Telugu Wedding, ITC Gardenia, Bangalore: A Traditional Wedding With A Contemporary Twist

Young and vibrant couple Shreyas and Sreehitha's Telugu wedding was traditional but with a contemporary touch. The celebration comprised of three ceremonies, each hosted with a character and vibe of its own. 

Click here for our complete Telugu Wedding Guide.

A Burst of Colours

The celebrations kicked off with a colourful Mehendi ceremony. The bride wore tiny white flowers on her hair and looked absolutely stunning in a signature Anita Dongre designer lehenga. Her look complemented the glorious vibe and mood of the decor.

A bangle stall, puppets and colourful hanging lanterns added to the appeal of the venue, making it an absolute delight for any wedding photographer to capture.

As a gesture of love, the groom fed his bride, as she patiently got her Mehendi done. We did a post-Mehendi photoshoot, capturing the bride and groom in a playful mood, and in high spirits. 

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An Evening of Song & Dance 

The second leg of the celebrations - the Sangeet ceremony - was hosted at the stunning ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru. The couple was colour-coordinated in yellow, looking perfectly matched and glamourous, all set for a fun night out. The bride looked stunning in a designer Mrunalini Rao lehenga.

The occasion saw friends and family come together to showcase their talent. A live band, made up of cousins and friends, put up their own performances, and the sister of the groom sang her heart out. 

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The bridal parents swayed in a couple-dance, while the bridal couple showed off their vigorous dance moves. It was a fun-filled evening for all, including us. Through some very candid wedding photography, we were able to capture the energy, authenticity, raw talent and joy of the evening.  

Tying the Knot 

The wedding ceremony took place on the grand and green terrace lawns of the ITC Gardenia. The backdrop was the perfect setting for the wedding. The pink and white floral decor was tasteful, elegant, and lent an air of royalty. The bride and groom's wedding ensembles complemented this vibe.

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If matches are made in heaven, this was definitely one of them! The groom entered with his parents while the bride arrived in style - on a floral decorated palanquin.

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Hosted in Telugu-style, the Jeelakarra Bellam ceremony was held to signify the union of the bride and groom. The customary thick paste was made from jeelakarra (cumin) and bellam (jaggery) and placed on a tamalapaku (betel leaf).

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The bride and the groom proceeded to put it on each other's heads, while the purohit chanted mantras from the Vedas. This was followed by a loud round of happy cheering from the guests.

Showers of Blessings 

We then experienced the most most fun part of the wedding - the traditional Talambralu ritual - where the bride and groom shower each other with talambralu (a burst of pearls, thermocol balls, or rice coloured with turmeric paste). The couple seemed to thoroughly enjoy this part of the ceremony, and their playful smiles in the photographs said it all!

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The wedding concluded with the Arundhati Nakshatra. Again, our favourite part was indulging in some candid wedding photography of the bridal couple, post the ceremony, away from the guests and in the lovely gardens of the ITC Gardenia.

Their playfulness and loving smiles spoke greatly of their love, and it gave us great joy to be able to capture those moments of love and joy, for eternity. 

Candid Photography vs Traditional Photography: What Should You Choose?

Candid Photography is a new and refreshing take on wedding photography. Think photojournalism meets traditional photography. The photographer wanders the wedding with an eye on capturing moments of emotions.

 Traditional Wedding Photography involves taking pictures of the participants of the wedding by setting up poses or by taking simple images of the events. The photographer will instruct you to sit in a particular place, stand against a specific backdrop or pose in group pictures. 

Should I hire only Candid Wedding Photographers? What about the Reception, don’t I need Traditional Photographers? What is the difference between Candid Photography & Traditional Photography?

These are the most common questions we get from couples. 

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Selecting a photographer for your wedding is an important decision. We understand that it can become overwhelming considering you are so busy making many decisions like selecting the wedding planning team, caterers, make-up artists, florists etc. All at the same time. 

 Here’s a guide on the differences between Traditional Photography and Candid Photography that will help you find the right mix.

What is Candid Photography? 

Candid Photography is a new and refreshing take on wedding photography. Think photojournalism meets traditional photography. The photographer wanders the wedding with an eye on capturing moments of emotions. A grandmother beaming with pride, a groom catching a glimpse of a bride in-between ceremonies, a child laughing or a mother silently crying tears of joy.

The focus is on unobtrusively capturing as many touching and poignant moments as possible so that years from now you have an emotional cross section of your wedding day.

What is Traditional Photography?

 Traditional Wedding Photography involves taking pictures of the participants of the wedding by setting up poses or by taking simple images of the events. The photographer will instruct you to sit in a particular place, stand against a specific backdrop or pose in group pictures. 

 You would recognise this style of photography when you look at the wedding album of your parents. The wedding pictures will appear staged. Fixed poses and eye level wedding images. 

What are the differences between Traditional and Candid Photography?

 1. Focus

The focus of the Traditional Photographer is Coverage. They aim to get as much of the event as possible ensuring that every ceremony is documented, even if that means asking a couple to repeat a certain step or look into the camera while an important ceremony takes place.

In a wedding event you would see them meticulously taking pictures of the ceremonies. They will aim to cover all the wedding puja items and paraphernalia too. They are really good at creating a comprehensive album of your events and the people who attended. 

The focus of the Candid Photographer is Emotion. While the couple are the stars of the day, there are people (close family & friends) for whom this wedding is also a special day. 

