FAQs
I’ve never been to an Indian wedding before. What should I expect?
Indian weddings tend to be large and span over a couple of days. Although each region of India has its own specific customs, the general concept is the same – it’ll be a Big Fat Indian Wedding, filled with vibrant colors, music, and plenty of food and dancing.
What is the Sangeet night?
The Sangeet night will involve a traditional Gujarati dance called Garba to celebrate the forthcoming wedding. Don’t worry, we will have many talented Gujaratis to teach you the dance flow at the event!
What is a Baraat?
The Baraat is a parade that starts from the groom's house and ends at the bride's - in this case Jay accompanied with his friends and family will start from the entrance of Convention Center Drive and make there way to the entrance of the venue. It's accompanied by a dholak, or Indian drum, as they celebrate and make their way to the entrance of the wedding site, where they are ceremonially greeted by the bride's family.
What will the ceremony be like?
The ceremony will take place at the mandap or Indian altar. A priest will officiate the ceremony and numerous relatives will perform specific roles under his guidance. The bride and groom will be seated in front of the priest for most of the ceremony. The priest will recite verses in Sanskrit.
What should I wear?
There are several different types of Indian outfits, and there no specific requirements for what types of outfits should be worn to which events. In addition, guests are certainly not expected to wear Indian attire. For the Sangeet and Wedding Ceremony, we encourage guests to wear outfits that are bright and bold – and don’t be afraid to accessorize. The dress code for the Reception will be formal evening attire. Women will primarily be seen in Indian style floor length dresses. A Western floor length dress or a short dress will all be an appropriate attire if you do not have an Indian outfit. Men will be dressed in suit and tie.
Are there any religious restrictions on attire?
Traditionally, Indian culture avoids the color Black to the religious wedding ceremony. However, Black suits for men are an acceptable attire. Black color attire is acceptable at other events as well.
I am not Indian, can I still wear Indian attire to your events?
Yes! The bride and groom would love to see you in traditional Indian outfits if you can! Not mandatory of course!
Do I need separate clothes for the wedding and reception?
The majority of the family WILL have separate outfits for each event. However, you are not mandated to switch between the Wedding and the Reception.
Where can I shop for Indian clothes?
There are a few online resources :
• For Men and Women: Indya fashion - www.houseofindya.com/women-clothing/lehenga-sarees/cat Pernia's Pop Up Shop - https://www.perniaspopupshop.com/ Kalki Fashion - https://www.kalkifashion.com/ Kynah https://shopkynah.com/collections/lehengas Lashkaraa - www.lashkaraa.com • Options for Canadian shops: The Saree Room - https://www.thesareeroom.com/
• Rental Options: BorrowtheBazaar - borrowthebazaar.com/
Most of these operate out of India, so they may take longer to ship.
The popular style for women is called ‘Lehenga Choli’.
The most popular style for men is called ‘Kurta Pajama Set’. Feel free to contact the bride or the groom for additional questions.
What kind of food will there be?
We often say that the best part of an Indian wedding is the food. There will be a wide variety of vegetarian dishes at each of the events. The food will be served buffet style, so that guests will have the option to choose what they’d like to eat.
What do I do if I have food allergies?
We are working with our caterer to identify and label if any dishes contain gluten, nuts, dairy and other common allergens. Please let us know if you have any specific food allergies! Jain and vegan food will be clearly marked.
What about wedding gifts? Do you have a wedding registry?
Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift to us and we look forward to celebrating with you! If you would like to honor us with a gift, we are kindly requesting no boxed gifts. We have created a cash registry for your convenience here. Thank you!