In the enchanting atmosphere of Istanbul, we witnessed a colorful Indian-Pakistani wedding at Crowne Plaza Florya! Scheherazade and Mathews’ three-day wedding ceremony offered us a feast ranging from traditional rituals to modern celebrations. The couple, who live between Canada and Dubai, mostly had guests from America, England, Pakistan and India. You can find the rest of the “Indian Wedding Istanbul Photos” article under the photos.
Day 1: Nikah & Mayun – First Steps of Tradition
The first day of the wedding started with the Nikah ceremony and Mayun rasam. Our couple did not want a preparation photo for the first day. The bride and groom came together under the elegant decoration of the Crowne Plaza Florya Hotel, accompanied by their families. We had discussed all the details with Shez and Mat online beforehand. Frankly, our face-to-face meeting took place when they entered for the wedding 🙂
- Lifting the Veil (Chaap Tilak): I really love this ritual, which is full of emotional moments. First, the groom’s side entered according to Indian rituals. The groom and his team were dressed in the traditional yellow clothes of the southern Indian state of Kerala. Our Indian guests were members of the approximately 3.5 million Assyrian (Syriac Malabar Christians) community living here. Mathews sat in his seat behind a tulle separated by flowers. His family took their places behind him.
- Bride’s Entry: It was Shez’s turn to enter the hall under the red scarf held by his family. She also walked with the Pakistani Muslim guests. Then she took his place with her family on the seat opposite Mat.
- Muslim Nikah: During this, the Quran was read and the Muslim wedding ceremony took place. Then congratulations, group shots and dancing began.
- Mayun Rasam: The first part of the night, the Wedding section, ended symbolically. Then, first the groom and his family, then the bride and her family entered the hall again. This time, the second part of the night was starting. Almost all the guests fed sweets to the couple sitting next to each other one by one.
- Entrance as a Couple: After this ceremony was over, the couple went out of the hall again and this time they entered the hall together. They walked under the traditional Pakistani cover again and this time, Mathews had a very cool local hat on his head. After our couple sat down, the traditional presentations and refreshments continued.
- Party: When all the traditions were over, Mathews performed the surprise dance he prepared for the bride. After that, no one sat down and everyone danced on the dance floor until the end of the night. We had a hard time eating the wonderful buffet food and the dancing, to be honest.
Photographer’s Note: We worked with two photographers and a videographer team for the first step of Indian Wedding Istanbul Photos. We tried to highlight the guests’ natural reactions and the details of the rituals.
Day 2: Mehendi & Shaadi – A Feast Full of Colors and Dances
The second day continued with Mehendi (henna) and Shaadi (traditional wedding). The henna patterns and colorful clothes embroidered on the bride’s hands presented a visual feast.
- Preparation: First we were in the bride’s room, then in the groom’s room for preparation shots. After the bride was ready, I couldn’t resist and took some wonderful bride portraits in the room.
- First Meeting: Crowne Plaza Florya’s terrace with a sea view extending to infinity created a wonderful backdrop for the meeting.
- Outdoor Shooting: Later, my couple and I went to a terrace with a view of Istanbul and the Süleymaniye Mosque for outdoor shots. Our planning was great and we had enough time, despite the Istanbul traffic we got caught in on the way back.
- Baraat Arrival: I think one of the most entertaining moments was this 1 hour baraat entrance. The groom’s side covered the approximately 100 meter distance in a classic car, dancing and having fun. In front of the convoy, there was a DJ setup and sound system installed on a truck. This group grew even more with the curious people coming from around and the fun reached its peak in the baraat.
- Bride’s Entrance: The bride entered the hall with the song Tu Jhoom accompanied by her brothers.
- Rituals: Mirror rasam, milk drinking (Doodh Pilayi), and the fun Jutti Chupai (shoe hiding) game added color to the night. In the meantime, the rings were also put on.
- Guests’ Dance: This was one of the most meaningful moments of the night. Almost all the guests had prepared dance shows in separate groups. Moreover, many people living in different countries had prepared these dances by working on Zoom for weeks.
- Tanura Dance: This dance inspired by Sema added a mystical atmosphere to the night. And in the finale, everyone had a wild time on the dance floor.
Photographer’s Note: We shot the preparations that lasted all day as a single team, but a second photographer joined the team with Baraat. Thus, we were able to shoot both the bride’s side and the guests after the night.
Day 3: Church Ceremony – Meeting of Two Cultures
The last day of the wedding continued with the Christian ceremony held at St. Etienne Latin Catholic Church.
- Groom’s Room: First, a short prayer was said in the groom’s room in the morning. After this ceremony, led by Mathews’ grandfather, they headed to the church.
- Church Prayer Ceremony: The bride entered the church accompanied by her mother and father. The priest and guests read their prayers and the ceremony ended with the priest offering his best wishes.
- Ring Ceremony & Speeches: After returning to the Crowne Plaza, we were in the winter garden hall on the ground floor of the hotel this time. We continued the day with sincere speeches from families and friends. Then the rings were exchanged and the legendary first dance began. I took my place after being informed by the Inventum Global representative who organized the event. Because colored powder canisters would be fired from outside the windows at the end of the dance. This view was truly worth seeing.
- Cake: After the cake was cut after the meal and the bridal bouquet was thrown, we were now nearing the end.
- Farewell (Rukhsati): The couple’s families thanked all the guests and staff one by one. We came to the end of this three day wedding with speeches full of happiness and emotion.
Photographer’s Note: Since the lighting in the church was insufficient, it was necessary to use an external flash. I also hid the external flash among the stage flowers to be able to capture the colorful powder bombs and the first dance move. In this way, I was able to illuminate my couple correctly at this important moment of a second.
Why is Crowne Plaza Florya Special?
- Location: It offered a magnificent background for wedding photos with its gardens with sea view and luxurious halls. We were away from the noise of the city and right next to the center.
- Logistics: It provided accommodation and transfer convenience for the guests.
- Harmony of Cultures: Indian-Pakistani rituals and the modern texture of Istanbul merged.
Wedding Photographer Tips:
- Time Management: Especially in multi-day weddings, plan the shooting program and team rest breaks. Be aware of the flow of all days.
- Details: Take close ups of ritual objects (mirror, henna, bride’s shoes).
- Lighting: It is important to adapt quickly to every condition. You should have enough equipment in your bag to quickly find a solution to the need for flash.
- Indian Wedding Istanbul Photos: Focus on the colorful, detailed gown and the bride’s hennaed hands. Photograph them in dramatic lighting.
Scheherazade and Mathews’ wedding brought together two different cultures and beliefs that are close to each other but different. It paved the way for two separate families who had never seen each other before to come together. They were the two most polite people I have ever seen and a wonderful group of guests. It was three days of great fun for us. I am really lucky that they chose me. I wish them endless happiness.
Indian Wedding Istanbul Photos by Ufuk Sarisen
