families from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for trusting me to photograph such personal, meaningful and important celebrations. Thank you for explaining the traditions to me, welcoming me into your home and allowing me to experience these wonderful occasions alongside you.

Most of all, thank you for making me feel included.

It has been an absolute privilege to photograph both the Mehndi and Haldi ceremonies. These are experiences I will always remember, not only because of the beautiful photographs we have created, but because of the kindness and hospitality shown to me throughout.

Today’s warm welcome even included a lovely cup of chai.

Chai is the Hindi word for tea, although the drink commonly known as chai in Britain usually refers to a traditional Indian-style tea prepared with milk, sugar and warming spices.

Masala chai is often made by brewing black tea with milk and a combination of spices. These may include cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and black pepper. The exact recipe varies greatly between households, with each family having its own preferred balance of tea, milk, sweetness and spice.

In many Indian homes, chai is much more than simply a drink. It is closely connected with hospitality, friendship and conversation. Offering a guest a cup of chai is a warm and welcoming gesture—an invitation to relax and spend time together.

My cup of chai today was absolutely lovely and greatly appreciated. It was warm, comforting and full of flavour, making it the perfect refreshment during such a lively and energetic celebration.

I was also treated to some beautiful food prepared by Surbhi’s cousin, Shashank.

Wedding photography can involve extremely long days with very few opportunities to stop, so being offered food is always appreciated. However, today’s meal felt particularly special because it had been prepared and shared with such kindness.

The food was delicious and added yet another layer to the extraordinary hospitality I experienced throughout the day.

Thank you, Shashank, for preparing it and for making sure I was so well looked after.

The entire celebration was filled with everything that makes family occasions so special: laughter, food, tradition, conversation and people coming together to show their love and support.

These are the photographs that often become increasingly meaningful as the years pass.

A close-up image of turmeric-covered hands may remind someone of the ceremony itself, while a photograph of a relative laughing may immediately bring back the sounds, warmth and atmosphere of that sunny afternoon.

The photographs will preserve the colours and details of the day, but more importantly, they will preserve the relationships between the people who were there.

Photographing cultural celebrations also gives me an opportunity to continue learning. There is so much history, meaning and symbolism behind traditions such as Mehndi and Haldi, and it is fascinating to see how each family celebrates them in its own personal way.

I approach occasions like these with enormous respect.

My job is to document what happens without interrupting the natural flow of the ceremony. I want the photographs to represent the traditions faithfully while also showing the personalities, emotions and relationships that make every celebration unique.

Yesterday’s Mehndi ceremony was amazing, and today’s Haldi ceremony was every bit as special.

Together, they have provided a wonderful introduction to Surbhi and Dale’s wedding celebrations. They have brought both families together and allowed everyone to share in moments filled with meaning, colour, sunshine and happiness.

Tomorrow, the celebrations will continue with the wedding day itself at the beautiful Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington.

Surbhi and Dale will be having two wedding ceremonies, bringing together traditional British and Hindu customs. I cannot wait to photograph the different elements of the day and see both families come together once again to celebrate their marriage.

After the experiences of the past two days, I know tomorrow will be filled with warmth, emotion, colour and plenty of laughter.

Being invited to photograph a wedding is always an honour. Being welcomed into somebody’s home to document important family traditions is an even greater privilege.

To then be asked to participate in those traditions is something truly extraordinary.

Surbhi, Dale and your wonderful families: thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you for your kindness, hospitality and trust. Thank you for the chai, the beautiful food and the many moments of laughter. Thank you for allowing me to capture your traditions and for making me feel so welcome throughout both ceremonies.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of this wonderful celebration, and I cannot wait to see everyone again tomorrow for the wedding day at Blackwell Grange Hotel.

What an amazing few days this has already been—and the wedding day is still to come!