Indian weddings in Chicago are rarely a single day. They’re multi-day celebrations, Mehndi one evening, Sangeet or Garba the next, the Baraat and ceremony on the big day, often followed by a reception that runs late into the night. We’ve filmed these celebrations across the city and suburbs, from a hand-carved marble mandir in Bartlett to hotel ballrooms downtown, and we build our coverage around the full arc of the event, not just the ceremony.
Filming Indian Wedding Traditions
Every Indian wedding we’ve filmed carries its own mix of family, regional, and religious custom, but a few threads run through most of them:
Mehndi and Haldi. The pre-wedding days often open with Mehndi, hours of intricate henna application for the bride and her bridal party, and Haldi or a Ganesh Puja, a turmeric ritual and prayer that grounds the celebration before the bigger events begin.
Sangeet. A night of music, choreographed family performances, and dancing, sometimes built around Garba and Dandiya, that we cover the way we’d cover a concert: multiple angles, no missed moments.
The Baraat. The groom’s procession, on horseback, in a decorated car, or dancing through the streets with a dhol line, is one of the most kinetic moments of the whole weekend, and one we plan camera positions around in advance.
The ceremony. Rituals vary by family and faith, from the Antarpat and Jaimala garland exchange to the Aarti thali and, in South Indian Christian ceremonies, the thali (minnu) tying. We work with officiants and families ahead of time so we know what’s coming and can film it with the reverence it deserves.
The Vidaai. The bride’s farewell to her family, often the emotional high point of the day, closes out the wedding events before the reception begins.
Indian Weddings We Have Filmed
Shivani & Kiran’s five-day celebration moved from Haldi and Mehndi at a family home in Long Grove to a Sangeet at Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, a Baraat on horseback through downtown, and a ceremony and reception at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
Megha & Anup’s wedding at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett gave us the chance to fly a licensed drone over the temple’s hand-carved marble architecture and to record the couple’s personal vows, since the traditional ceremony itself doesn’t include spoken ones.
Nathan & Risha’s four-day wedding spanned a Mehndi at Danada House in Wheaton, a Garba with an 8-minute fireworks finale, and an outdoor lawn ceremony at Bolingbrook Golf Club, where Risha arrived at the aisle in a golf cart driven by her brother.
Krutika & Parin’s wedding at Esplanade Lakes in Downers Grove kept ceremony and reception on one property, from the morning Baraat through an evening gala with choreographed family performances.
Ann & Hansen’s wedding paired a South Indian Christian ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral, with saree draping and the thali (minnu) tying, with a reception under the stars at the Adler Planetarium.
Nikou & Anuj’s wedding blended an Indian celebration earlier in the week with a Persian sofreh ceremony and knife dance at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Filming Weddings at Your Venue
Whether your celebration is happening at a temple, a hotel ballroom, a garden, or a family home, we build a shot list around your specific events and rituals ahead of time. Multi-day, multi-venue weddings are the norm for us, not the exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you film multi-day Indian weddings, or just the main ceremony?
We regularly film the full arc: Mehndi, Sangeet, Baraat, ceremony, and reception, whether that’s one day or four.
Can you film at a temple or mandir?
Yes. We’ve filmed at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and coordinate with venue and family in advance on any restrictions around cameras or drones.
Do you know the rituals, or do we need to explain everything?
We’ve filmed Hindu, South Indian Christian, and multi-faith Indian ceremonies, so we come in familiar with common rituals, but we always confirm specifics with the family beforehand since customs vary.
What does an Indian wedding video package typically include?
It depends on the number of events you want covered. Contact us with your weekend itinerary and we’ll put together a package that fits it.
Planning an Indian wedding in Chicago?
We’d love to hear about your celebration, however many days it runs. Check your date →