When you step foot into a Tamil wedding ceremony, you'll feel like you're walking into a royal affair. Tamil weddings (Hindu ones, at least), embrace the use of gold, red hues and pay attention to all the small details.
"One of the unique features of a Tamil wedding is the use of red and saffron colours to empower richness in the décor ? these colours are symbolic of purity and sensuality
Tamil weddings are based around the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism (the Vedas), but also incorporate a modern touch for both the bride and groom. Typically, a priest determines the date or month the couple should be married by looking at auspicious dates within the Hindu calendar. The priest is also needed throughout the ceremony as he is the one who officiates the couple. You see the old priest sitting and directing the proceedings!
Prior to conducting the main ritual, the priest seeks approval of both sets of parents to allow their respective children in the marriage.The extended families also are highly involved with tasks like welcoming guests, cracking a coconut (which is an auspicious ritual offering), and walking around the venue requesting the guests to bless a tray containing the thali (the golden necklace a bride receives on her wedding day)."
The ceremony itself is also a long process. As the ceremony concludes and the guests eat vegetarian appetizers, the bride re-enters the hall in her new saree. At this point, the groom ties the necklace around his bride's neck, signifying the official marriage. The couple then walks around a holy fire three times, and are blessed by their parents and guests.

I took this picture at the wedding ceremony of my friends son in Chennai Last Nov.
Camera: Canon Sx130IS, indoor lighting, no flash, standard settings, image very slightly cropped and resized to FAR requirements.
Enjoy!