1. A Sikh Wedding

In this first programme, we are invited to a Sikh wedding, which unlike the Christian variety takes five days. It is an arranged wedding between Amarjeet and Arminder and by the time the festivities are over, they and their families will be exhausted. The ceremonies start with the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib in Amarjeet's home. This will take 48 hours and it is a non stop reading. Once the Guru Granth Sahib has been returned to the Gurdwara, the cultural festivities can begin. The wedding ceremony itself takes place at the Gurdwara on the 5th day and after such a long build up this ceremony is quite simple. Once ended, the families and 700 guests can enjoy the reception after which Amarjeet leaves the family home for the last time in the Doli Ceremony.

2. A Christian Wedding

In this second programme, we join Wendy and Paul as they go for a very traditional church wedding. Both Wendy and Paul have been married twice before and now in their forties, have been living together for several years. They finally realised that this match was for them one made in heaven and they approached the minister at their local Methodist church. This is a wedding that gained tremendous support from everyone in the community. The local pub provided the reception, friends and neighbours helped to make the dresses. If anyone could help they did. As a special present for Wendy, Paul hired a horse drawn carriage. For this small community in Gloucester, this celebration turned out to be the event of the year.

3. A West Indian Wedding

In programme three we join the Afro Caribbean community in Bristol as they celebrate the wedding of Nancy and Malcolm. Both are in the congregation of the Church of God of Prophesy, an evangelical Black Church. But the church is far more than a place to attend services, it is the centre of a community, a community which will make the wedding a very special day for Nancy. Under the watchful eye of Nancy's mother Joyce, the sisters prepare a traditional West Indian feast with Jerk Chicken, Salt Fish and Beans & Rice. As with all weddings, there are the last minute crises and Nancy is over an hour late, but from then on everything goes without a hitch.

Three Weddings - 3 x 25 mins for HTV West

Producer / Director Kate Jones Davies