Charles & Sonia

Please RSVP with the number of adults and children in your party that will be attending this event.

Maiyaan, or vatna, is a traditional Indian ceremony in which the bride and groom are cleansed with a doughy paste made of turmeric powder, channa flour and mustard oil in order to purify them before the wedding. Basically, guests get to slather a bright yellow/orange paste on Charles/Sonia and he/she can't do anything about it. The sisters and female cousins of the bride/groom typically hold an ornate piece of fabric over the bride/groom while they are being "cleansed" and the moms and aunts sing congratulatory praises to each person that comes up to put the paste on them. This event will take place at Sonia's aunt's home in her hometown of Mission Viejo. Lunch will be served and it will likely last about 2 hours. This event is meant for family and very close friends. Traditionally, once the ceremony has taken place the bride and groom are no longer permitted to leave their homes (but we like to break the rules, so this will not be the case for us).

Since this event is taking place in the daytime before the Sangeet, we are encouraging attendees to wear comfortable, casual clothing. Bright colors are welcomed and conservative neck and hemlines are appreciated.

Free street parking is available.

Please RSVP with the number of adults and children in your party that will be attending this event.

Sangeet is a Sanskrit word that means singing together. It is also a fun filled function that is part and parcel of a Punjabi wedding. Traditionally, only women attend this function and it is conducted at home for 10 days leading up to the wedding. These days, families host sangeets for a couple of days leading up to the wedding, inviting close relatives and friends, including men and women.

The literal meaning of sangeet is sing together, and we don't deviate much from the meaning. Ladies sing traditional wedding songs known as sohag (for bride) and ghodrian (for groom), as well as folk songs accompanied by the dholki. They perform traditional giddha (dance performed by a group of women that is done to coincide with boliyaan – short verses – being sung). Many of the songs and boliyaan are done in jest or teasing directed at the in-laws.
Get ready to see some Indian ladies throw down on the dance floor with traditional folk dancing (giddha) and some crazy singing accompanied by traditional Punjabi drums (dhol and dholki). After the singing portion, a DJ will play some music and the dance floor will no longer be subject to female domination.
Appetizers will be served in the beginning of the evening and dinner is typically served a bit later (think 8:30-9pm). The event is at Tandoor Cuisine of India in Orange (about a 10-15 minute drive from Santa Ana/OC Airport area). The event will end a or around 10pn as we will have an early morning ahead of us.

Sangeet night is a classy, semi-formal occasion, often known as the pre-reception. The brighter the color the better!

Ladies: You may wear traditional Indian attire, a dress, or skirt/pants with blouse. Please avoid low-cut, strapless, or tight/short dresses for this event.

Gentlemen: An elegant kurta pajama, suit or a dress shirt with slacks combination may be worn for this event. Please avoid jeans, sneakers, or sandals.

Please RSVP with the number of adults and children in your party that will be attending this event.

On-site parking is available at the Sikh Center at no charge. If the lot is full please utilize street parking, paying special attention to street signs regarding restrictions.

The Sikh Ceremony entails a series of rituals and traditions as follows:

Reception of Baraat - The Groom Enters With A Bang
The baraat is the groom’s wedding procession, which typically consists of boisterous singing, music and dancing by the groom’s family and invited guests. The groom — decked out in full wedding attire and sometimes in a luxury car or on a horse — is followed by his closest friends and family. The baraat is received by the bride’s family and friends and the milni (meeting of the families) begins.

Milni & Tea - Meeting the Soon to Be In-Laws
After the festive arrival of the baraat, the bride’s family welcomes the groom’s side, marking the beginning of the milni ceremony. The bride is kept separate until the main ceremony, to keep up the anticipation to see her. The baraat and the bride’s side gather together in a common area outside of the Gurdwara or wedding hall, with both families facing each other with room between them for the introductions to take place. A prayer is conducted by a Granthi (religious official) to bless the occasion, and formal introductions of key relatives in both families commence. The meetings involve a haar (garland) being placed around the neck of each relative by the equivalent relative from the other family, symbolizing the acceptance of two families into one, followed with a hug and photo opp. The hugging has become a friendly competition between the men as each man tries to lift the other off the ground while hugging. After the last milni is performed, the congregation enjoys tea and a light breakfast organized by the bride’s family.

Anand Karaj – Two Hearts, One Soul
Anand Karaj, literally meaning blissful union, is the actual wedding ceremony. The main component of the ceremony is the four lavan (marriage hymns) in which the bride and groom walk around the Guru Granth Sahib, a religious text of holy scriptures, four times. The ceremony takes place in the Gurdwara, and guests are required to remove their shoes and cover their heads before entering the hall (please see the dress code section for information on appropriate attire). You may see some of the guests walk up to the front of the hall and bow their heads in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. For non-Sikh guests, this is not mandatory, but the motion is appreciated. Men and women are seated on opposite sides of the hall with the first few rows meant for close family members or the bridal party. At a Sikh wedding ceremony, guests are expected to sit on the carpeted floor. You may sit comfortably with your legs crossed, but it is inappropriate to point your feet in the direction of the holy scriptures book located in the front with outstretched legs. Chairs will be provided at the rear of the hall for elderly guests and people that cannot sit on the floor due to health issues. The wedding ceremony will last about 45 minutes, and will be followed by Langar (lunch). We will distribute more information regarding the ceremony at the wedding so you may follow along with each ritual.

