Sangeet – This ceremony is observed during the evening a day or two prior to the wedding. Both the bride’s and the groom’s family come together at a common venue and perform song and dance routines, especially traditional Dandiya, Garba and Bhangra dances. Please try not to wear uncomfortable shoes to this event - we want to dance with you :)

We prefer Indian attire for the Sangeet. If you do not have an Indian outfit, feel free to wear what you like, as long as it's a little formal and you can dance in it :)

Baraat - The wedding procession that starts from the groom's house and ends at the bride's. However, since the wedding is in Mexico, we will start by the beach and end at the entrance of the wedding venue. The groom will arrive along with his relatives and friends, who will walk with him while dancing to live music and a band. The bride's mother and sister will then welcome the groom's family at the entrance.

An Indian wedding ceremony is a festive occasion, so colorful outfits are welcome! A Sangeet is also a colorful event, so colorful Indian outfits are preferred. The wedding is more formal and the couple will be wearing heavier Indian outfits. Just pick something you love and can dance in! If you're looking for a more detailed answer, just ask the bride - she loves talking about clothes!

Women: Sari, Lehenga or Chanyacholi, Anarkali are some of the things that are worn to Indian weddings. Just be aware that a sari is just one long strip of fabric, so unless you are investing time to learn how to drape, you may want to stick with one of the other options. Men: Sherwani or a Kurta

Mehndi is a temporary natural dye used as an adornment by women, and is often associated with special celebrations such as weddings, Diwali, etc. It will be applied on the bride's hands and feet a day or two before the wedding with intricate patterns and the groom's name/initials, which will be hidden somewhere. He will then have to find it (shhhh - if any of you find it before he does, don't tell him). We will have a mehndi station at the Sangeet Night for anyone who wants to apply it!

The ceremony will take place under a canopy-like structure called a mandap. A Hindu priest will officiate the ceremony and numerous relatives will perform specific roles under his guidance. The bride and groom will be seated in front of the priest for most of the ceremony. The priest will recite verses in Sanskrit, but will also provide English explanations of the rituals. The ceremony will involve mostly Hindu customs. More detailed information will be available in our wedding program.

There are a lot of fun traditions surrounding Indian weddings. One is for the bride's sisters (or cousins) to steal the groom's shoes as he takes them off before entering the mandap. The groom must pay the bride's sisters in order to get them back because he is supposed to leave the mandap with the same shoes he came in. Another game is played when the bride and groom race to their seats after circling the fire sacrifice. The first one to sit down wins the game and also is said to have the upper hand in the household.

There will be vegetarian and non-vegetarian food at all of the wedding events. We have decided this because several guests follow strict vegetarian diets - no meat or poultry. The basis for a vegetarian diet is a religious belief that treats all living things with respect. (Don't worry - we've tried the food, and it's quite tasty!) Also, we are working with our caterer to specify if any dishes contain allergens like nuts, so please don't worry - you'll know what's in the food before you take it.

Facebook marketplace is a great place to look for sustainable clothes! Amazon and even retailers like Asos, Shein and Nordstorm all carry some Indian clothes. Websites to check out are: •LUKH: Rent your Indofusion wedding outfit •Desi Is Me: Find your fun or flirty bridesmaids outfits •MOR Collections: Purchase a mix and match outfit that you can wear again with other pieces •Harleen Kaur: Find a variety of fun, bold options from a Punjabi American designer •Amazon: Find a variety of options from third party sellers •Ethnovogue: Traditional outfits with a modern twist with made to fit options •House of Indya: Ethno-fusion line that toes the line between Ethnic and Western designs •Kalki Fashion: House of designer and couture brands •Manyavar Mohey: Celebration wear for men with options for women as well •Saffron Lane Co: Indo Western kurtas for men •Utsav Fashion: One stop shop for with a large variety of authentic and trendy ethnic fashion