Ramit and Arushi embrace during the garland exchange, her smile bright against his shoulder

Ramit & ArushiAn NRI wedding at Ramada Lucknow, part two

Part two of Ramit and Arushi's wedding at the Ramada in Lucknow: the wedding night, and before it the engagement and sangeet. Part one has the welcome, the black light party, the haldi and the mehendi.

This was a wedding built on a big scale. The sangeet had a huge sound and light setup, a live set from the Sufi fusion band HumSufi, and Bollywood actor and model Zulfi Syed on the decks as DJ. The wedding night was just as grand, from the baraat to the mandap.

By then we knew this family well. We had photographed Rhythm and Ritika's wedding, a birthday for their son, and Ramit and Arushi's pre-wedding shoot in Bangalore. At a wedding this size, knowing who matters most in a crowded room is half the work. It decides where you stand when the garlands go up.

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The wedding

Ramit's sehra, a baraat that danced in under the night sky, and a garland exchange that turned into a hug.

An older man in glasses presses his forehead to a yellow turbaned head in a blessing, lit by green light

The bride looks down as a hand adjusts her gold maang tikka, layered necklaces glowing in warm light

Black and white men help tie a turban on the groom as an older man in a patterned jacket watches

Women in bright lehengas cheer with arms raised, one taking a selfie, as a small child stands in front

Black and white frame of a makeup brush sweeping the bride's cheek as she smiles with her head tilted back

The groom sits cross legged in white and gold, men in blue and orange standing around, notes on the floor

Black and white frame of two men in turbans embracing, one beaming, in the middle of a crowd

Black and white portrait of the groom in a white turban and layered beaded necklaces, looking up and smiling

Black and white frame of the bride smiling in a dark corridor, lit only from one side

The groom in a flower sehra grins widely with an older man in glasses beside him

Two men stand gesturing on a green and white floral stage with gold chairs behind them

Women in pink and red lehengas sit smiling beside the groom and bride on the floral stage

A hall bathed in purple light as family members cluster close around the couple

Two frames of the bride in her pink lehenga, one steady gazed and one laughing while holding a small light

A woman reaches up to adjust the bride's earring in a dim hallway as both smile

The groom in a turban in silhouette against blue stage haze, a blue LED glow at his feet

An older man in a pastel kurta dances with arms out at night, decorated horse canopies glowing behind him

A man pins an ornament on the groom's sherwani as the bride in her veil looks on

Two men in a floral jacket and a pink shirt smile together on the green floral stage

A woman in a red dupatta and a man in glasses and a navy waistcoat sit together before flower walls

Black and white crowd dancing outside at night, a man in a dark jacket mid step at the centre

The groom in a white sehra and gold necklaces is welcomed by a laughing woman as a man waves

Black and white bride walks forward between a woman in a sari and a man in a light sherwani

The bride in a pale lehenga walks in as guests film on phones and a man in beige smiles

A man in a navy waistcoat applies a tilak to the groom's forehead during the rituals

The bride in a red saree sits with downcast eyes during the ritual, relatives seated on the floor behind her

The groom stands on a raised box towering over the bride as women and relatives gather around them

Ramit and Arushi walk hand in hand, she smiling down, a man in blue smiling behind them

The bride in a pale pink lehenga and garland holds a young boy close as family stand around her

Black and white frame of the bride looking down with a soft smile, her veil over her hair

The bride sits on a carved chair in red, glowing in warm light with diyas blurred in the foreground

A woman in a pink dupatta and a man in a gold and navy waistcoat sit smiling during rituals

A man in a navy waistcoat tilts a copper pot, pouring water over a stack of hands

The bride in a red saree and gold jewellery looks down at her palms, smiling gently

The bride beams as a man in a navy waistcoat leans in and the groom sits beside her

The bride laughs as a man in glasses presses turmeric into her hands

The family sit close around a ritual platform as the groom and bride take part, women watching

The bride in red and the groom in an ivory sehra sit side by side, hands over the ritual offering

A man in a turban turns to speak with a man in a blue shirt, the groom behind them

A lit diya sits in the foreground as the bride's henna decorated hands rest on her red patterned saree

Close view of henna decorated hands pressing yellow turmeric paste into another pair of hands

Two portraits side by side in darkness, the groom on the left and the made up bride on the right

The groom in a pale embroidered sherwani with green beads stands smiling while friends gather behind him

Two black and white frames: the bride inside a circular ring light and the groom standing tall beside it

