Twenty Eighteen is nearly over!

Where has this year gone? This year has been an immense year and as I look back to what seems like a blur, there has been so many memorable moments and memories created personally & professionally.

2018 has been a challenging year, with a growing family, and weddings to shoot, it has helped me grow and adapt to new situations to overcome challenges but also develop my skill to provide the best story telling images for my couples and also document my growing family for our own personal memories.

I have always said I am a storyteller, and my aim is to ensure each wedding for my clients are documented to tell a story of their most special day. When the couples view their wedding photos I want my images to make the relive the emotions, the joy, the happiness, the sadness the energy, the atmosphere and the tears they felt on the day. I am honoured that my couples have entrusted me to capture their wedding day and their most important story. I am so lucky to have met the couples I have this year along with their amazing friends and family who have all been hospitable, loving, warm and welcoming. A BIG thank you to you all!

I like to look back on the weddings I’ve had the pleasure of documenting, reliving the moments and the energy but also seeing how I have developed personally and how I have evolved. I always strive to provide the best for all my couples and go above and beyond for them all. I am greatly appreciative to my couples for their trust in me.

Along with the couples and their friends and family, I am also greatly appreciative for all the awesome suppliers in the industry I have had the pleasure to work alongside with. Having a team of great suppliers who only want the best for their couples help create a memorable celebration for the couple.
A huge thank you to Sanjay, Jai, Meheer, Mickey & Viran for your help and support this year! You guys have been awesome! I cannot wait to work with you guys again!

I also cannot be thankful enough to my family who have always supported me and continue to do so. You all help me strive to better myself and I cannot be grateful enough!

My thank you come to an end, but I would like to thank all my couples from 2018 for a memorable year and I am grateful for you choosing me to be your wedding photographer and allowing me to document your wedding celebrations and trusting me creatively, you have all been amazing!

I am lucky to be an Asian wedding photographer in London & Essex and I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings!

For now, enjoy my favourite highlights of 2018 below and I hope you enjoy the festive period with your loved ones. Eat loads, be merry and I also wish you a Happy New Year! I’ll see you all in 2019!

Follow me on Instagram @sailesh.makwana to see my recent work along with my Facebook page (@saileshmakwanaphotography) and Twitter too! (@saileshmakwana) 🙂

With the date set, being the end of June, we all set out to Paris for their pre-wed shoot. We were lucky with one of the hottest weekends. With the blue skies, extreme sun and heat, we all had a great time – especially since this being my first time EVER to Paris!

After a 4.5 hour drive leaving early morning on a Saturday, we reached Paris and freshened up and waited for the peak of the heat to die down before we headed out to start their portrait session. It didn’t take long before I realised, Dipen & Jyoti were naturals! They looked great in front of the camera and were very easy to work with, which made my time with them more enjoyable!

I cannot thank Dipen & Jyoti enough for being such great sports, waking up early, late nights & being patient and for also giving us the opportunity to shoot in Paris!

Here some previews from the shoot! If you’re getting married and looking for a photographer, don’t forget to get in touch. You can also find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saileshmakwanaphotography

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To start their journey, in February they held their official engagement ceremony at The Venue @ Tandoori Nites in Leicester. The engagement ceremony isn’t just about officiating the bride and groom or welcoming each other as the soon to be bride & groom, but it is where two families meet, introduce and welcome each other. It is where two family becomes one.

The day started off with a Ganesh Pooja which was coordinated by Chanda Vyas, who also performed the Gor Dhana & Sava Pancha ceremonies beautifully. Then Bansri made her grand entrance (she looked absolutely stunning!) and made her way to the centre stage where Neil’s family then performed the engagement ceremony (Chundri/Chunni Ceremony).

Neil made his way to the stage and with completion of the ceremony, the formal engagement of Neil & Bansri was completed. What engagement ceremony would be complete without the Groom getting down on one knee for his lovely Bride?! Neil did just that with a roar of applause from everyone who attended!

The day continued with both families mingling and getting to know one another whilst some delicious food was served by the guys at Tandoori Nites. Following a brilliant solo flute performance by Bansri’s cousin & speeches from immediate members of both families – the party began!

Music was provided by DJ Suraj from W@nted Tunez and both families were on the dance floor in full joy celebrating this auspicious occassion for Neil & Bansri. And when you have a party and Gujaratis are involved – you know there will be some Garba!!!

Both families were an absolute Joy to work with, both kind, warm hearted, welcoming and made me feel like a part of their family, I cannot thank the Rughani & Parmar family enough!

Enjoy some of the lovely images from their day below and I look forward to continuing these celebrations in August!

Venue: The Venue @ Tandoori Nites   |   Preist: Chanda Vyas   |   DJ: W@nted Tunez