We're Getting
Married!
Indian Weddings last 5-7 days, with specific traditions on each day. We are going to do our best to cram as many of these as we can into one evening. This will include the following.
Milni literally means "introductions." In an Indian marriage the Milni is the formal introduction of senior members of the families. The parents meet and greet. The bride and groom's families hug and exchange gifts.
In the Chunni Charahan the bride is draped with a chunni (stole). She is presented with jewellery, which her mother-in-law helps her wear, and a dot of mendhi is applied to her palm for good luck. Everyone congratulates the couple by feeding them sweets.
Shagun is a monetary blessing for the bride and groom. Guests wave money in a circular motion over the heads of the bride and groom and give them the money to bless them in their new life together.
before the wedding, the bride and guests have their hands decorated with temporary henna (mendhi) tattoos. A Mendhi artist will be applying henna on the balcony.
During Jago the family dances and sings in the last hours of the night before the wedding. They decorate copper or brass vessels called khadaa with diyas (clay lamps) and fill and light them. The brides mami (maternal aunt) carries it on her head, and another woman carries a long stick with bells, shaking it. They sing songs to wake the neighbors to inform them there is a wedding happening tomorrow we must celebrate tonight.
In a merged American and Indian ceremony, the groom will wait at the front of the aisle with the minister. The groomsmen walk the bridesmaids down the aisle and take their places. They are followed by the ring bearer and flower girls. Finally the brides father walks the bride down the aisle and ties her stole to the groom's. The minister speaks, the couple exchange vows and rings, and the minister closes the ceremony with the first kiss. The bride and groom exit up the aisle as the guests throw bird seed over them.
Photos will be taken after the ceremony on the Palace of Fine Arts grounds.
Indian guests please feel free to wear a traditional lehenga / saree or formal attire.
American guests, please feel free to wear semi-formal / cocktail attire.
Please do not wear long sleeve dresses to the mendhi celebration if you would like to have mendhi done.
Please refrain from wearing red or cream to the ceremony as those are the colors of the wedding party.