Langar – Sustenance for All
Langar, or free kitchen, refers to food served in a Gurdwara to all visitors for free, without distinction of background. The concept was started by the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people of the world regardless of religion, caste, color, creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of Langar expresses the ethics of sharing, community, inclusiveness and oneness of all humankind, “...the Light of God is in all hearts.” Traditionally, Langar is run by sevadars (volunteers doing selfless service), Sikhs, and others who wish to help. It is a community kitchen and anybody can help in its running. For weddings, the bride’s family typically provides the means for serving Langar. Only vegetarian food is served to ensure that all people, regardless of their dietary restrictions, can eat as equals.

Please note that alcohol, narcotics, intoxicants and tobacco in any shape or form are not allowed in the Gurdwara complex or on the building premises.

The Sikh ceremony is a formal event that will take place in a Gurdwara (Sikh religious hall), in which guests are required to remove their shoes and cover their heads. Guests are seated on a carpeted floor, so please keep that in mind when choosing your attire.

Ladies:
Most women wear traditional Punjabi attire in vibrant colors to the Sikh ceremony. There are many styles to choose from, but the most prevalent choices are the salwar kameez and anarkali, likely because of their comfort when sitting on the floor in the religious hall. Saris (or sarees), are not usually not worn to the Sikh wedding ceremony; they are more appropriate for the sangeet and reception events. If you are unable to wear ethnic attire or prefer to wear Western clothing, please note that modest attire is the order of the day; bare shoulders/midriffs, strapless or plunging necklines, and short skirts will be out of place at the Gurdwara. Sleeveless outfits are acceptable as long as you have a chunni/dupatta (long, lightweight scarf), scarf, or pashmina you can throw over your head and shoulders while inside the religious hall. Also note that sitting on the floor for the ceremony will prove difficult in tight or short clothing, so please dress accordingly.

Gentlemen:
As the Sikh ceremony is a formal event, most men opt to wear a suit and tie or slacks with a sport coat. Some men wear traditional Punjabi or ethnic clothing, such as a kurta pajama (long tunic with lightweight pants). Ramals (large handkerchiefs/bandanas) will be provided to wear as a head covering prior to entering the Gurdwara, but you may bring your own head covering if you prefer. Also, please keep in mind that shoes must be removed prior to entering the Gurdwara, so it might be a good idea to wear clean socks with no holes to avoid any embarrassing moments. ;-)

Please send us a message if you have any questions regarding the dress code.

Please RSVP with the number of adults and children (18 and under) that will be attending.

Underground self parking is available for all guests. Please enter the parking garage from the Hope Street entrance at the intersection of 3rd Street.

Indian or Western formal attire is requested. Please be advised the reception will follow the Christian ceremony. Both events will be outdoor.

This hotel is only one block from the Christian ceremony site and reception venue. We have negotiated a group rate for this hotel, but it MUST BE BOOKED BY JUNE 4TH.

Guests may book online by clicking the Omni Hotel link above or call 1.800.THE.OMNI (843-6664) and reference the “Aulakh & Sims” room block. The negotiated rate is available for booking through Wednesday, June 4th, or until all rooms are reserved within the block, whichever comes first. Rooms requested AFTER the cut-off date of June 4th will be provided on a room and rate availability basis.

We have negotiated a rate of $169/night. Parking is available at the negotiated rate of $15/night (regular rate is $40, so please mention Aulakh & Sims to get the lower rate).

Please RSVP with the number of adults and children (18 and under) that will be attending this event.

Formal attire/evening cocktail wear is requested for this event. Please note the majority of the reception will take place outdoors.

Underground self parking is available for all guests. Please enter the parking garage from the Hope Street entrance at the intersection of 3rd Street.

This hotel is only one block from the Christian ceremony site and reception venue. We have negotiated a group rate for this hotel, but it MUST BE BOOKED BY JUNE 4TH.

Guests may book online by clicking the Omni Hotel link above or call 1.800.THE.OMNI (843-6664) and reference the “Aulakh & Sims” room block. The negotiated rate is available for booking through Wednesday, June 4th, or until all rooms are reserved within the block, whichever comes first. Rooms requested AFTER the cut-off date of June 4th will be provided on a room and rate availability basis.

We have negotiated a rate of $169/night. Parking is available at the negotiated rate of $15/night (regular rate is $40, so please mention Aulakh & Sims to get the lower rate).

This is an informal invitation for anyone still in town to join the bride and groom one last time before saying their goodbyes. Casual and not a hosted event.

Both valet and street parking will be available. NOTE: If you are staying at the Omni Hotel nearby, it's a short 5 minute walk to the restaurant.