2 August 2026
← All writingAn Asian wedding rarely fits inside one ceremony. A couple might hold an Anand Karaj followed by a reception the same evening. A couple might hold a Nikkah separately from a Walima, sometimes weeks apart. A couple might have a Haldi, a Mehndi night, a full Vedic ceremony, and a reception once the sun goes down. Any package that does not name these events by name has probably been written for one wedding and applied to every couple. This is the checklist to run through before you sign anything.
Hours should match your running order, not a standard template
Most generic packages offer six or eight hours, built for one ceremony and one reception. A Mehndi function can run late into the evening on its own. A Sikh Anand Karaj usually needs coverage from the morning Milni through the Langar. A Hindu ceremony can involve several hours of ritual before the couple even reach the reception. Ask how many hours are included as standard, what the extra hourly rate is, and whether the studio has covered a ceremony like yours before. A Nikkah moves at a very different pace to a Sangeet, and the coverage plan should reflect that.
Team size and who is doing what
One photographer and one videographer can cover a small single-venue event well. They struggle with a large wedding that has several ceremonies, a Baraat procession, a stage entrance, and hundreds of guests spread across a hall, because catching the groom's arrival and the bride's reaction at the same moment needs two people in two places.
A properly built package should set out:
● How many photographers will be there, and for which parts of the day
● How many videographers, and whether a second camera or steadycam covers wide shots while the lead follows the couple
● Whether a licensed, insured drone operator is included for the Baraat or venue shots
● Whether an assistant or lighting support joins for the evening reception
If a quote does not break this down, ask for it in writing. A vague answer is usually the first sign the studio has not thought through what a full day of Asian wedding coverage needs.
Ceremonies a package should name, not assume
This is where generic packages fall short. A studio that lists one flat wedding photography package without naming the ceremonies it covers has built one product for every couple. A package built for Asian weddings should name the moments it is designed for.
● Haldi is the turmeric ceremony, colourful and mostly candid, and it needs a documentary style rather than a formal one
● Mehndi covers the henna application and the unplanned family moments around it, part of Muslim and Hindu weddings
● Nikkah is the signing and the readings, quieter and more formal than the rest of the day, followed later by the Walima
● The Anand Karaj is the full Sikh ceremony: the Milni, the Laavan around the Guru Granth Sahib, and the Langar afterward
● In a Hindu ceremony, the Mandap, the Kanyadaan, and the Saptapadi around the sacred fire are the moments to plan for
● Reception and Sangeet coverage means stage entrances, performances, and speeches, usually moving faster and in lower light than the daytime ceremony
A good package will either list these by name or ask which ones apply to your wedding before quoting, rather than giving one flat number regardless of what you tell them.
Photography deliverables worth getting in writing
● How many edited images will be delivered, and whether that figure is a minimum or a rough guide
● Whether images are colour graded and retouched, or handed over as a straight export
● Delivery method: online gallery, USB drive, or both
● Whether a printed album is included, and its page count and paper quality
● Turnaround time from wedding day to final gallery, stated in writing rather than "a few weeks"
A good package also covers bridal and groom preparation, not just the ceremony itself. This is often where the most natural, least posed photographs come from, and a studio built around documentary wedding photography treats it as part of the story rather than an afterthought.
Videography deliverables worth getting in writing
● Whether you receive a short highlights film, a full-length feature film, or both
● Delivery resolution: 4K should be standard, not a paid extra
● Whether raw, unedited footage is included or offered as an add-on
● Whether music licensing is handled by the studio, so the finished film can be shared publicly without a copyright strike
● Whether a same-day edit or trailer is included for guests to watch during the reception
One studio or two separate suppliers
A combined team that has already worked together tends to move around each other well, share one shot list, and stay out of each other's angles during moments like the Vidaai or the first look. It usually also means one contract and one point of contact, so nobody is chasing two suppliers for a running order. Separate suppliers can still work if you have a strong personal reason to book two specific people, but it adds coordination work on your side, since you become the one making sure both teams know the timeline and are not standing in each other's shots during the Saat Phere or the Laavan.
Add-ons worth considering for an Asian wedding
● Pre-wedding shoot for save-the-date or engagement content
● Second-day coverage where the Mehndi, ceremony, and reception fall on separate dates
● Drone footage for a large Baraat or an outdoor venue
● Same-day edit, a short film played during the reception, which needs an editor working on site
● Extra family portrait time for large extended families
Warning signs in a package quote
A quote with no mention of hours, deliverables, or team size, just one headline price, usually means the real detail gets sorted after the deposit is paid, not before. A studio that cannot describe how a Sikh, Hindu, or Muslim ceremony usually runs has probably not covered many of them. A package with no written turnaround time often means couples wait months longer than expected, with nowhere clear to raise it.
Also worth checking our guide on cheap wedding videographers cost.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of coverage do I need?
It depends on how many ceremonies fall on the same day. A single reception might only need six to eight hours. A day with a Mehndi, a full ceremony, and an evening reception can need well beyond that, so map your actual running order before agreeing to a fixed number of hours.
Should photography and videography come from the same studio?
It is not required, but a team that already works together coordinates more smoothly around the rituals of Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim ceremonies, and gives you one running order to manage instead of two.
What is a fair turnaround time for photos and film?
This varies by studio and by season, so get a specific window confirmed in writing before booking rather than accepting a general estimate.
Do I need a drone for my wedding coverage?
Not every venue allows one, and not every wedding needs one. For a large Baraat procession or an outdoor venue, drone footage shows a sense of scale that ground-level coverage cannot.
What if my ceremonies are spread across more than one day?
Many Asian weddings hold a Mehndi, a ceremony, and a Walima or reception on separate dates. A well-built package should offer multi-day coverage as standard, rather than pricing each day as an unrelated booking.
Memory Filming is based in Brentford and covers Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Bengali, and Pakistani weddings across London. Every package is built around the ceremonies a couple is celebrating, and past galleries from your own community are available on request before you book.