A Hindu wedding is a sequence of moments that each last a few seconds and never repeat: the ganesh puja before anyone has arrived, the baraat's dhol turning a hotel drive into a street party, the milni, the varmala, the kanyadaan, the seven steps, the sindoor, the vidaai. Surya grew up inside these ceremonies and has photographed more than 400 of them — which is why New Jersey families from Edison to Princeton to Jersey City ask for a photographer who does not need the ritual explained.
Every tradition has its own moments
"Hindu wedding" covers a dozen different ceremonies, and a photographer who treats them as one misses the heart of each. We shoot them differently because they are different:
- Gujarati — the pokwanu at the mandap gate, the antarpat lowering, the mangal phera, and a garba the night before that deserves its own gallery.
- Punjabi — chunni chadhana, jaggo, sehrabandi, the baraat with dhol, the milni between the families, and a doli that leaves nobody dry-eyed.
- Telugu — pellikuthuru and pellikoduku, the jeelakarra-bellam at the exact muhurtham, the mangalsutra, talambralu, and the games afterwards.
- Tamil — the kashi yatra, the oonjal, the mangalyadharanam with the nadaswaram at full volume, and the sapthapadi.
- Marathi & Bengali — the antarpat and mangalashtak; the subho drishti behind betel leaves, the sindoor daan, the ghomta.
- Fusion — a Hindu ceremony in the morning and a Catholic, Sikh or Jewish one in the afternoon, each given the respect of its own timeline.
Where we photograph Hindu weddings in New Jersey
We are based in Flemington and photograph across the state and the Tri-State; travel in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania is included in every collection.
- Temples — BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, the Sri Venkateswara Temple and the Balaji Temple in Bridgewater, and community temples across Central and North Jersey. We know each one's rules on flash, positions and dress.
- Grand ballrooms — The Palace at Somerset Park, the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, Royal Albert's Palace in Fords, The Venetian in Garfield, the Legacy Castle — the rooms built for a 500-guest reception and a baraat at the door.
- Estates and gardens — Park Chateau in East Brunswick, Crystal Plaza in Livingston, Addison Park in Aberdeen, The Merion in Cinnaminson, for an outdoor mandap in the light we hope for all year.
- Home — the haldi in the backyard in Edison, the pithi in the living room in Iselin. Some of our favourite photographs are made there.
For the light and the logistics of each, read our guide to the best Indian wedding venues in New Jersey.
Two crafts in one gallery
The work sits between documentary storytelling — the real laughter, the aunties orchestrating from the second row, the groom's shoes vanishing — and refined editorial portraiture that belongs on a wall. Our cinematography team works alongside the photographers, never in their frame, and delivers a highlight film plus a full ceremony edit so the mantras exist in full. See the wedding films.
How a Hindu wedding weekend usually runs with us
| Day | Events | What we bring |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | Ganesh puja, haldi or pithi | One photographer, natural light, the turmeric and the laughter |
| Friday | Mehndi, sangeet or garba | Photographer + cinematographer, the dance floor lit properly |
| Saturday | Baraat, ceremony at the muhurtham, portraits, reception | Lead + second photographer, cinematographer, drone where the venue allows |
| After | Delivery | Sneak peek within days, full gallery in weeks, film to follow |
Every collection is built around your real event list — see the investment page for how collections are structured, or read how to choose an Indian wedding photographer.
"He knew the muhurtham was at 10:52 and was in position at 10:50. Nobody had to tell him anything."
Questions Hindu couples ask us
Do you know the difference between a Gujarati, Punjabi and South Indian Hindu ceremony?
Yes — and it changes how we shoot. A Gujarati mandap has the antarpat and the mangal phera; a Punjabi ceremony builds to the sehrabandi and the doli; a Telugu wedding has the jeelakarra-bellam and talambralu; a Tamil ceremony the oonjal and the mangalyadharanam. Surya grew up with these rituals and has photographed hundreds of each, so the moment is anticipated, not explained to us afterwards.
Can you photograph inside a temple?
Yes. We photograph regularly at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, the Sri Venkateswara Temple and the Balaji Temple in Bridgewater, and at temples across New Jersey. We know each one’s rules on flash, positions and dress, and we work within them without asking the priest to wait.
How many events does a Hindu wedding in New Jersey usually need covered?
Most run two to four days — haldi or pithi, mehndi, sangeet or garba, the ceremony, and the reception. Collections are built around your actual event list, so a single-day wedding and a four-day weekend are quoted differently.
Do you deliver the full ceremony, not just highlights?
Always. Every collection includes the complete ceremony in the gallery, and our films include a full ceremony edit alongside the highlight film, so the mantras and the pheras exist in full for the family.
Your Hindu wedding
Tell us your dates, your tradition and your venue — we reply within a day with availability and a collection built for your ceremony.
Check Your Date