Fast Bridal Portrait
As much as I would love to have a full portrait session with no time limits, the nature of Indian weddings means things are usually running a little behind schedule. The sheer amount of things such as ceremonies, waiting for family members and making sure everyone has the essentials when leaving the house means its a pretty busy atmosphere on the wedding morning.
When photographing brides, we like to get started as soon as possible so we kind of arrive just as your make up is nearing the end. This gives us enough time to set up and also photograph while things such as the dupatta is being set. this also gives us some creative freedom to capture a different style or pose before the duppata is pinned down .
Here’s an example of a photograph we got. The bride was still deciding how she wanted her duppata set and while she was doing that we captured this shot.
We used a large continuous light so we could shoot fast and move the light around quickly. The large light also gives a beautiful catch light in the eyes.
Indian Wedding Guide: What Happens at a Hindu Wedding?
Whether you have been invited to an Indian wedding or are throwing your own Hindu wedding ceremony, you may be curious about exactly what is going to happen. Guests may be unaccustomed as they come from different cultural backgrounds and those having the wedding may be an inter-racial couple or just a younger generation unfamiliar with many of the rituals.
This guide looks at exactly what to expect in the coming days, weeks, months and even years worth of events and rituals that go into the big day. It may seem daunting at first but each step of the process is filled with a lot of joy as well as effort.
What is the Significance of a Hindu Wedding?
Marriages, according to Hindu beliefs, are made in heaven and once you are married, the bond is supposed to last for seven lifetimes. It is considered to be a turning point in an individual’s life as he enters the second important phase or ashram of his life – the ‘Garhasthyaashram’.
A lot of importance is associated with marriages in hinduism as it is considered to be one of the most important duties of a man’s life. Through marriage, he is paying his debt to his forefathers, by procreating children and ensuring the continuation of his family’s lineage.
Hindu weddings are a long process with various rituals that may take days to be executed. Every single custom and practice in a wedding ceremony has deep philosophical and spiritual significance. Throughout the world, Hindus adhere to these set of rituals and continue on the traditions of marriage that are unique amongst those in the world.
How Far in Advance are Hindu Weddings Planned?
If you are planning on having a Hindu wedding or part of the wedding party, you’ll need to know how much a long term commitment you’re getting into. A long term commitment shouldn’t seem so daunting if you’re the bride or groom given the context, but if you’re a close friend helping with planning, it may seem overwhelming.
A Hindu wedding venue will often be booked over a year in advance, so to avoid disappointment, at least six months of pre-planning is required and this will help you deal with logistics, music, catering, transport, decorations and so much more.
Who is Invited?
Everyone! A Hindu wedding is a big event in the life of the bride and groom. There are rarely small ceremonies or intimate Hindu weddings. It goes against a lot of the philosophies of the ceremony, so you can expect a big affair.
All the family and extended relatives are invited as well as close friends to the bridal party. Many of the rituals and ceremonies are big parties and celebrations so it makes a lot of sense for there to be a lot of guests. With the couple about to start their new adventure together, what better way to celebrate their new married life than a party?
What to Wear to a Hindu Wedding?
Brighter is better. Don't be afraid to wear a bold colour. This will help you fit in with the Indian guests who'll be dressed in vibrant colours and eye-catching jewellery. If you don't have a traditional sari, a jewel-tone dress with a shawl is appropriate too. It is acceptable to wear western formal wear to a Hindu celebration but it is encouraged to buy traditional attire.
For the men, suits are acceptable if that is what you are comfortable in. If you wish to wear something more traditional, there are a number of mens outfits that you can wear. The main two are Kurta Pajamas and Sherwanis. Bright colours are encouraged but choosing one you are most comfortable in is the main thing.
What Will the Food Be Like?
Two of the most common misconceptions about Indian food is that it's all spicy and it's all vegetarian. In reality, it depends on which state the couple's families are from. When served in the UK, though, the food tends to be North and West Indian.
There will be both food during the day and at the evening reception and there are some slight changes in the food options depending on the time. One example of this is that the naans are not served during the day but they will be available during the evening meal. Instead, puris or bathuras are served during the day.
There will be no meat allowed during the day if there has been a religious ceremony but at the evening reception there will likely be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. This again can vary depending on the wedding and families but there are less restrictions. The food during the day may consist of two vegetarian curries, rice and dhal, puris or bathura’s, something savoury like samosas with chutney, popadums, pickles and something sweet like Shrikhand Gulba Jamun.
