Indian weddings are multi-day affairs filled with love, laughter, music, and ritual. Brides typically don multiple outfits on their big day, from traditional Indian wear such as lehengas or sarees for ceremonies to sherwanis or salwar kameez in preparation for receptions. Additionally, Indian weddings incorporate many culturally unique ceremonial traditions that create unforgettable experiences.
First and foremost in an Indian wedding is consulting with a Pandit or Hindu priest. Based on each couple's horoscopes, they can help determine an auspicious date and time for their union, called muhurats - these may play an instrumental role in how their future unfolds. Reach out to a leading wedding planner for assistance with a reliable Hindu priest, and you can even ask to manage everything from photoshoots to Indian wedding decor in Atlanta or nearby!
Read Along to Learn Everything You Need to Know About Indian Wedding Traditions:
An Astrology-Approved Date and Time for Wedding
At the outset of their wedding preparations, brides and grooms typically consult a pandit or Hindu priest to select an optimal date and time based on their horoscopes. At this meeting, couples also finalize guest lists and start sending invitations. The date and time are decided per the traditional Hindu calendar and marked as the definite time of the wedding. All the wedding preparations and schedules are then done around this date and time. To learn more about Indian wedding rituals and traditions, contact a leading wedding planner now!
Sangeet and Mehendi
On the morning of their weddings, relatives of both bride and groom apply a Haldi paste made of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater to five specific areas on both bodies, including their face/neck area, hands, arms, knees, and feet. It is said to ward off evil spirits and ensure a long and prosperous future together for couples. An important prelude to any wedding is a Sangeet, an evening filled with music, dance, and love. At this event, Indian wedding bridesmaids and female members from each side sing songs that refer to their relationship or poke fun at in-laws in good fun, making this event an invaluable opportunity for the couple to get acquainted before their big day arrives.
Kanyadan
Kanyadaan is a heart-touching ceremony for the bride and family alike. Her parents marry their daughter to the groom, who promises his devotion as husband. A raised curtain is then raised and removed; each couple exchanges garlands known as Virmala to symbolize eternal union. This event provides plenty of photo ops as it gives photographers an incredible Indian wedding pic opportunity to capture some truly stunning and emotional shots. The decorations throughout the wedding are one major factor for hiring a well-experienced wedding planner as they take care of everything from the schedules to the arrangements and even something as little as an Indian wedding table and furniture.
A Grand Entrance for the Groom
At an Indian wedding entrance ceremony, the groom arrives on horseback, surrounded by dancing family and friends. Dressed in his sherwani with its matching turban and ornate jewelry, he enters wearing it while guests throw rice at him while the song Jai Mala plays. Indian wedding ceremonies feature many traditions that make the experience exciting, enjoyable, and entertaining for all participants. If you are planning for an Indian-style wedding in Georgia, consult one of the best Indian Wedding planners for Indian wedding decor in Atlanta.
Roka and Ring Exchange
Like many weddings, Indian ceremonies start with a purification ceremony. Married female family members wash both bride and groom with a mixture of oil, turmeric, and water known as haldi to prepare them for marriage and apply tilak (red mark on the forehead of groom representing intuition) where intuition lies. Next comes the Roka ceremony, in which the groom's family officially asks for the bride's hand in marriage. They may also exchange traditional Indian wedding rings during this ceremony. This may take place either at her home or at a temple or gurdwara.
The Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony takes place under a mandap, a ceremonial canopy similar to what Jews use for weddings called a chuppah. The bride walks down the aisle with her brothers and male cousins, who hold fresh flower mesh over her head and exchange floral garlands before the priest blesses them with abundant food, love, and happiness. The groom ties the mangal sutra around the bride's neck, symbolizing strong 100-year bonds between husband and wife as this represents strong 100-year-long bonds that should never break! This is when the guests can offer wedding gifts for the Indian bride and groom.
The priest then reads verses that provide blessings for the couple, such as morality, prosperity, personal gratification, and spirituality (dharma). She and he take seven steps together around a fire, each step representing an aspect of marital vows, such as dharma, wealth, health, children, happiness, harmony, and friendship, before placing her mangalsutra around her neck as a symbol of their commitment and union together.
Saptapadi or The Seven Steps
After an introduction speech by the priest, the couples took seven full rounds around a fire pit as represented by seven slokas recited by a priest reciting slokas to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu (the protector of all) and Goddess Lakshmi (for wealth). Each circle represented one major life goal, such as moksha (spirituality), kama (personal gratification), dharma (morality), and artha (prosperity). As they make their rounds, family members seated below the mandap shower them with flowers and rice as a token of their blessing on their newlyweds. Once in place, couples exchange vows meant to last seven lifetimes.
Traditional Indian Wedding Attire
Indian wedding attire includes numerous options. Women typically wear either a lehenga or saree to functions such as sangeet and the wedding ceremony, often decorated with embroidery or beadwork, often featuring a dupatta to complete their ensemble. Meanwhile, grooms often choose sherwanis; this long jacket is usually decorated with gold buttons.
Non-Indian guests are free to dress however they wish. However, it is recommended that you avoid certain colors, such as white, black, and red, which have significant significance in Hindu culture. It is also advised that they select an outfit that allows for comfort during ceremonies and receptions. The attires are also often planned as per the Indian engagement decorations and wedding theme. For help choosing clothing, visit an Indian boutique near your location or contact a leading wedding planner for Indian wedding decor in Atlanta now!
Conclusion
Indian traditional weddings are packed with vibrant colors, gorgeous details, and heartfelt love. Weddings typically span three days, with multiple pre-wedding events such as Haldi ceremonies, Roka, Kanyadan, Baarat, Indian traditional wedding ceremonies, and much more. Family members and guests also shower wedding gift for Indian bride and groom with all the wishes and blessings as part of this festive event! It is an enjoyable and playful way to include more people in celebrating your big day! If you are planning an Indian Wedding in Georgia, connect with a leading wedding planner for the best Indian wedding theme and Indian wedding decor in Atlanta or nearby!
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