How to Plan the Perfect Mandap Ceremony for Beautiful, Natural Wedding Photos

What you need to know about photographing a mandap ceremony properly, by an editorial wedding photographer, Emma-Jane Lewis.

Credit https://www.emma-janephotography.co.uk/

As an editorial wedding photographer with a documentary blend, I find capturing mandap ceremonies such a lovely process. It allows me to be creative, but relying purely on my documentary skills. As you do not get involved. With this in mind it is vital to work with your venue, wedding planner, florist and stylist to get the right look and logistics for the set up.

BusyBrides: Having a planner oversee this early on makes a huge difference, ensuring all of these elements come together both visually and logistically on the day.

Why location is the first thing to consider

Setting up your mandap ceremony in the right location is pivotal to the best photographs. Take a look at your venue and work with them to know what areas you are able to set up. Make a list of those spots and see what you need to consider for each space. Often this is viewed as indoor and outdoor options. With then notes around each space, here are are things to consider.

Outdoor Mandap ceremony

With the outdoor option will this be in direct sun? Not only can this make it hot for guests depending on the time of year. But for photography this can be quite harsh lighting. Which often places deep shadows on faces and harsher lighting can even change the shade of the florals you choose.

What can be even worse would be having the mandap ceremony space in half sun and half shade. Making the light uneven and very unflattering. So if you have chosen a space outside, look at how the sun will move across that chosen area at different times of the day. If you have chosen a 1pm ceremony, would 2pm be better for that location.

Think also about the ground. Is this uneven? Will you need a runner with backing to be able to walk on. Or does the location sit in an area that could get muddy if there has been a few rainy days beforehand. Having muddy footprints on a nice white runner is not the best look. While editing can happen in photos it does affect the experience of the day and could make a wedding dress quite dirty. Uneven ground can also have everything tilted in photos- so make sure the right preparations are done.

BusyBrides: These are the kinds of details a planner will typically flag early, so they are resolved well in advance rather than becoming last-minute issues.

Indoor Mandap Ceremony

For indoor mandap ceremonies, space is quite a key factor. You require enough room for chairs for guests. The space for the Mandap and florals etc. But not just that, build in enough space around guests and the mandap. As a photographer to be able to capture the day naturally it is really important that we have the space to move around. If chairs are placed right up against the wall there is limited angles for us to move around. Have space around the whole of the mandap so that we can cover multiple angles. As we will not want to intrude on the even or move to close. So being able to access all of the angles is key.

BusyBrides This is usually coordinated with your planner and stylist to ensure there is a balance between design and practical movement.

Lighting for the indoor set up is also important. While you will not have the direct sun problem like an outdoor ceremony unless being very close to a window. It can be the opposite problem with lack of light. Natural light is the best for skin tones. Keeping colours true to life and natural. It is always best to choose a location with at least 50% daylight if possible. A space that has window light.

If you are relying on only artificial light of the venue then it will make your photographs different. Many venues do not use daylight bulbs which are the best bulks for true colour. But instead they choose yellow light as they want to create a warm atmosphere. But it does affect photographs, often creating too warm a hue and colour tone on skin. To avoid this it is best to ask production for a clean white light to wash the room in. This means that everything is true to tone. If this is not possible then it is understanding the realities of the chosen light and room.

Lighting for your Mandap Ceremony

This also leads us nicely into the lighting aspect. To make sure that everything is as natural as possible. As true to colour as possible then having clean daylight, shade or overcast for outdoor. And white light if adding artificial is best.

If you are wishing to create a winter wedding look, then having lots of candles can also be an option. Think about mixing a white light for faces with the warm light of the candles in storm jars for example. As a photographer the more light in a space the better.

Many couples choose uplighters to light a space. But think about how this looks for skin tones. Purple, red, orange are quite unflattering. Instead choose a white light to light the main spaces. If picking a colour look to have this on the outer areas. So it is further away from faces. No one wants a red glow under their chin!

As a photographer we can always introduce flash for group photos and couple photos for a stylised look which can lean nicely into your editorial vibes. However for the mandap ceremony we want this as documentary as possible. So having good lighting is key to get you the best photographs.

For fusion weddings this can be more prominent with making sure you are both even in skin tone. 

Credit https://www.emma-janephotography.co.uk/

Florals

Florals and décor is such a big thing for the mandap. And each set up can be quite different. Think about making an impact but also making it practical. Work with your ceremony schedule to see where people need to be and any chairs. As a photographer you don't want too large a florals along the side blocking views as it impacts what you can capture. This can also block guest viewpoints if everyone has their backs to people or the décor is in the way.

What can look be visually impactful is having florals around the top, snaking up a few steps and something staggered. Then some draping along the sides. But avoiding too much heavy blocking along the sides.

This is also helpful with it comes to any group photos in the mandap. As there is more room for people to be present for group photos. It can also avoid any shadows cast on faces from a light source but then blocked by florals. It can also be great to repurpose your florals for the dinner room if there is enough time to dismantle and set up in a different space.

BusyBrides: This will be built into the timeline and managed by a planner to ensure it happens smoothly between spaces.

Guest experience

All of the above points work not only to get great photographs, but also helps the guest experience. You want everyone to feel included. That they can visually see everything that is going on. In turn if your guests can fully see everything, so can I as a photographer. If I also have enough space to move around I can also focus on capturing guest reactions which is truly lovely to see.

Think about any welcome drinks and interactions. Are they also part of a processional? All of these aspects can make sure that you are provided with more documentary photographs to showcase the ceremony. Make sure any group photos after the ceremony are also swift and organised. So that yourself and your guests can head into the drinks reception with lots of time to spare.

I hope some of these tips help to create a memorable ceremony. Not only in the moment but also in years to come when you look back on your photographs. Knowing you planned the day perfectly!

BusyBrides: If you are currently looking for a photographer for your day, Emma is a fantastic choice. Not only is her work beautiful and considered, she is also incredibly easy to work with, which makes such a difference on the day itself. You can take a look at more of her work here: Emma Jane Photography or on Instagram at @ejlewis.