Events & Traditions
Mehndi
Pronounced: men·dee
Event Details: Amy’s Mehndi event be hosted on Friday afternoon at 2:00 pm and we’ll be located in Meeting Room A at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.
All guests who are in town Friday are invited to stop by or join us for the duration of the event. Amy’s Mehndi design will take approximately 2-3 hours & there will be dancing, food, and music throughout.
PLUS We’ll have another artist on site for anyone who wishes to have Mehndi applied alongside the Bride.
What’s Mehndi? All you need to know is the deeper the color, the happier Ravi and Amy’s marriage will be.
Just kidding, the Mehndi event is a pre-ceremony celebration where the bride has mehndi (or henna) stain applied to her hands, arms, palms, and feet.
Haldi
Pronounced: hal·dee
Event Details: Our Haldi event will be hosted on Saturday morning after breakfast in Meeting Room A at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. Guests who are in town are encouraged to stop by to participate in the fun.
What’s Haldi? Typically hosted prior to the wedding, it’s at the the Haldi ceremony where close family and friends apply a thick turmeric paste onto the bride and groom. Why? Traditionally, Haldi is a form for cleansing prior to the wedding. The paste brightens the skin, it’s soothing, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties - all great things to have before the wedding itself. Plus, as a guest, it’s super fun to douse the bride and groom with the paste.
PROTIP: Feel free to use it under the eyes if you’ve had a few too many at the welcome party ;).
Sangeet
Pronounced: san·geet
Event Details: Our Sangeet event be hosted on Saturday evening at Spring Mill Manor. We’ll have a cocktail hour to start followed by a program of speeches and choreographed dancing performed by close family and friends. For food, both Indian and American options will be available to try.
Excited to know more? The Sangeet event ignites the wedding weekend with vibrant energy. For us, we’re most excited about having both of our families in the same room to meet for the first time.
A note for guests: Plan to dress to impress, loosen up, and bring a backup pair of shoes if you want to keep up with Ravi’s dad on the dance floor.
Baraat
Pronounced: br·aat
Event Details: The Baraat is fun and vibrant event that occurs immediately before the wedding ceremony. Our Baraat will begin at 10:30 am at the Abington Arts Center.
What happens at the Baraat? The Baraat is essentially a celebratory wedding procession that amplifies the excitement leading into the wedding day. Traditionally, the procession is meant to bring the groom to the ceremony, however, Amy is not one to be left out of the fun so our Baraat procession will include both the bride and the groom.
A note for guests: Plan to dance your way from the parking lot to the entrance of the ceremony. It’s all about the shoulders. Raise your arms and shuffle alongside the traveling celebration.
What To Wear
Not sure what to wear or want to try an Indian style? The best way to get started is to familiarize yourself with a few of the popular styles listed below. We suggest visiting a local store to try on these styles especially if this is your first time.
In person shopping allows you to get a sense of the fabric and sizing. Plus alterations are typically necessary and in most cases, included in the price of the piece.
The golden rule here is wear what YOU want to and what YOU feel great in, whether that’s Western or Indian.
Lehenga Choli
One of the most popular options for ladies attending an Indian wedding is a lehenga.
A lehenga is a two-piece outfit that includes a top (usually cropped and referred to as a blouse) with a full, high-waisted skirt. A lehenga is typically worn with a dupatta (or shawl) and there’s many ways to style the dupatta.
Although most lehengas will come with a matching cropped blouse, you can almost always chat with the store owner to discuss options for lowering the bottom of the blouse so that it meets of the skirt.
Saree
Wearing a saree is always going to be a beautiful & elegant choice. The outfit itself consists of three pieces, a petticoat (skirt), a cropped blouse, and a long strip of fabric approximately six to nine yards in length.
How to Wear: If you’re not familiar or haven’t tied a saree before, it’s best to find someone who knows or practice a couple of times using tutorials found online (it can be tricky). It’s all in the pleats!
Feel free to ask Amy about options for saree tying during the wedding weekend.
Kurta Pajamas
A Kurta, is of the most popular styles for men. When purchasing a Kurta, you will select the top and and matching bottoms which will come with a draw string to tighten at the waist.
You may also opt for a plain Kurta and then layer a more colorful vest, or Bandi, on top.
There’s one last piece which is optional. You can wear a stole, or chuni, (similar to a scarf). Stoles are typically worn around the neck for the wedding.
Tips & Alterations
You will almost always need alterations, so it’s a good idea to shop in advance (4-6 weeks) of the event(s) you’re planning to attend. It’s okay if the outfit you love doesn’t fit exactly how you want it to at time of trying it on.
Getting your measurements taken and having alterations done to your piece will usually happen at the shop you purchase your outfit from. If not, ask the shop about who they recommend locally.
One last recommendation: Amy has made great friends with Riya Collective, an online marketplace, focused on connecting customers with Indian Designers and making the shopping experience a whole lot easier.
They offer pieces for purchase as is or customized to your preference including color and size. You can even book a virtual appointment with them to ask all of your questions and look at pieces up close.