The candid photographer will weave in and out of events to follow the actions of these people 

Also, the couple puts so much effort in selecting the venue, outfits, jewellery, décor; hence the emphasis is given not only to the ceremonies but also on a lot of other details like getting ready shots, décor shots, behind the scenes of various ceremonies, etc  

 2.  Training

 The Traditional Photographer has a clear focus on covering as much of the event and people as possible. So, he does not need to master advanced techniques. He needs to be rigorous and ever present.

 The Candid Photographer has to master working with lights, multiple lenses and equipment like reflectors. Indian weddings have varied light conditions and a good candid photographer needs to be technically trained to ensure that all the photos she delivers are consistent, whether it is bride’s dimly lit dressing room or a banquet hall cocktail event or a seaside mandap. 

 These varied light conditions demand a dedication to constantly train with new equipment and the latest techniques.  

3. Equipment

Due to the different demands on candid photographers and traditional photographers the equipment they use is different.

Candid Photographers invest in a variety of lenses (expensive ones called Prime lenses) because they need to be at the cutting edge of photography. For example, 1Plus1 Studio has invested in the highest quality of Canon cameras and lenses. We’ve also invested in the DJI drone instead of renting lower quality drones.

 4. Editing Process

The Traditional Photographer shoots tens of weddings a month. Due to time constraints, he can only do very basic edits to the photos. What you receive is often a vast collection of mildly corrected photos.

The Candid Photographer makes time to sit and make significant edits to the pictures she shoots. Good composition & colour grading is what makes an image great! We have invested in Adobe Lightroom and Final Cut Pro to ensure that our photographers have access to the best tools.

Because of the premium they put on a high-quality output, Candid photographers spend a lot of time on colour corrections, curation and other creative edits. 
The candid photos that are delivered should appear thoughtful and personal.

What Should I Choose – Candid Wedding Photography Or Traditional Wedding Photography?

If you are going to have an intimate wedding ceremony, say <50 guests then just candid wedding photography will do. At any numbers greater than this you should consider a company that does both. 1Plus1 Studio insists on providing both services because this allows our respective teams to do what they specialise in. 

The Traditional Photographer is free to create a comprehensive coverage album.


The Candid photographer is free to create a curated cross section of the wedding’s most important moments and occurrences.

Traditional Photography vs Candid Photography Photos

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An Intimate Iyengar Tamil Brahmin Wedding With All Rituals At A Farm House In Bangalore

Intimate weddings are no doubt the latest trend for people who look forward to a quiet experience among select family & friends. Supreetha and Dr Srinand Srinivas's wedding venue was a farmhouse, a little away from the hustle and bustle of Bangalore. The serene and blissful surroundings added to the merriment and provided an intimate setting for the big day.

While the majestic entrance welcomed the guests, the surrounding coconut trees provided a perfect setting for the Iyengar wedding ceremony. It was such a pleasant sight to see the families of the bride, groom and the guests soaking in the salubrious weather with the early morning mist and rays of sun peeking through the coconut palms. 

Click here for our complete Tambrahm Wedding Guide.

The Venue

True to the rustic wedding idea, even the names of the bride and groom were fashioned using marigold on the coconut palm at the entrance. White sofas and wooden chairs with pink décor added to the allure of the event.

While the steps to the mandap were decorated with flower-filled urulis (round brass vessels), a Radha-Krishna statue was also kept decorated. The pillared mandap presented a charming look with flower garland decorations.   

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Enter The Bride

The bride, Supreetha, looked gorgeous in a pink silk saree and her neatly plaited hair adorned with jadanagam and jasmine flowers. To complete the Iyengar Tambrahm bridal look, she had worn a sun & moon nethi chutti (headpieces). 

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In a wedding, each ritual has a specific meaning and significance. There are many cultural, mythological and sometimes geographical aspects in each of these rituals. The Tamil Brahmin wedding stands out as one of the most ritualistic Indian weddings. The enchanting ceremonies have remained unchanged over centuries and they're still a grand affair. 

Along Came the Groom

While the bride looked resplendent in the silk saree, the groom looked every inch an Iyengar groom with namam, wearing a panchagajam veshti. 

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After the bride and groom were welcomed by the elders in the family, the rituals started with a garland exchange. The couple was lifted in the air, and it was a laugh riot to see the families and friends making it difficult for them to garland each other by pulling the bride and groom back and forth. It was great fun and after they garlanded each other thrice; it was time for the oonjal ceremony.

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Mystical Ceremonies That Weaved Magic

A swing was kept ready with floral decorations, and the couple was made to sit on it. Ladies sang traditional songs and the elder women threw red and yellow coloured rice balls in all four directions. Elder women of the family took turns to go around the couple, singing songs and blessing them. As the merriment lingered in the air, the couple was fed with sweetened milk and bananas. 

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The most sacred of the Brahmin wedding rituals is the Kanyadaan. This ritual is said to bind two people into one. This is a tradition that is a beautiful blend of bittersweet feelings, wherein the father of the bride gives away her hand to the groom.

Supreetha changed into a red nine-yard saree for it and sat on her father’s lap. As the groom got ready to tie the thali around her neck and waited for the auspicious time to arrive, to lighten the emotional moment, the entire family did a countdown making it one of the most cherished memories of the event. 

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As soon as the thali was over, Supreetha and her mom hugged each other with moist eyes. It was a very heartfelt occasion, and everyone hugged each other and congratulated the couple. Those perfect moments offered us the opportunity for some candid wedding photography, and we captured all of it.

An established singer and family friend, Sangeeta Katti, sang a beautiful song to conclude the wedding. We had a gala time capturing all the beautiful moments that will become reasons for the families to smile-wide for years to come.