The Anand Karaj
The kirtan, the four laavan and the ardas, photographed with reverence and care.
EnquireSikh wedding photography, capturing the milni, the Anand Karaj, the four laavan and the joy of the celebrations. London-based, we travel across London, the Home Counties and the whole of the UK.
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A wedding specialism
A Sikh wedding is a celebration of faith, family and joy, centred on the Anand Karaj before the Guru Granth Sahib and surrounded by the energy of the milni, the baraat and the bhangra. It deserves a photographer who understands the ceremony and respects the gurdwara, and we are completely at home with all of it.
With twenty-five years and over a thousand weddings behind us, we know gurdwara etiquette by heart and work calmly through the four laavan, with second photographers for the largest events. Distance is never a problem. We travel wherever your celebration takes place.
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Where we cover
We travel widely for sikh weddings, from London and the Home Counties to the Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland. Find your town below, or just get in touch wherever you are.
A Sikh wedding specialism
A Sikh wedding is a warm, days-long celebration of faith, family and Punjabi music, and it deserves a photographer who understands the rhythm of each ritual. We are completely at home from the Akhand Path and maiyan to the jaggo night, the morning milni and the Anand Karaj before the Guru Granth Sahib.
With twenty-five years and over a thousand weddings behind us, we work calmly and unobtrusively through the four laavan, the ardaas and kirtan, the langar and the emotional doli. Second and female photographers are available for the largest celebrations, and distance is never a problem.
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How we work
A Sikh wedding often begins early, so we arrive in good time for the milni and the Anand Karaj. Inside the gurdwara we cover the ceremony with great care, heads covered and seated on the floor with the sangat, photographing the four laavan quietly from the sides so nothing is disturbed. We keep to the morning timings, respect the langar as a shared vegetarian meal, and follow whatever the granthi and your family prefer.
We photograph Sikh weddings right across the country, including Southall, Leicester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Gravesend and Harrow. Sikh weddings sit within our wider Asian wedding photography and wedding photography work, and our guides to the Anand Karaj and Asian wedding cost are a good place to start.
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At a glance
| Event | What happens | When in the day |
|---|---|---|
| Akhand Path | A continuous forty-eight hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib, concluding with the bhog and ardaas. | In the days before the wedding |
| Maiyan and vatna | Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom at home among close family, with singing and blessings. | The day or evening before |
| Mehndi | Henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet as family and friends gather round. | The evening before |
| Jaggo night | A lively night of Punjabi folk singing and dancing, with decorated pots and lights carried on the head. | The night before |
| Milni | The two families meet and are introduced outside the gurdwara, with garlands, embraces and tea. | Wedding morning, on arrival |
| Anand Karaj | The marriage before the Guru Granth Sahib, with the couple completing the four laavan while the ragis lead the ardaas and kirtan. | Late morning |
| Langar | A shared vegetarian meal served to every guest in the gurdwara hall, seated together as equals. | Midday, after the ceremony |
| Doli or palki | The emotional farewell as the bride departs with her husband's family, showered with blessings. | Early afternoon |
| Reception with bhangra | An evening of dinner, speeches and energetic bhangra dancing to celebrate the new couple. | Evening |
Good to know
Costs vary with the number of days, events and photographers involved, and photography is usually a meaningful share of the wedding budget. We price around your celebration, so tell us your dates and the events you want covered and we will send tailored options.
Yes. We are based in Northwood and travel across London, the Home Counties, the Midlands, the North, Wales and Scotland for Sikh weddings. Distance is never a problem, and we plan the gurdwara timings and travel carefully in advance.
Yes. From the Akhand Path and maiyan to the jaggo night, the Anand Karaj and the reception, multi-day Sikh celebrations are our speciality. For the busiest weddings we bring a second photographer so the ceremony and the guests are both fully covered.
Yes. We can provide a second photographer for larger celebrations, and a female photographer where you would prefer one for the maiyan, mehndi or ladies gatherings. Two photographers let us cover the Anand Karaj and the family moments at the same time.
We photograph the whole Sikh wedding, from the Akhand Path bhog and maiyan to the milni, the Anand Karaj with its four laavan, the langar and the doli. We also cover Punjabi and fusion celebrations, and understand the order of each ritual.
Popular and auspicious dates book up well ahead, often a year or more, so we recommend enquiring as early as you can. Tell us your wedding date and we will confirm availability straight away and hold it for you.
Yes. Alongside your edited digital gallery we design hand-finished, fine-art albums, so the whole story of your celebration, from the milni to the doli, is held in an heirloom to pass down through the family.
Yes. We photograph the Anand Karaj inside the gurdwara with great discretion, working quietly from the sides with our heads covered and seated respectfully with the sangat. We use quiet cameras and longer lenses so the four laavan and the ardaas are captured without disturbing anyone.
Milni · Anand Karaj · Laavan · Doli
Tell us about your wedding and we will send availability, ideas and pricing, wherever it takes place.
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