Photographers are second in command.

"Imagine an Indian wedding," I asked. What scene comes to mind? The groom riding in on an elephant, the bride decked out in gold from head to toe, a lavish buffet that would astonish even American investor Warren Buffett—a buffet aptly named the "Warren Buffet." Pretty much spot on. Well, the last one was a joke. But an Indian caterer might just invent something like that.

Anyway, there's no doubt Indian weddings are lavish and spectacular. They just keep getting more extravagant every year. When I say lavish, I mean things like revolving stages equipped with cannons that shoot out flower petals, or pyrotechnics that put Coldplay—famous for their flashy concerts—to shame.

The real showstopper is the wedding photographer. Not like the old guys you see at neighborhood photo studios. They take the same boring shots at every family event, making you wonder if it's a wedding or a funeral. Today's photographers are a whole different ballgame. They inject the ceremony with scenes that scream, "If you miss this on social media, who knows what people will say later!"

Acting like they're second only to the priest, they dictate when the bride and groom take the stage and even tell them when to smile. To get that "perfectly natural" shot, the groom is ordered to "perfectly naturally" kneel and take the bride's hand. After all, my best friend Sheila got 337 likes on her proposal photo—I can't let her beat me. They even have opinions on the bride and groom's outfits, the venue decorations, and the buffet menu. They have to post Instagram-worthy photos with the hashtag "the joy of eating delicious food" to show off to their friends.

A photo album of every wedding ritual is compiled. Henna body art, turmeric makeup, head turbans... oh, and the horseback riding ceremony too. Pre-ceremony photos are crucial. The couple is whisked to parks and historic sites to strike poses. Personal stock photos, my goodness. After preparing all this and that, the wedding finally arrives.

You might think, "Do we really have to go this far?" But doesn't it make you curious about how it might evolve next? Commissioning a professional to create a Snapchat-style wedding story? A 360-degree panoramic wedding video? Forcing all attendees to share the bride and groom's viewpoint via VR tech? At that point, we'll probably get to share the bride's tears and smudged mascara too.

(Supervised by: Dentsu Inc. Global Business Center)