Attending an Indian wedding feels like stepping into a fairytale.
The ceremonies are adorned with flowers, the people are glittering in their colorful dresses and gold bangles, the music is upbeat and infectious, and the groom literally rides in on a white horse—it’s genuinely a unique and enchanting experience.
So if you’ve never attended an Indian wedding before and are lucky enough to get invited to one, you are in for a lot of fun!
My invitation came three years ago when our friend Sakshi gathered a few of us in a group call saying, “Hey guys, I have news!”—“Don’t tell us you’re getting married”, one of us joked—and then, without any prior warning whatsoever (we had no idea she was seeing anyone), she told us she was getting married the following year! Now, Sakshi and her husband live in Bangkok, but we still reminisce about the events from her wedding like they happened just yesterday.
I’ll be sharing my experiences as a wedding guest, including what to expect at an Indian wedding—the rituals and ceremonies that I saw, what people wore, the food that was served, the size of the guest list, and more!
Indian Wedding Rituals, Ceremonies, and Events
Months before, we asked Sakshi to send us her wedding itinerary—
The entire wedding lasted two days! So, let me break down each event below (you can click on each event title to expand the details):
Day 1: Pre-wedding Events
Haldi is a pre-wedding event that usually takes place a day before the actual wedding ceremony. The bride and groom’s closest family members and friends come together to smear turmeric paste (haldi) to the couple’s faces, while also showering them with a tremendous amount of flower petals. The event is celebrated with lively Bollywood songs and a lot of dancing!
This ceremony is said to symbolize the joyful beginning of the couple’s new life together.
Right after the Haldi ceremony, we headed to another room where the Mehendi function took place. Mehendi, also known as henna, brings together the female guests to apply intricate henna patterns on both their hands and feet. The event is regarded as a sign of ‘suhaag,’ which symbolizes a happy married life, and represents vibrance, fertility, and the attraction of positivity.
Although Mehendi is primarily for females, male guests are still welcome to join. Our guy friend wanted to experience getting Henna applied, and they allowed him to (although, we did get a few giggles from the surrounding guests and the person applying the henna 😛)!
The Sangeet ceremony is less of a traditional ceremony and more of a fun celebration for the families of the bride and groom. It’s an opportunity for them to unite in a more relaxed environment.
A Sangeet is similar to a reception with lots of singing, dancing, and food. Its focus is to celebrate the couple and their families’ union through choreographed dance performances. We also saw Sakshi, the beautiful bride, surprise everyone with a gorgeous dance number alongside her husband! By the end of the night, the entire floor became a dance floor, and we all joined in on the fun 🙂
Day 2: Ceremony & Reception
The next morning, we watched as the groom was led to the wedding venue riding a white horse, accompanied by family members and friends. This is a fun event in which the groom’s family celebrates before the ceremony. There was a lot of shouting from the groom’s side and drums playing to set the mood! The male guests were given traditional necklaces, which was a fun touch.
Once we were inside, the bride was escorted by her family to the stage where the ceremony took place. Everything was done in Hindi, so I had to ask my Nepali friend to translate the ceremony. I realized that Indian weddings are not just a union between two people but a union between their families. During the ceremony, the bride’s father is asked if he is willing to give away his daughter to the groom, and vice versa. There is also a ritual in which the bride and groom walk around in a circle, with each round signifying something different: prosperity, love, spiritual liberation, and duty.
The very last event on the itinerary is the reception. It’s essentially a big party to wrap up the two-day celebration. There was plenty of music, dancing, and many more guests! Sakshi mentioned that they invited people who weren’t at the main ceremonies so they could also be part of the wedding. It was also the event with the most food! There were literally lines of food stalls in front of the venue that had been hired to serve the guests. It was a great way to wrap up the celebration!
Unique Jaipur Wedding Elements
No two Indian weddings are the same. It can change depending on the bride and groom’s religion, the wedding’s location, the couple’s family origin, and the amount of guests.
