Indian flamboyance at festive Elmore Court wedding

In December, I had the pleasure of photographing Sarah & Manish’s beautiful wedding at the magical Elmore Court near Gloucester. The house is a wonderfully eccentric mix of historic and modern, made all the more colourful thanks to Manish and guests vividly dressed in traditional Hindi robes. A few Hindi traditions also added an unusual twist to the day’s celebrations. What would an Indian wedding be for instance, without the groom proudly arriving on the back of a magnificent white horse surrounded by drummers and guests? This lively event is known as a Baraat and I was so worried the enthusiastic beating of the drums was going to send Manish and his steed galloping off into the Gloucestershire countryside, never to be seen again! Thankfully the procession made it safely down the driveway to the entrance. Next up was the Milni where close relatives came together to welcome the groom into the family by sprinkling him with rose water and offering tokens of good luck. I’ve never seen so many lively people packed into such a small space!

While all this excitement was taking place downstairs, Sarah was upstairs in her suite, relaxing and enjoying getting ready with her Mum and bridesmaids. I find these events keep me very fit with all the running up and down the stairs between the action but I really love to make sure I capture everything that’s going on.

Sarah and her Dad finally joined Manish and all the guests in the Great Hall, where they tied the knot, followed by drinks and then a reception in the stunning Gillyflower, Elmore’s unusual sustainably built rammed earth event space. After enjoying an Indian feast, the happy couple hit the dance floor joined by guests and the return of those enthusiastic drummers to dance the night away Bhangra-style!