Muslim Wedding Video

A typical Muslim wedding video can be broken down into 3 main parts although some videos may include other ceremonies too.

  1. Mehndi video
  2. Nikah or Baraat video
  3. Walima video

Mehndi video

Some families do Bride and Groom's mehndi separately due to may be distance or simply family traditions but these days many families arrange for a grand mehndi where the ceremony is performed on both the Bride and Groom together. Usual item that a Muslim wedding video must have in the Mehndi portion are:-

  • Gathering of the guests
  • Arrival and welcome of the Groom
  • Arrival and welcome of the Bride
  • Mehndi ceremony itself which can be either a few close members putting mehndi and oil on Bride and Groom or the entire gathering.
  • General shots of food (definitely not the close ups of people eating) but generally families do request wide generic shots of the food.
  • Entertainments if it is arranged.


Nikah/Baraat

For a Muslim wedding video, this is the main event so it is better to briefly talk about both the sides.

Bride's side

A wedding video man will need to report Bride's house or at a place where she is getting ready. Bride's usually like to have a portion of their make up activity filmed. Well it is after all their wedding. We usually try to take all of these shots from creative point of view. Usually the bride is already 80% done up before the wedding video man starts his work. After this a family photo session may take place where the videographer will also take video shots. All this can become a very creatively cut montage of a wedding video.
Then the bride will leave to reach the wedding venue and the wedding video guys will follow her to receive her at the venue right up to the room in which she will sit until the nikah ceremony is done or until it is the time for grand entry into the hall.

Groom's side

Groom side portion of a Muslim wedding video will start with the 'Sehra bandhi' ceremony which is performed at Groom's house. Some couples choose not to get this part filmed but for the others it is as important as any other part of the wedding video. Family and specially sisters take pride in transforming their brother into a 'Groom' who is the moon amongst all the stars by performing all the ceremonys and putting the 'Sehra' on him. Sehra bandhi portion of a Muslim wedding video can also be nicely paced visual montage and there are plenty of songs that fit right for the occassion.
After the Sehra Bandi Groom leave for the venue. The wedding video guys will follow him to receive him at the venue.

At the Venue

It is always advised to hire the same wedding video company to work for both sides in other words let one company produce one wedding video for both sides.

  • It is cheaper to pay one company to make video for both sides.
  • Videographers will not step on each others toe to get the shot

Either way this is what the venue portion Muslim wedding video comprise of

  • Montage of Gathering
  • Arrival of the Bride and move into a separate room.
  • Arrival of the Baraat
  • Welcome of the Baraat ceremony.
  • May be a quick montage of refreshments are if there is any
  • Groom's Entry into the Hall with some fun bargaining with the Bride's sisters (even brothers in some cases)
  • Nikah ceremony performed in Bride's room and in the main hall with prayer
  • Families and friends congratulating each other.
  • Grand entry of the Bride
  • Cake cutting or any other ceremony as they vary with different families or origins.
  • Generic shots of food and the couple visiting their guests at their tables.
  • Rukhasati

In some cases Wedding video guys will travel to the Groom's house to film the arrival of the Bride at her new home where ceremonies like her welcome at the door, reading line from the holy Quran, Mother-in-law giving her milk etc.

Walima

Walima is the party organised by the Groom's family. Bride's family also attends it to once again meet her new family and in a way to see how she was received by her new family. In a way it is quite nice to have Bride's family being treated and welcomed by the Groom's family. Walima can take place on the following day or few weeks after the wedding.
Walima portion of a Muslim wedding video will comprise of

  • Gathering of the guests
  • Arrival and welcome of the Bride's family
  • Grand entry of the newly wedded couple
  • Guests congratulating them on the stage and pictures taken ( wedding video guy will also film to turn that footage into a nice montage)
  • Food
  • Finally some entertainment that in many cases is organised by the Groom's friends or brothers and sisters.



Finally we would like add that we have written this from our experience as wedding videographers. Ceremonies do differ from family to family. It is just a brief os what one can expect from a Muslim wedding video. We by no means are implying that every Muslim wedding or Muslim wedding video is or must comprise these ceremonies and segments.