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Pre wedding ceremonies

Every Indian wedding has a series of little ceremonies that precede it. The number of ceremonies would depend on the community and family preferences.

But these ceremonies need a lot of attention too. Here is a small checklist of the details that need to be addressed.

Venue Marriages are a grand occasion and a once in a life time event, thus, it is very important to choose an appropriate venue for your wedding.

If you choose an outdoor wedding in an open ground keep note of the season. Monsoons are unpredictable in India. Any month close to the monsoon season, rains can be your guest for the wedding.

If you choose an indoor wedding, find out about the capacity of the place. Keep note that the venue is spacious enough too accommodate your guests. Too much crowd will ruin the scene of the marriage and create a chaos.

The hall should be centrally air-conditioned so that the cooling is not affected with an increase in the crowd.

Make sure that the bride and the bridegroom have individual rooms to dress up.

If you wish to marry in your own house or a farm house, keep a note of suitable electricity connections and water supply. There must be enough room from the guests to relax. The lawn grass should be well done in advance for the wedding day. Make sure your guest get enough parking spaces.

If you are selecting a venue which is on the outskirts of the city, then make arrangements for generators, halogen lights, to bright up your wedding.

What ever is your choice for the wedding venue; you must book it advance and inform your guests about it. Book a wedding venue at least six months in advance.

Date and Time
Fix the dates with appropriate mahurats in advance before starting any other preparation of the marriage. Fix the dates early on so that you can let the invitees know where and when they're expected to share the festivities with you. Indian marriage proceeds for at least 3-5 days with different ceremonies. Fix the dates for the same and inform your expected guests. Mahurat is the auspicious time fixed for the occasion. The timing is crucial. Check with your priests for an auspicious time

Groom's clothes
An Indian groom has a variety to choose from for his wedding look. Whether an Indian traditional look with a jodhpuri , or a sherwani and a traditional turban on the head or a more modern look with a three piece suit for the evening reception or a cocktail party. A huge variety of designer outlets are available at the malls in all the metros in India. You can also book your wedding and other ceremony outfits online. If you wish to tailor make your garments, start shopping for the material atleast three months in advance. Give it for stitching so that your outfit is in your hands one month in advance. Make sure you choose the color of your outfit keeping in mind the colour of the brides outfit. You want to look made for each other.

Bride's attire
A bride's attire is always more complicated than the others. Extra care should be paid to it. You must take only those close to you for shopping your wedding outfit, lehenga or saree, who will give you the appropriate advice in choosing your dress. Colour is a very important aspect while choosing your wedding attire. Your entire look is dependant on the colour, your makeup, jewellery, and most important the photographs. There are a range of designers in India today willing to work on the given budget.

Rituals
Indian marriages are a collage of small ceremonial rituals like the Peethi ritual, the Mehendi, the chura ceremony, which also requires a lot of attention. One has to first make a list of rituals required and ask some elderly community person or family member to help list down the things that need to be shopped for the same.

Catering
Decide whether meal should be a part of all the functions. Most Indian ceremonies include the feeding of the guests. You can have a couple of small ceremonies together in a day and invite your guest for the whole day’s meal (it becomes cost effective).

Plan according to your budget. You can also provide refreshments and snacks in small ceremonies.

While choosing a Caterer, keep in mind that some extra meal is prepared on the wedding day. There must not be shortage of any food item.

Make sure he provides with decorative stuff for the stalls and paper napkins along with the food. Taste the food before finalizing the contract with the caterer.

Transport
Indian families share a great bond amongst them and hence in most cultures is the responsibility of the host to commute the guests to the venue on the wedding day.

If your venue is outside the city then provide two 50 seater private buses for friends and relative that keeps rotating during the whole day.

Make a list of the number of people you are responsible for.
Arrange for transportation for out of town guest.

Arrange transportation for yourself from the wedding reception to the wedding night location.

Decorations
Can you, along with some relative’s help, handle the decorations on your own? Or would you be using professional help? If you choose to take professional help, then make sure you see their work and then decide upon them. Keep more than three options for your choice. Try choosing a colour scheme for the wedding day. A theme idea would work great if it fits your budget.

If you plan to do it yourself with family help, first talk to them for their help and then start collecting ideas - collect bits from magazines that you like. List all the things/ items utilized for decoration and go shopping for the same. Start decorating the venue a day before the wedding.

Book a photographer
Book a photographer and a video person. Usually both are from the same team. It is essential that you do not compromise on a photographer, because these are the only memories of the most beautiful moments of your life. There are special portraits that the photographer can provide you to encapsulate the wonderful wedding day.

Most important of all don't forget to enjoy yourself.

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