The bride in a pale pink lehenga and gold jewellery looks sideways with a bright smile

The bride sits in her pale pink bridal outfit, gold necklaces draped, an orange glow softening the background

Two frames of the bride in her full pale lehenga walking down a corridor with a striped carpet

The bride stands among women in bright outfits lined up in a hotel lobby, all facing the camera

The couple stand at the centre of a long line of relatives on the green floral stage

The couple stand garlanded with an older man in dark clothes behind them, all smiling toward the camera

The couple in matching garlands stand smiling in front of pink LED trusses

The bride in a red saree sits upright before a flower wall, a diya and puja items at her feet

The engagement and sangeet, with HumSufi and Zulfi Syed

Rings on stage, then a concert. HumSufi played live, and Zulfi Syed played as DJ.

Hotel facade lit in purple, pink and green against the black sky, all the way to its dome

A pink heart shaped screen glows above the stage as guests fill the ballroom seats

A band plays on a red stage framed by an arch of glowing blue panels

The lead singer raises a hand mid song as a guitarist and tabla player flank him

A singer in black reaches down from the stage to shake hands with a man in a pink shirt

The DJ, Zulfi Syed, wears headphones and looks down at the decks in a dark jacket

A man in a black jacket points upward and sings out beside the DJ desk under a blue screen

Three men stand behind DJ decks and laptops, the one in the middle laughing

Two DJs work the decks and laptops on a lit stage with a pink truss rig above them

Slow shutter blur of men in dark jackets dancing together under warm hanging lights

Arushi holds a pink flower and points a finger skyward, laughing, as Ramit stands behind her in a dark jacket

Ramit holds a microphone and Arushi's hand as they stand together under strings of lights

Arushi smiles broadly toward a man in a dark sherwani whose back is to the camera, blue stage lights behind

A woman with a braid laughs and dances beside a man in a dark sherwani under a glowing party sign

Black and white frame of Ramit and Arushi walking toward the stage in a dark sherwani and a flowing gown

Ramit and Arushi stand side by side among friends who beam at them, leaves blurred in the foreground

Two women in sparkling outfits chat close together while a pink sign glows behind them

A man in a black jacket fires a cannon of white smoke over the dance floor under red lights

Black and white frame of Arushi laughing on stage as Ramit looks on in a dark embroidered jacket

Guests crowd the stage under blue lights, one in a pale gown laughing and a man pointing out of frame

A man in a tuxedo and a woman in red dance with big smiles under pink stage lights

Black and white frame of a woman with a microphone and a man in glasses performing in a dim crowd

A dark ballroom with a blue floor, dotted lights and an empty stage glowing in green waves

A cream settee sits before a teal and gold flower backdrop on a blue lit stage

A man in a navy jacket shouts with joy on a crowded dance floor while women dance behind him

Two men share a hug as Arushi in a pale gown waits with a woman who holds a handbag

Arushi stands among relatives who laugh and smile, white flowers blurred in the foreground

An older man in a gold kurta and a woman in blue dance with raised arms, a phone held high

The Ramada hotel at night, its roofline outlined in pink, green and blue lights

Grand ballroom entrance under a crystal chandelier, deep blue drapes framing a pink glowing doorway

A phone held up to film a pink neon sign that reads Lets Get This Party Started

Friends hoist a man across their arms above the dance floor as others cheer and clap

A woman with henna decorated hands laughs wide in warm light as a crowd smiles behind her

Black and white man on one knee with arms spread before a woman, glowing hearts on the screen behind

Black and white frame of a woman in a dark embroidered outfit laughing with her head thrown back

Close view of guitar strings and frets in blurred pink and purple light

A group in black team t-shirts crowd into a hotel corridor, some kneeling, posing and laughing for the camera

Black and white frame of a man in a tuxedo and a woman with a microphone laughing before a crowd

Women in gowns dance with arms raised through purple floor fog

Black and white man in glasses and a dark jacket throws one arm into the air on the dance floor

Black and white frame of a woman with a raised henna painted hand dancing in a crowd, smiling

A man in a tuxedo and bow tie grins at the camera under blue party lights

Two men in dark outfits stand close and smile at the camera against blurred festival lights

A long line of women in gowns and lehengas pose together before a glittering curtain

A man in a dark jacket crouches with a pointing gesture while friends dance around him under coloured lights

Black and white frame of a tight pack of men in dark jackets dancing and laughing together

Ramit and Arushi step out together onto the stage, she lifting her ivory gown, he in a dark sherwani

