A Sri Lankan & Guyanese Wedding at Parklands, Quendon Hall

If you’re planning a wedding at Parklands, Quendon Hall, you’ll love this multicultural wedding for inspiration!

When these two first got in touch, one thing stood out straight away. They told me she’d found me on Instagram and loved both my style and the fact that I photograph all skin tones beautifully. As a Black queer photographer, that’s something that’s incredibly important to me, so hearing that always means a lot.

Fast forward to their wedding day and honestly, it was one of the most joyful weddings I’ve photographed in a long time.

From the moment I arrived at Parklands, there was such a lovely atmosphere. Everyone was excited, everyone was smiling and there was this genuine feeling that the day wasn’t just about the wedding itself, but about bringing two families and two cultures together to celebrate. Mayuri and Ravi’s wedding beautifully blended their Sri Lankan and Guyanese heritage, and throughout the day there were so many moments that reflected who they are as a couple. There was so much laughter, so much warmth and so many people genuinely having the best time.

It was exactly the kind of wedding I love to photograph.

Getting Ready at Parklands, Quendon Hall

One of the things I love about weddings at Parklands is that everything can happen in one place. There’s no rushing between venues or worrying about travel times. Instead, everyone can settle in, relax and actually enjoy the day.

Both Mayuri and Ravi got ready at Parklands surrounded by their closest friends and family. The morning felt calm but exciting, with people popping in and out of rooms, helping with final touches and making sure everything was running smoothly. Those quieter moments before a ceremony are always some of my favourites to photograph because they’re often the only chance people get to slow down and take everything in before the whirlwind begins.

Throughout the morning I kept noticing little moments between family members and friends. A proud smile from a parent. Someone fixing a buttonhole. A bridesmaid making everyone laugh. These are the moments that end up meaning the most years later because they tell the story of the people who were there, not just what the day looked like.

From the moment I arrived, everyone was so welcoming that within about twenty minutes I forgot I was technically there as a supplier. The whole day had that rare feeling where it didn’t feel like work at all. It felt like being invited along to celebrate two friends getting married.

A Beautiful Ceremony at Parklands

Parklands is such a gorgeous wedding venue and the gardens create the perfect setting for a ceremony. When guests began arriving, you could really feel the excitement building as everyone gathered together ready to watch Mayuri and Ravi get married.

One of my favourite things about photographing weddings is watching people’s reactions during the ceremony. It’s never really about the venue or the decorations for me. It’s about the people. The way someone looks at their partner. The way family members react during the vows. The little smiles and glances that happen when nobody thinks anyone is watching.

Mayuri and Ravi had so many of those moments throughout their ceremony. Nothing felt staged or forced. They were completely present with each other and you could see how excited they were to finally be married. Those are always the photographs I find myself coming back to when I’m editing a gallery because they’re the ones that feel the most real.

Celebrating Sri Lankan and Guyanese Heritage

One of my favourite things about multicultural weddings is how much you learn about people and their families. Every wedding is different, every tradition has a story and every family brings something unique.

Mayuri and Ravi’s wedding beautifully brought together their Sri Lankan and Guyanese heritage and you could see how much pride everyone had in celebrating both. The whole day felt like a reflection of the people around them. Not just their cultures, but their friendships, their families and all of the people who had helped shape them into who they are.

As someone who photographs a lot of multicultural weddings, these are always some of my favourites because they remind you how powerful weddings can be when they’re planned around the people rather than the expectations.

The Most Iconic Wedding Breakfast Entrance I’ve Ever Photographed

I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen a wedding breakfast entrance quite like this one.

As the wedding party entered the room waving flags representing their respective countries, the entire room erupted. Everyone was cheering, waving napkins and clapping along as they came through the doors. The energy was absolutely incredible and it perfectly reflected what the day was all about.

One of the things I loved most about Mayuri and Ravi’s wedding was how proudly they celebrated both their Sri Lankan and Guyanese heritage. It wasn’t something reserved for one part of the day. It was woven throughout the entire celebration and it felt completely authentic to who they are.

Watching both families celebrate together like that was genuinely really special. It felt less like a formal wedding breakfast and more like one giant celebration of family, community and love.

The Bouquet Toss… And Then The Pikachu Toss

Just when I thought we’d reached peak wedding chaos, Mayuri and Ravi announced the bouquet toss.

Everyone gathered around, ready for the traditional moment. The bouquet went flying, people screamed and laughed, and it all felt pretty standard as far as weddings go.

Then someone produced a Pikachu plushie.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crowd react so enthusiastically to a soft toy.

Suddenly the competition became very serious. Guests were diving for it, people were crying with laughter and the entire room completely lost it. It was one of those moments that perfectly summed up Mayuri and Ravi as a couple.

Fun.

Completely themselves.

And not interested in doing things just because tradition says they should.

Years from now, I suspect people will still be talking about that Pikachu toss.

Speeches, Dancing and the Best Kind of Wedding Day

The celebrations continued with speeches throughout the meal, plenty of laughter and more than a few emotional moments. Listening to family and friends talk about Mayuri and Ravi, you could immediately understand why they are so loved. Every speech felt personal, every story brought another round of laughter and every speaker left the room smiling.

The evening continued with cake cutting, their first dance and a packed dance floor. From that point onwards, the celebrations barely slowed down. Everywhere I looked there were people laughing, dancing and making memories together.

The Couple

One of the things I always say is that the best weddings aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most elaborate details.

They’re the ones where you can feel how loved the couple are.

That’s exactly what Mayuri and Ravi’s wedding felt like.

Throughout the entire day there was such a strong sense of community. Friends had become family, family had become best friends and everyone was genuinely invested in celebrating these two people. Whether it was the emotional moments during the ceremony, the absolute chaos of the Pikachu toss or everyone cheering during the wedding breakfast entrance, there was just so much joy everywhere you looked.

As a wedding photographer, there are some weddings where you’re very aware you’re there to do a job.

This wasn’t one of them.

By the end of the day, it felt less like I’d spent the day working and more like I’d been invited to celebrate alongside a group of friends.

Those are always my favourite weddings to photograph because when people feel comfortable, when they’re fully present and when they’re genuinely enjoying themselves, that’s when the magic happens. Those are the moments that become the photographs people treasure for decades.

Mayuri and Ravi created exactly the kind of wedding I love being part of. It was joyful, welcoming, full of personality and completely centred around the people they love most.

I left Parklands with sore feet, a full memory card and a massive smile on my face.

Why Parklands is a Great Place to Get Married

If you’re looking for an Essex wedding venue that allows you to host your entire day in one place, Parklands is such a great choice. The grounds are beautiful, the ceremony spaces are gorgeous and having everything in one location makes the day feel relaxed and seamless for both you and your guests.

There are also loads of lovely spots around the venue for portraits, meaning you don’t have to disappear for hours to get beautiful photographs.

Advice for Planning Your Wedding at Parklands

Don’t be afraid to make the day feel like you.

Whether that’s incorporating traditions from your culture, waving flags during your wedding breakfast entrance or throwing a Pikachu into a crowd of competitive guests, those are always the moments people remember.

The best weddings aren’t the ones that follow every rule. They’re the ones that reflect the people getting married.

If you’re planning a wedding at Parklands, Quendon Hall, I’d love to hear all about it.