Thilak and Ragi--an experience

I am back from India (and a few days in Dubai).

To have experienced India as a visitor and as a photographer for two weddings was a blessing i am forever grateful for in my prayers always. (another blog entry)

But for now, I am sharing some photos i have done for my friend Chelson (or Thilak's) and Ann (Ragi's) wedding.


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A few days before the wedding, the groom informed me that i will be with two other photographers, one was hired by the bride's family (to do the bride's family side) and the other, the groom's uncles/aunties got for their 'own photos'. I was tasked by the groom to do the "UK" style shots that he says i do, he wants in his album (i.e. photojournalistic style/non-posed).

I was a little bit confused as to why someone would spend so much on getting a photographer from abroad (fares, food and accommodation) when in fact they have wedding photographers abound on their day too, and then when i got to see samples of the photographer's previous work (engagement photos/album done for them) and meeting up with the photographers, i soon understood, that their style of photography is different. (Most wedding photographers in that part of India still do the conventional stand-up-infront-of-my-lens-and-hold still-while -i-do-my-shoot-type photography). The groom knows best *wink*.


Also, there are countless thousands of guests who will congratulate the groom, stand infront of the camera and stare at it, as a souvenir with the groom. The groom, thank goodness knew i do not do such photos, and spared me that kind of work.

Their (Thilak's and Ragi's) wedding was a sort of the 'wedding of the year' in their town. It was at par of that a celebrity's in their region as people from all over the world, friends, relatives from different countries went home to witness the occasion and attended by over a thousand people.


It was a mishmash of conventional and non-conventional. The groom did not sport a mustache which was a requirement for the men in their region (esp on the wedding day; Thilak said there was not enough time to grow one ), he also wore a non traditional garb for the evening celebration (which his brother did on his evening do), instead, he wore a cool linen suit, and loafers. I suppose Thilak was forgiven for that as he is now a combination of European and American influence where he lived and worked the past years. Other than that, everything was pure Southern Indian in food and in celebration.


Some photos of the day.


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It was a Christian wedding but the cultural aspects of South India was very much prominent in the proceedings of the day.

I was there for the groom's pre-wedding ceremony which was the bestowing of garland.

Thilak's family is a devout family. They had prayers with their priest (Church of South India), at his home before we left for the wedding ceremony.

The groom and his bestman, his brother Vivek.

Thilak's mother giving him his garland. This apparently was part of the betrothal process (as heard through the aunties' explanation). The garland is a symbol he is getting 'hitched'.

The groom kissed lovingly by "Pati", or grandma.

Aunties one by one come and greet the groom a happy wish..

The bridal transport...

The groom resides in Tamil Nadu which is 3 and 1/2 hours away from Kerala,where the bride comes from, and where the church was,and the lunch reception was. It was a long (perilous) drive to the church,lol.

Sweets and food are a big part of the pre-wedding ceremony, most especially bananas.

Banana's play a significant part in the weddings (in fact in all of our everyday adventures in India,haha). In weddings, apparently, they signify abundance and sweetness in marriage. One of my friends commented, maybe it has a productivity meaning too, due to its phallic shape, yeah, i think whatever meaning you could put on a banana, it is indeed a major role during the weddings.

The wedding meal always had a banana per plate/or banana leaf in our case, and all restaurants give it to you after every meal, to wipe away the heat of the spices from their cooking.

The groom's cousin, Christo, who works for British company in India, who came home (36 hours on a train),from one end of India to the South, to attend Thilak's wedding beside the groom's close friend from England Cheryl. Cheryl, depending on what she wears,looks different everytime. In this photo she could be seen as an Indian lady. Oftentimes when she is with me, other people think she is Filipino, but she actually is South African, mighty and proud to be one..

and some of the groom's family.

The groom did some of the directing himself, giving orders and directions to drivers, helps and other attendees.

Father of the groom, Mr.Solomon. he used to be a school director for their town's only primary school. Such a humble and hardworking man. He opened his house to us,and fed us with wonderful spicy food.

Arriving at the church.. before proceeding inside, the groom and his family has to meet up with the bride's family for the giving of garland, which signifies the betrothal, and acceptance of him into the family.

The groom leading the way, and his aunties are right behind him to give sweets and bananas to the bride's family.

red banana's..the last time i had them, was when i was a young girl, in my maternal grandmother's hometown.

the giving and exchanging of food is a symbol that one's house is open to the other's family. a sweet welcome.

Welcoming the groom..Mr. Thomas, the bride's family officiating the giving of garland.

The brother of the bride giving the groom his garland.

Officially brothers now.

More of the ceremony.

The groom, albeit,feeling the nervous excitement for the ceremony and seeing his bride.

The dashing groom..He is gorgeous, this man, well mannered, intelligent, and has more beneath that Hugo Boss suit he is wearing.

A few days before the wedding we asked him, what he will be wearing on the day. When he said, a Hugo Boss suit, we teased him, as he's such an outdoorsy person, and has no air and graces about him, that we thought he got his sudden penchant for designer labels when he started working in the States. And he just laughed. (Saying that, we actually did notice that even then, his climbing gear were always the top of the range quality,so it might have been not more evident then, but he actually is a man who loves the finer things in life--outdoorsy or not).

The anticipation before going inside the church.

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More photos from the wedding on the next entry.