Being a bride isn't easy! We woke up at 6 in the morning to get to the salon-Sonam was half asleep, but she was a real trooper. I spiked myself with several cups of coffee, but I don't think Sonam had that luxury.

I really wanted to get her some pictures that would remind her years later that not only was she the queen for the day - but was also a bridezilla (by her own admission, not mine!)

Most of what I shoot are moments from the wedding AS they happen - but Sonam walking down the stairs in a lovely gown was too much of a photo-op to resist!

During the ceremony, there was a bevy of photographers all over. I decided to find moments from the wedding that would really stand out. The priest wasn't too keen on anyone walking around, so I switched to my 'paparazzi' lens and looked around for just about anything that caught my eye. To my surprise, when you alter your perspective - there's just so much detail that you can find. Here's a small sample of the vibrant colours I found there!

All through the wedding, I kept looking out for a moment I could get the couple all to myself. Right after lunch, they were just about to leave when I waylaid them in the car just as they were about to pull out. I generally hate odd poses, so I decided to let them be themselves. I started talking to them, and remember saying something corny like "So guys, how does it feel to be married?" - with my eye glued to the viewfinder - and they spontaneously reached out and kissed each other. Magic!

Now I knew that this was a "girl- next-door" story - so I just HAD to bring that into the album somewhere. Again, quickly improvising- I managed to get a few minutes with the couple just after they had gotten married and were heading to their rooms to change - so I had them act out a small skit. Step 1: Boy meets girl. Step 2: Boy asks out girl. Step 3: The rest is history! The wicked grin on Vivek's face in Step 3 is really what made this picture stand out for me!

One aspect of the wedding that I really wanted to document was how much the friends and family pitched in - and how the bond between the groomsmen and the bridesmaids is such an important part of the wedding! I managed to get them all together for 15 minutes - which was quite a task by itself. Everyone was rather tired after the ceremony and I knew I didn't have much time. I wanted to get a group shot of all of them - but didn't want a traditional posed approach. On the spur of the moment, I yelled "group hug" and somehow everything naturally fell into place.

Here are some pictures that really happen at the spur of the moment-the "tug of war" and "throwing the bouquet". After the group hug, I wanted to get more fun shots of the group. This tug-of-war was really fun, and we all know that nobody messes with the bride - so it's no big secret who won!

The first dance is something that's rather sacred during a wedding. Since this was an impromptu gathering before the actual "official" first dance, I really wanted to build on how important friendships are when you start seeing someone, and decide to get married. The first dance, surrounded by close friends and family is really a moment to remember. The challenge here was to make everyone focus without feeling that they were posing for a photo - but in the end everyone had a good time and I'm happy I was able to get a few good pictures of the moment.

After 15 minutes of hectic bouquet catching, tug of wars and lots of laughing - the girls were really tired but the boys were game to go on. I decided to ask the boys to hoist Vivek up in the air - after all, it's easier to get married with a little support from your friends!

The next morning, tired and sore from all the hectic shooting the previous day, I was lucky to spend a few hours with the couple alone at the Bolgatty Palace in Cochin. My usual approach is to just ask the couple to be themselves while I lurk in the background with as little input as possible until they gradually forget the annoying photographers altogether. We didn't have much time, so I knew I had to work fast. Luckily, Sonam and Vivek were just perfect and were probably secretly glad to get away from the crowd and be alone for the first time as a newly married couple. A low hanging branch, a boardwalk, a deckchair by the pool and a swing were fun spots to hang about for a while. After finding a good spot, I just let them be- and that's when the best pictures just made themselves. Just before wrapping up, they wanted a picture of them jumping off the pier into the ocean (the symbolism just gets me...marriage is about jumping into the ocean without a lifejacket, get it? ;) )- now I knew I couldn't ACTUALLY make them jump so I asked them to run down and stop just short of jumping. Or did they? Pictures don't lie!