A man in a dark sherwani and a woman in pale blue raise their hands before a neon sign

Two men in dark sherwanis and a woman in a pale sari squeeze together before the lit stage and crowd

A woman in a blue embroidered outfit with henna stands before a round gold backdrop and crystal lights

A guitarist in sunglasses grins on the red arched stage with a tabla player behind him

A man in a dark sherwani turns toward a woman with flowers in her hair as blue light streaks

A man tips a large bottle to his lips while friends cheer around him in the packed hall

Slow shutter blur around two men holding each other close in a dark hall with a purple screen behind

Women in matching black tees dance a routine on a patterned floor under red stage lights

A dance act on the lit stage with a hexagon neon arch and pink beams over a patterned floor

A woman smiles softly behind a henna covered hand raised toward the camera, golden lights glowing behind

Strings of crystal beads hang from the ceiling, glowing gold against deep blue light

Black and white frame of garlands filling the picture as the bride lifts a mala over the groom

Questions

Who performed at Ramit and Arushi's sangeet?

The Sufi fusion band HumSufi played a live set at Ramit and Arushi's sangeet, and Bollywood actor and model Zulfi Syed played as DJ. Both played on a huge sound and light setup at Ramada Lucknow, after the engagement on the same stage.

Can you photograph a sangeet with a live band and stage lights?

Yes, we photograph sangeets with live bands and stage lighting. This one ran on a huge sound and light setup, with HumSufi playing live and Zulfi Syed on the decks, and the stage moved through deep blue and purple light with floor fog. We had already photographed Rhythm and Ritika's wedding for this family, so we knew who mattered most in a crowded room and where to stand when they reached the stage.

What events did Ramit and Arushi's wedding include?

Ramit and Arushi's wedding at Ramada Lucknow had seven events: a welcome, a black light party, the haldi, the mehendi, the engagement, the sangeet and the wedding. Part one covers the first four. This part covers the rest.

How much does a wedding photographer cost in Bangalore?

Wedding photography with The Third Eye Photography in Bangalore starts at 2 lakh, and most couples land closer to 3 lakh. The figure moves with the number of events, the films and any travel. Tell us your date, venue and events and we send you a breakdown.

Is your wedding photography candid or posed?

Our wedding photography is mostly candid: we photograph the day as it happens and pose people only for the family group photographs you ask for. Before the wedding we agree on which family members must be photographed, so those groups are quick and nobody else is stopped for a pose. At Medha and Stefan's sangeet, Medha jumped into her parents' dance. Nobody planned it, and it is in the Bangalore Club photographs.

How many photos will we get from our wedding?

There is no fixed photo count: we commit to a minimum for your wedding and deliver above it. The minimum is set once we know the number of events, the guest count, the family members you want covered and any specific requests. A wedding with a haldi, a mehendi, a sangeet and a reception gets a different minimum from a single ceremony, and we set yours with you once we understand the day.

What should we ask a wedding photographer before booking?

Ask to see one complete wedding the photographer shot from start to finish, not a highlight reel, and ask who will be photographing on the day. A full wedding shows how someone handles dark rooms, crowded stages and the family. Our wedding stories run the whole wedding, including a black light party in Lucknow, which is very hard light to photograph.

How early should we book a wedding photographer?

Book as soon as your date and venue are fixed. We take on a limited number of weddings each year, and a wedding outside Bangalore or abroad also needs its travel planned around the full schedule of events. Send us your date and city and we will tell you plainly whether it is free. You can check your date here.

Can we book a wedding photographer in India while living abroad?

Yes, you can book a wedding photographer in India from abroad, and with us everything before the wedding runs on calls and WhatsApp, on your time zone. We settle the date, the venue, the events and the family members who must be photographed before you land. Ramit and Arushi live in the USA and married at Ramada Lucknow. The NRI wedding photography page explains how it runs.

Do you photograph weddings outside Bangalore?

Yes, across India and abroad. This one was in Lucknow. We have photographed weddings in Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Madurai, Kerala, Goa, Pune and Chikmagalur. Outside India we have photographed weddings and events in the UK, Singapore, Dubai and Trancoso in Brazil.

Place: Ramada Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Couple: Ramit and Arushi, who live in the USA
Pre-wedding shoot: Bangalore
Music: HumSufi, live. Zulfi Syed, DJ
In this part: The engagement, the sangeet and the wedding ceremony
Part one: A black light welcome party, the haldi and the mehendi
Photography: The Third Eye Photography team