Please let us know your plans by April 30th so that we can arrange all necessary accommodations. We recommend booking airfare and hotels early as prices often increase over time. Please see our hotel block information for possible lodging options.
We're glad you asked! Yes, we are working with a company to live stream the event and we will share the link with everyone shortly before the wedding weekend. Thank you so much for your love and support, from near and far, as we start this new chapter together!
Yes, your kids are more than welcome! Please let us know if we missed your children in the invite so we can account for them.
No, you are more than welcome to wear Western clothes. This is a celebration, and we don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable. However, you should feel encouraged to wear traditional Indian or Indo-Western clothes. Nobody is going to be offended and Nisha's family will be super excited to see you participating in the rich culture of India! Traditional Indian, Indo-Western, and formal Western attire is acceptable at all events. Here are some things to know and attire guidelines for each event: At the Sangeet there will be performances and a lot of dancing. Wear something colorful that you feel comfortable dancing in. Shoes or no shoes, as you choose. The wedding ceremony will begin with a baraat, which everyone is allowed/encouraged to participate in. The baraat with all of its dancing will be outside in the mild LA weather. The rest of the ceremony is indoors and should be very comfortable. Wear something colorful and vibrant. One thing to note is that red is often reserved for the bride at an Indian wedding, just like white is at a Western wedding. The reception will be a formal event with dinner and dancing. Wear something elegant that gives you room to move and dance.
We recommend either buying clothes that are already fitted or buying at least two months in advance to allow for custom tailoring and shipping from India. Here are some places to check out for your lehengas, saris/sarees, salwar kameez, sherwanis, and kurtas: Taj Fashion in NW Austin (Please call ahead) Banaras Indian Boutique in Round Rock, TX Your local Indian clothing store Etsy.com UtsavFashion.com Mirraw.com KalkiFashion.com The wedding will consist of several days of ceremonies and festivities. While people often have a separate outfit per event, don't feel pressured to buy more clothes than you're comfortable with and can afford.
Food is an integral part of Indian culture, so there are going to be mountains of food and lots of different dishes. Not everything is going to be Indian, but all of it will be vegetarian. Everything will be served buffet style, and there will be vegan, gluten-free, and Jain options for religious reasons and allergies/insensitivities. Please let us know of any additional dietary restrictions.
Long Beach (LGB) is the closest airport, however, it comes with some challenges due to its size and flight availability. We've had good experiences with Southwest and Delta flying into that airport from Texas. While LAX is a bit farther away, it's a solid choice from a budgetary and flight option perspective. If you're looking to rent a car, both of those airports have rental companies nearby.
The Sangeet, wedding, and reception will all be at the same venue, R Banquet. There should be ample parking, but don't hesitate to Lyft if you plan to drink. We will provide Lyft codes ahead of time to help you get there and back.
The wedding will begin with a baraat, the groom's celebratory procession with music and dancing. It will progress across the venue parking lot to the entry, where the groom will be welcomed by the bride's family. While the baraat is usually attended by the groom's family and friends, the bride's side is more than welcome to join in on the fun. After all, we're all going to the same place! From the baraat we'll all grab refreshments and a program before heading indoors for the wedding ceremony. There won't be a dedicated bride or groom side, so you can take a seat anywhere. The ceremony will last about an hour and take place under a sacred structure called a mandap (MUHN-dup). A Hindu priest will officiate the ceremony, directing the bride, groom, and close relatives in the various rituals. While much of the ceremony will be in Sanskrit, the priest will provide explanations in English throughout. There will be Gujarati customs as Nisha's family is from the state of Gujarat in India. One such custom is that anyone going in the mandap, a sacred area, will need to remove their shoes. This leads to another fun custom called Joota Chupai where the young children in the bride's family sneak around in the ceremony trying to steal the groom's shoes. He can't leave without them, so they can ransom them back to him if they manage to get them. Lunch will be served after the ceremony, though the family will hang back for pictures at the mandap.
A Sangeet is a musical event to celebrate the upcoming union of the couple and their families. There will be dinner, drinks, performances, and lots of dancing. Our Sangeet will also feature a garba, which is a traditional Gujarati dance similar to line dancing or square dancing. There will be a short lesson at the event, but don't hesitate to look it up on YouTube for early lessons. The Sangeet has a rich history in Indian weddings, and you should look it up online for a much more thorough answer.
The baraat is the groom's procession to the wedding ceremony, where he traditionally rides on a horse, elephant, or fancy car. Sorry to disappoint, but there won't be a live elephant. We've chosen another option.
They're stealing the groom's shoes. Or trying to! This is a custom called Joota Chupai where the young children in the bride's family try to steal the groom's shoes. If successful, the children hope to ransom the shoes back to the groom since he can't leave the wedding without them. The groom's family will try to hide the shoes first and prevent their theft. This fun tradition shows that the families accept each other and are ready to share a lifetime of laughter. It's also a fun way to keep the kids busy.
This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our new lives together and your presence is the best gift of all. As we are already established in life, we kindly request no boxed gifts. If you'd like to bless us with a gift, there is both a newlywed fund and a donation recipient on the Registry section of this site. There will also be a box for cards and/or monetary gifts at the wedding.
These are called bindis. While the origin of the bindi is religious, these days it's mostly a fun cosmetic accessory for women. Feel free to wear one to match your outfit if you want. As with wearing Indian clothes, Nisha's family will appreciate you celebrating Indian culture. There will be some available at the Sangeet and reception for your enjoyment and accessorization!
Indian weddings are so full of beautiful symbolism and tradition that they don't fit into a single event or even a single day. There are cultural and/or religious ceremonies to prepare the bride and groom, prayers for purification, blessings for the couple, gifts, vows, days of parties, and even a parade. This extended experience highlights the permanent connection between families and the lifetime commitment the couple is making. An astute observer will find many similarities in presentation and symbolism with Western Christian weddings. The vows cover all of the common topics but are often longer and more traditional. The prayers also cover the same ground but are to different gods. There is an amazing wealth of new culture and symbolism to experience. We encourage you to keep an open mind and celebrate the cultures and families that are being brought together. Attending or taking part in an Indian or Hindu wedding does not require being Indian or a conversion to Hinduism for the bride, groom, or guests. If you're a devout Christian and feeling uncomfortable, you should feel safe and secure in your salvation and know that your prayers will always go to your God. We encourage you to bless us and pray for our marital bliss and success in whatever way you are comfortable with.