Sikh Wedding Photography
An Early Morning Sikh Wedding: Amy & Seva at Forest Gate Gurdwara
It’s not every day I set my alarm for 3:30am, but when I do, it’s usually for something quite special. Amy and Seva’s Sikh wedding at the Gurdwara on Upton Lane in Forest Gate was exactly that—deeply traditional, quietly beautiful, and utterly serene.
The ceremony took place at Sikh Gurdwara, 96 Upton Lane, Forest Gate, London, E7 9LW, and from the moment I arrived—somewhere around 4am—the building already had that unmistakable hum of anticipation. Not noisy, not rushed, just... calm. Peaceful. Sacred, really.
By 4:30am, the Asa di Vaar had begun—a long and meditative recitation of sacred hymns. For the next couple of hours, I worked quietly, weaving in and out, capturing the atmosphere without disturbing it. Most of the images from that part of the morning are intimate moments: heads bowed, eyes closed, soft light falling across the marble floor. That sort of thing. It was all over by 7am, and outside, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
Then came the Havan at 8am, followed closely by the Amrit ceremony at 8:30. These quieter rituals often go unnoticed in wedding stories, but from a photographic point of view, they offer some of the most moving moments—intense, personal exchanges full of meaning. You can’t script that kind of authenticity.
The first speech came shortly after at 8:45am—brief, heartfelt, and filled with emotion—and then we moved into the Lavan, the central Anand Karaj ceremony, at 9am. By then, the Gurdwara was full of close family and friends, many of whom had arrived with the rising sun. There’s a warmth to Sikh weddings that I’ve always loved—not just in the traditions, but in the way families hold space for each other. You feel it when you're there, and hopefully you see it in the images too.
The final thank-you speech wrapped everything up just after 9:15am, and that was that—the ceremony side of the day completed before most people had finished their first coffee.
Amy and Seva were a dream to photograph. Graceful, kind, and completely present. Their wedding was a quiet masterclass in simplicity and depth—proof, if it was ever needed, that meaningful moments don’t need fanfare. Sometimes, they happen while the city sleeps.
This is the wedding Photo film, of the Sikh Wedding of Amy and Seva's spectacular wedding.
Keep watching, it’s full of surprises. Selected Stills further down.
Sikh Wedding Photography Selected Stills:
