Hi Simon!
We just wanted to take a minute to say a huge thank you for all your help over our wedding weekend.
You helped out with so many extra things like the mandap and also helping with the running of the day and we really, really appreciate it.

We also absolutely loved your approach, you weren’t intrusive and you never pulled us away from the weekend. We genuinely felt like we got to be at our own wedding, whilst knowing you were in the background capturing all the amazing moments.

It’s so fantastic to have found a photographer who understands that balance between getting incredible photos and allowing you to actually enjoy your day. We honestly can’t thank you enough!

Vidhi & Nick

Where do I start with this one…??

Well I’m going to plunge right in with Bride Prep from the first wedding. And I say first, because this 3 day wedding actually had 2x full day weddings, plus a Pool Party the day after.

The results from this one are absolutely MASSIVE because the sheer amount of what took place at this wedding at Chateau de Saint Martory, in the foothills of The Pyrenees, was very high as it tends to be with Indian weddings!

VIDHI - BRIDE PREP 01

NICK - GROOM PREP 01 (and a little construction work)

Before we get to actual Groom Prep as in getting ready on the wedding day, Nick and his Dad had a little work to do on the day prior and that was building the mandap ready to be dressed itself the following day. So that’s where we will kick off with introducing Nick.

Unlike Bride Prep which is usually quite organised and serene, Groom Prep tends to be a bit more…well, chaotic.

It usually involves men wandering about aimlessly, in underpants, eating, drinking and then trying to remember exactly how to wear clothes. And if there are bow ties involved, well that just adds to the story, but that’s for tomorrow…

THE VENUE

I’m going to backtrack a moment and mention the venue itself.

I’m not sure which year I first shot a wedding at this place but think it might have been 2016 and though I have been back quite a few times since (5 or 6?), I think it’s fair to say that Vidhi & Nick’s has been the most special so far.

Why? Well as with all weddings, it’s actually less about WHERE and far more about WHO (and to an extent, WHAT), but Chateau Saint Martory itself needs a special mention.

Actually, it’s not just about ‘The Where’ as in the place, but also who and there are two fabulous people that make the weddings at Saint Martory happen and they are JF (Jean-Francois) the owner and MP (Marie-Paule) the in house wedding coordinator. Always the warmest of welcomes and always very hands on and attention to detail to make sure events here run smoothly.

But about the MVP and that is the building(s) and grounds. From the very first enquiry for a wedding that I had for this place over 10 years ago, just the pics on-line told me all I needed to know and that is that this place is drop dead gorgeous. It has EVERYTHING; fairytale castle as it’s centrepiece (and no piece of fluff you cannot actually access, ie, is just a backdrop, but you have it in it’s entirety), extensive grounds, amazing views of the Pyrenees and highly flexible options for weddings in all weathers.

And the town itself is beautiful (though at the time of writing, is undergoing a major refurb and has a lot of cranes and scaffolding going on, but none of that affects weddings at the venue itself).

Prepare to fall in love… ❤️❤️❤️

PRE-CEREMONY ARRIVAL

Despite having covered quite a few ‘Indian’ weddings, I don’t always know all of the terminology, so I asked AI…

Key Details of the Milni Ceremony

Meaning: The word Milni comes from the Sanskrit/Hindi root Milan, which means "a coming together" or "meeting".
Timing: It takes place at the entrance of the wedding venue immediately after the groom arrives with his baraat (wedding procession) and before the main religious rites begin.
Structure: Matching family members from both sides are introduced in pairs (father meets father, maternal uncle meets maternal uncle, brother meets brother).
Rituals: Each pair typically exchanges flower garlands, embraces, and sometimes tokens of good luck such as sweets, clothes, or cash gifts (shagun).

PRE-CEREMONY

Key Events Before the Bride Arrives

Ganesh Puja: The priest performs a prayer to Lord Ganesha at the sacred altar (Mandap) to ensure a smooth, obstacle-free ceremony before the bride enters (Hindu Wedding Guide).