Our friend’s wedding in Jaipur had its own unique traditions that set it apart from other Indian weddings. For instance, the groom’s arrival at the venue on a white horse, also known as the “Barat” ceremony, reflects the city’s heritage. The accessories worn by the bride were Rajasthani jewelry designs that symbolized local traditions. And the wedding was beautifully decorated with Jaipur-styled decor, like intricate floral arrangements, traditional Rajasthani motifs, and colorful drapes!
What to Wear to an Indian Wedding?
Color is an important factor to consider when choosing what to wear for an Indian wedding. Some events will have their own color code so you may want to check with the wedding coordinator about the different events and ceremonies that will be held.
To match the vibrant and colorful atmosphere of the Haldi ceremony, guests were encouraged to wear yellow or pink.
For both the Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies, I opted for a simple, long yellow dress, while my friend chose a pink kurta, and our guy friend looked sharp in a beige suit.
For the Sangeet, we were free to wear anything comfortable for dancing. We girls wore sarees, and our male friend wore a suit.
For the wedding ceremony in the morning, we opted for comfortable kurtas. And finally, for the reception, we kept it casual with simple dresses.
If you don’t have a saree, don’t worry about it! You can wear the prettiest clothes you have. Since you’re foreign, people will likely pay attention to your appearance, but they will accept any clothes you wear. If you’re a guy, wearing a suit throughout all the events and ceremonies, just like our guy friend, is also perfectly acceptable!
How Long Do Indian Weddings Take?
Indian weddings are quite elaborate and can last several days. A traditional Indian wedding can span from two to five days, with different rituals and ceremonies taking place each day.
The wedding we attended lasted two days, with pre-wedding ceremonies like Mehendi and Sangeet on the first day, and the actual wedding ceremony and post-wedding events like the reception on the second day.
How Many Guests Are Usually Invited to an Indian Wedding?
The number of people invited to an Indian wedding can range from 200 to 1,000 or more, depending on the family and budget. In some cases, especially for larger or traditional weddings, there can be over 2,000 guests. Even smaller Indian weddings may have at least 100 to 200 people.
The large number of people is due to the importance of family and community in Indian culture, where extended family, friends, and even acquaintances are often included in the celebrations.
What Food Do They Serve at Indian Weddings?
Most Indian weddings will serve a buffet-style meal since the number of guests is generally quite large. Each event will have a different menu set, so you’ll have plenty to try!
Our friend’s wedding was a Jain wedding, so the food served was all vegetarian dishes. Some food you might find can include:
- Dal Baati Churma: Rajasthani dish made of wheat balls (baati), lentil (dal), and a sweet crumble (churma).
- Gatte ki Sabzi: Curry made with flour dumplings in a spiced yogurt sauce.
- Ker Sangri: A spicy dish made from desert beans and berries.
- Pyaz Kachori: A deep-fried pastry with spicy onion filling.
- Rajasthani sweets: Desserts like Ghevar, Mawa Kachori, and Balushahi.
You’ll also find Indian breads (like chapati and naan) and some rice dishes.
At our friend’s wedding, there was a long line of food stalls outside the venue. There was honestly so much food that I don’t think I was able to have a taste of everything, but my favorite stall, no doubt, was the pani puri stall!
What Is a Typical Indian Wedding Venue?
An Indian wedding venue is usually large and designed to accommodate big gatherings.
The venues can look different depending on the region, budget, and personal preferences of the families. Our friend’s wedding was held in an indoor banquet hall with colorful drapes and floral decorations. We were told that the venue was also religious which is why the wedding had to be alcohol-free.
Are Indian Weddings Typically Arranged Marriages?
In India, arranged marriages are still common, but they’re not always the traditional, purely family-driven setups that some might think. Couples in arranged marriages already know each other through work, social circles, or mutual connections.
For example, our friend’s marriage was arranged, but it wasn’t the typical scenario you might imagine. They already met each other through work and their families were connected through their boss. It wasn’t a forced match, they were able to get to know each other before deciding to marry. This approach blends the benefits of family involvement with personal choice, making the process more flexible for the two people marrying.
