Hindu Wedding Ceremony

Hindu weddings are vibrant, intricately planned, culture-rich festivities full of celebration and tradition. While the very essence of a Hindu wedding ceremony is the physical, spiritual, and emotional union of two people; it's also about the coming together of two families through prayer and celebration.

"A Hindu wedding lies somewhere between the couple’s expectations while blending their family traditions," explains South Asian wedding expert Jignasa Patel. "With many rituals and mini ceremonies leading to the main ceremony day, it binds the couple and both families for eternity."What should I wear to a Hindu wedding?

It's common for guests to wear traditional Indian clothes, such as saris or lenghas for women and long-sleeved tunics and pants for men. "Build each event outfit as if you were outdoing yourself from the last event, saving your most glamorous outfit for the day of the wedding ceremony and reception," says Patel. If you decide to go with a more Western option, remember that women should have their shoulders, legs, and occasionally arms covered. Men should wear long sleeves and long pants. Both men and women need to bring something to cover their heads during the ceremony. Bold, vibrant colors are heavily encouraged, but be sure to stay away from white (associated with funerals), black (considered unlucky), and red (the color the bride wears).How long is a Hindu wedding?

The events of a Hindu wedding normally take place over the span of three days with different events taking place each day. The main ceremony and reception on the third day as well as the sangeet during the second day are attended by most of the guests. The Ganesh Pooja ceremony that commences the wedding events on the first day is usually an intimate event with only close family in attendance. "Be prepared for early morning events," advises Patel. "Hindu wedding celebrations are based on auspicious times predetermined and provided by the priest."Will there be alcohol?

"It's important for attendees to know that there is no alcohol served or brought to the Hindu wedding ceremony," says Patel. "The ceremony is impactful in many religious traditions and customs starting at one-and-a-half hours leading into a three-hour-long ceremony." While traditionally the wedding reception is also alcohol-free, many modern-day couples and families are breaking away from this.Should I bring a gift?

Gifts are usually not brought to a ceremony, though this can vary. If you intend to gift something to the couple, have it shipped to their home. The only exception is if you intend to present them with a monetary gift, in which case this would be given in an envelope at the wedding reception.Prior to the actual wedding, there's a gathering called the sangeet or garba (depending on the regional background) where family comes together to sing, dance, and revel in the joy of the upcoming union. Fittingly, sangeet directly translates to "sung together." Each side of the family sings a traditional folk song to welcome the other, and family members may even give full-blown performances in celebration and cheeky competition.The mehndi ceremony, a big party traditionally only attended by the bride's close female friends and family members, kicks off the wedding itself. The event usually takes place one day before the nuptials (on the same day as the sangeet), as the process can take hours. During the festivities, henna paste is used to apply intricate designs of temporary decorative art to the bride's hands and feet. While the designs usually reflect floral motifs, it's also common to hide her partner's name within the artwork and watch as they try to find it later—a process believed to reflect the amount of patience that will be present in their marriage.

In fact, many Hindu beliefs focus on the meaning revealed by the color of the wedding henna. "The first one, which is what I learned from my family, is that the darker the henna, the more a mother-in-law will be fond of her daughter-in-law," says Patel. "Others that I have come to learn through working with Hindus from different regions state that the darker the henna, the stronger the marriage or the more the husband will love the wife."