Indian weddings are definitely a time to show off, so what better way to show off than having the most rich and lavish dishes, and lots of them. This is what will happen at the evening reception, like any wedding there will be a wide array of exciting canapés or starters to enjoy. Alongside this there is the evening meal, expect lots of paneer, creamy curries, tandoori meat, and buttery naans. Often there is a dessert table, which typically includes cake, kulfi (Indian ice cream) and decorated sweets made from nuts. There can be sometimes up to four stations of chefs preparing food for guests.
How Long Does a Hindu Wedding Last?
A traditional Indian wedding can last up to five days, but most last for three days. An overview of the three days is traditionally the following:
1st Day – The Ganesh Puja otherwise known as the Mandap Muhurat & Pithi. This is often followed by a Mendhi night/Sangeet night.
2nd Day – Grah Shanti which is also called a Sathak/Mandvo or Mameru ceremony
3rd Day – Wedding celebration and usually an evening reception
On the first day, a priest will often perform the Ganesh Puja, a ceremony that usually happens at home with only the couple, the bridal party and close relatives in attendance. In all marriages, Ganesh Puja signals the start of the rest of the wedding rituals. The family will offer a prayer to Lord Ganesh, requesting peace and harmony to prevail during the ceremony. Lord Ganesh’s blessings are sought for an auspicious beginning for the couple.
Other things that occur on the first or second day is the mehndi ceremony. For this, the bride and her female friends and family members will have intricate henna patterns drawn on their hands and feet. That evening, the sangeet takes place. Every wedding guest is usually invited and it can involve the introduction of the couple's families, mingling, a meal and dances or other performances.
On the third day, the main wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception take place. You may be invited to the last day of the events or to any part of the three-day celebration.
The Hindu Wedding Rituals and Ceremonies
As mentioned above, there are at least three days worth of celebrations to undertake at a Hindu wedding.The precise details and rituals performed in a wedding ceremony vary from region to region and often take several hours to complete. A brief introduction to the stages of a Hindu wedding ceremony are below, for more specific details please read our article on ‘Hindu Wedding Traditions’:
The Baraat / The Jaan
Pokwanu - Welcoming of The Groom
Ganesh Puja
Vaarpooja
Kanya Aagman - The Arrival of the Bride
Granthibandan and Varmala
Kanyadan
Havan
Mangal Fera
Saptapadi - The Seven Steps
Sindur & Mangal Sutra
Akhand Saubhagyavati – Blessings From Married Women
Aashirwad
Vidaai
End of the Ceremony
What Will the Reception be Like?
After the ceremony comes the wedding reception. This has a completely different feel to the ceremony itself. It's essentially a fun party! It will be full of Bhangra, English/Western and Bollywood songs to dance to. But don't worry if you're not comfortable learning new dances, you'll most likely hear contemporary Western music at the reception too.
The reception is where the couple's families will throw a lavish reception party to finally let loose. Part of the celebration includes speeches and loved ones singing, dancing and performing routines for the couple. Following this, a huge sit-down dinner and a dance party will take place. Bring your most fashionable, though comfortable, dancing shoes - you'll need them!
The Ultimate Wedding Checklist Every Indian Bride Needs To Follow!
12-8 MONTHS TO GO
Start planning at least 8 months earlier as a wedding is no easy feat!
Planning:
1. Choose a season and finalise the wedding date!
2. Discuss the wedding budget and settle on an approximate figure.
3. Do you want a destination wedding or a local one?
4. Keeping your budget in mind, list the pre and post-wedding events.
5. Do an approximate headcount for each of these events
6. Hire a wedding planner if needed.
7. If a loan is required, research loan options and apply for a loan.
Venue:
8. Shortlist venues for each of your functions, keeping in mind capacity and budget.
9. Check out venues in person.
10. Research the wedding themes you may like.
11. Check out DIY ideas if you want to personalise them.
Invitations:
12. Go through invitation card designs and shortlist your favourites. OR come up with your own.
Honeymoon:
13. Research honeymoon destinations.
8-6 MONTHS TO GO
Venue:
14. Book venues for all functions.
15. Make sure you read the agreement and are on board with everything.
Invitations:
16. Finalise the wedding invitation card along with the design and wording.
17. Order wedding invitation cards.
Catering:
18. Look for preferred caterers.
19. Go for food tasting with shortlisted caterers.
20. Hire your favourite caterer.
21. Finalise menus/s for your functions.
Planning:
22. Renew passports.
Entertainment:
23. Research and decide entertainment ideas as per functions.
6-4 MONTHS TO GO
Planning:
24. Make a detailed itinerary for each of the ceremonies along with the time and date.
Invitations:
25. Start sending out invitations.
Wedding Jewellery:
26. Browse designs for wedding jewellery and approximate costs.
27. Go jewellery shopping for rings, mangalsutra, etc.
Photography:
28. Research what kind of photography you want.
29. Research photographers online. Check out some of their work to get a sense of their quality and style.
30. Finalise Photographer.
Honeymoon:
31. Book accommodation and tickets for your honeymoon.
4-3 MONTHS TO GO
Planning:
32. Decide a theme for décor.
33. Research decorators.
34. Shortlist decorators and go through their offered décor ideas.
35. Discuss with the decorator your choices.
36. Book a suitable decorator
Makeup:
37. Book an appointment with a beautician and discuss with them if you need any hair or beauty treatment.
38. Book an appointment with a fitness trainer to assess whether you want to lose or gain weight for the wedding.
39. Join a fitness program, if needed.
40. Explore wedding functions hair and makeup styles.
Photography:
41. Discuss the outfit, location, and dates for the pre-wedding photoshoot. Keep an ideal date of 1 month prior to the wedding.
42. Also discuss with him the list of events for photography and other details.
Entertainment:
43. Book all entertainers for all functions.
Mehndi:
44. Browse through various Mehendi designs.
45. Research Mehendi artists.
46. Finalise and book your favourite Mehendi artist.
Bridal wear:
47. Check out outfits for weddings and other functions.
48. Start visiting bridal and groom’s wear stores.
49. Buy all your wedding outfits and accessories.
Gifting:
50. Research wedding favours.
Honeymoon:
51. Shop for honeymoon.
2 MONTHS TO GO
Entertainment:
52. Join a dance lesson or hire a choreographer, if needed.
Accommodation:
53. Book hotels to accommodate out-of-town guests.
Logistics:
54. Book transportation to and from venues.
Other vendors:
55. Book a priest.
Honeymoon:
56. Confirm honeymoon reservations.
Gifting:
57. Decide return gifts and favours for each of our wedding functions.
58. Shop for wedding favours.
Make Up:
59. Book a Makeup artist for guests.
60. Go for a trial hair and make-up session.
61. Book Makeup artist.
1 MONTH TO GO
Venue:
62. Finalise the menu and do a food tasting.
Planning:
63. Make a list of things required for ceremonies, puja, and rituals and scatter the list among dependable family members.
Makeup:
64. Start taking your pre-wedding beauty packages and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Photography:
65. Get your scheduled pre-wedding shoot done.
Cake:
66. Go through cake designs.
67. Visit bakers and book a cake for your wedding.
Wedding Trousseau:
68. Find Trousseau Packer and get trousseau packed.
Other vendors:
69. Decide on the bride and groom entry ideas.
Make Up:
70. Get your final haircut and colour.
Other vendors:
71. Book security personal
Gifting:
72. Pack gifts and favours.
Entertainment:
73. Discuss with DJ/band/musician and make a list of all songs to play at each event. Ex: Bride and groom entry, etc.
2 WEEKS TO GO
Planning:
74. Reconfirm the presence and timing of vendors for their respective events.
75. Go through the timeline of ceremonies with your family and close guests.
Bridal Wear:
76. Check the fit of your outfits in case there has been a size change.
77. Give outfits for steam ironing and get them ready.
Photography:
78. Discuss with your photographer, and hand him the list of important moments to capture.
Venue:
79. Finalise seating and decor arrangements.
Music:
80. Rehearse the dance.
Honeymoon:
81. Pack for the honeymoon
1 WEEK TO GO
Planning:
82. Pick up rentals, if any.
83. Put together a few meds to avoid distress and also if you have any allergies. Pack a bag of necessities like perfume, blotting tissues, etc.
Make Up:
84. Give yourself a relaxing spa and massage.
THE WEDDING DAY
85. Sleep for 9 hours the night before.
86. Eat a good breakfast! Allow yourself plenty of time to get ready.
87. Put a smile on your face.
88. Get married!!
POST – WEDDING
89. Review and send a thank you note to all your vendors
90. Make sure you source pictures of every moment from your friends and fam. Just in case the photographer missed something.
91. Give all your outfits for cleaning and keep them in a safe place.
92. Take a spa or massage to relax through post-wedding exhaustion.
93. Leave for the honeymoon!