#PREM25. In Hindi, prem means love :) #EmilyionTimesYesPratik #EmilysPratikallyPerfect

To incorporate both aspects of our culture, we have taken the best of each and combined them into 3 distinct days with different events on both. Friday is the Christian wedding, Saturday is broken into 2 Indian pre-marital ceremonies, and Sunday is the Hindu wedding.

In Hinduism, marriage joins two individuals or embodied, eternal souls for the purpose of jointly pursuing the purushartha or four aims of life: dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. Marriage is considered a spiritual partnership which unites the minds, bodies, and souls of the partners in this and future lives, and builds sacred bonds between their two families. The ceremony consists of a series of rituals and ceremonies to promote righteous living and the sharing of values such as selfless love, kindness and compassion, honesty and fidelity, and mutual respect. The rituals are originally in Sanskrit, the mother of all Indian languages. Wedding rituals embrace the five elements of nature: fire, earth, water, air and ether, and include invocations to the Divine, followed by vows. It is conducted in the presence of a sacred fire. There are significant items used in Hindu wedding ceremonies that hold particular symbolism: Fire: Dispels the darkness of ignorance Water: Nourishes life Earth: Dispels inauspiciousness (rice as symbolic of earth and bounty) Coconut: Symbolizes fertility Sindhur: Symbolizes auspiciousness.

The Haldi ceremony is a significant pre-wedding event and ritual in almost every Indian regional wedding. It is celebrated on the wedding day or one day prior to the wedding day and is usually a close-knitted event. The closest family, relatives and friends come together on this auspicious occasion to apply turmeric paste (haldi) on the bride and groom's face and body. Some families also smear chandan (sandalwood powder) with rose water on the bride's face and hands and shower flowers on the couples. The occasion is celebrated with dhol (drum beats), Bollywood songs, and endless dancing. The color of turmeric is identified in Indian culture as a color of prosperity. In primitive India, turmeric was identified as an antiseptic solution from our grandma's kitchen and was often applied for radiant and blemish-free skin.

You get to put turmeric paste on the bride and groom's exposed faces, arms, and legs. It often will resemble like a holi ceremony when it is done.

-Wear anything as long as it has yellow in it. The more yellow you wear, the more it resembles the ceremony. https://www.theknot.com/content/haldi-ceremony (see for a picture of a couple performing this ceremony)

The Haldi ceremony will be an intimate ceremony with family and a few close friends. As much as we love to have everyone together, Pratik and I want to keep this ceremony small and tight knit according to tradition. However, the mehndi that evening will be the bigger, more colorful event with fabulous food.

Mehndi or mehendi or henna—is an ancient form of body art, originating in India and across South Asia and the Middle East. A mehndi party is a pre-wedding celebration in Hindu and Sikh culture; during this event, the bride has a red-orange mehndi stain applied to her palms, the back of her hands, and her feet. Tradition says the deeper the color of the bride's mehndi, the happier the couple's marriage will be. Designs unique to each bride symbolize various blessings, luck, joy, and love, may include the couple's faces, and often incorporate the bride's partner's name hidden among the imagery. All guests can receive henna at a mehndi party. You don't need to have a design in mind—the artist will come up with something for you. Men are equally allowed to apply henna. However, most choose to keep it simple with one or two lines, and not to be as detailed as the women. Henna allergies are rare. The stain is made from the leaves of the Lawsonia inermis plant, which are dried and ground into powder. This powder is turned into a paste using water and essential oil. If a reaction does occur, immediately wash your hands and apply something cooling, like ice or aloe vera gel.

You let the artist place henna on your palms or hands. If you wish to observe the art, feel free to watch. We will eat, dance, and enjoy the beautiful designs produced.

Short sleeves will make it easier for the mehndi artist to apply your design, but the only real fashion guideline for a mehndi party is to leave your earth-toned neutrals at home. Wear colorful clothing and some form of Indian traditional attire. Avoid wearing all-white, all-black, or all-red. We are highly encouraging ethnic attire for this ceremony. (website with more information about Indian attire: https://www.saree.com/blog/what-to-wear-for-an-indian-wedding-as-a-guest/)

We encourage you to try wearing traditional Indian attire or semi-formal/cocktail wear. Emily and Pratik are happy to recommend several stores within the DFW area for in-person shopping. Amazon and Etsy have multiple options for sarees/lehengas/Indian attire.

Please don't let that stop you from coming to any of the events. The overall ambience of the clothes is BRIGHT colors.

Mayas Desi Boutique (Euless, TX), Aavaran Boutique (Euless, TX), Asia Boutique and Saree Center (Irving, TX), Kyanat's Designer Boutique (Arlington, TX), Silk Threads (Carrollton, TX), Bombay Sari Palace (Richardson, TX).

Yes! If you look under the travel section, we have listed the closest hotels.

From Fort Worth: Take US Hwy 287 southeast through Mansfield and Midlothian. Get on I-35E in Waxahachie. Travel south on I-35E, take exit 391 and turn left. Go east to Forreston, then south on US Hwy 77. Turn right on Chambers Drive, left on I-35E Frontage Road, immediately right onto Connecting Road, then right again. Continue onto W. Chambers Drive. Shadow R Ranch/Hera’s Haven will be on your right.

From Dallas: Take I-35E south to Ellis County, past Waxahachie. Take exit 391 and turn left. Go east to Forreston, then south on US Hwy 77. Turn right on Chambers Drive, left on I-35E Frontage Road, immediately right onto Connecting Road, then right again. Continue onto W. Chambers Drive. Shadow R Ranch/Hera’s Haven will be on your right.

No alcohol will be served. This is a "dry" wedding so please do not try to bring in any alcohol. We will be having mocktails though :)

NO! This wedding weekend is a no smoking or vaping zone. Thanks for being understanding in advance.

All food will be vegetarian only. There may be some options for gluten free on request.

Due to limited space, we are only able to accommodate those guests formally invited on your wedding invitation. You will also know if you have a plus one when you type your name in TheKnot.com under the RSVP section.

Garden Party Formal is a dress code that combines elements of formal attire with a relaxed, outdoor vibe. Think of it as a blend of elegance and comfort. It's about looking polished and put-together, but in a way that's suitable for an outdoor setting. For women, this could mean a chic midi dress in a floral print. For men, a light-colored suit or blazer could be the ticket. The key is to choose outfits that are stylish yet practical. After all, you'll be navigating lawns and potentially uneven terrain. So, while it's a step down from black tie, it's definitely a step up from casual. See reference website for more information: https://www.bjonesphotos.com/blog/wedding-guest-dress-code-explained-because-wtf-is-garden-party-formal-bmw2w