Indian weddings are known for extravagance, celebrating cultural traditions and rituals over a few days. If you’re planning an Indian wedding in Houston, you may wonder where to begin. Do you hire an Indian wedding planner or search for an Indian wedding DJ?
The best way to start your planning journey is through authenticity. Understanding your cultural roots can help you immerse your guests in a rich experience.
Think of your traditions as a home full of familiar smells, sounds, and sights. As you leave your home and enter a new chapter with your fiancé(e), you’ll want to incorporate these elements because they’re a big part of who you are.
With this in mind, your wedding is the perfect place to include your culture through pre-wedding activities, multiple ceremonies, and more.
As you research, let our expert entertainment professionals at DJ Franco Events support you. Known for our 5-star services, we offer coordination, entertainment, videography, and unique enhancements to ensure your Indian wedding is out of this world.
Ready to gain clarity on your way to the altar? Use this guide to help you plan an unforgettable Indian wedding!
Note: Wedding festivities may vary depending on the region. As you organize your plans, gain insight from family and friends.
Houston Wedding Planning Guide: Key Elements of Indian Weddings
If you have a long list of questions, allow us to answer common questions newly engaged couples have when planning for their big day. This section will cover:
- Wedding attire for Indian wedding events
- The average length of celebrations
- General wedding costs
- Popular wedding traditions
What Do You Wear at an Indian Wedding?
It’s common for grooms to wear a sherwani or bandh gala with colors that pair well with the bride’s outfits. A sherwani is a button-down jacket that hangs over a collarless shirt and stops at the knee. A bandh gala is a traditional formal suit with fitted pants. In addition, grooms may wear a safa or a turban at the ceremony.
Brides typically wear a lehenga, one for the ceremony and another for the reception. In contrast to a white dress, Indian brides dress in vibrant colors, such as red, blue, green, and gold. The color of the lehenga will change from the ceremony to the reception.
As for guests, there are many formal options, from bright colors and conservative wear to traditional Indian attire. The dress code depends on several factors, such as the style of the family’s region. When in doubt, consult the couple.
How Long Are Indian Weddings?
Indian weddings are a multi-day event, ranging from three to five days.
Here’s a glimpse of a three-day timeline:
- Day 1: The Ganesh Puja. During this event, a priest will lead the Ganesh Puja, a ceremony at home. The couple, the wedding party, and relatives are included in this ceremony.
- Day 2: Grah Shanti. Also known as the Mameru ceremony, Grah Shanti is a pre-wedding ritual that welcomes happiness and peace into the couple’s lives as they begin their next chapter together.
- Day 3: Wedding celebration and reception. The wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception occur on the final day.
Note: Every couple’s celebration is unique and will look different. If you want to clarify your wedding timeline, reach out to your Indian wedding planner.
How Much Does an Indian Wedding Cost, and Who Pays for It?
According to Fash, the average cost of an Indian wedding depends on the wedding type and guest count. For example, a simple celebration may range from $120,000 to $150,000 for 300 attendees, whereas a luxury event may cost around $225,000 to $300,000.
Traditionally, the bride’s family covers all of the expenses, like the venue, food, and clothing. Many modern couples share the costs with their families, and parents generally invest 64% into the wedding budget.
Common Indian Wedding Traditions
Traditions play a significant role in Indian celebrations. Check out these popular traditions to consider for your big day!
- Determine the Muhurat: Newly engaged couples consult a pandit or a Hindu priest to help determine the date and time of their wedding. Using horoscopes to inform the date is believed to affect the couple’s future.
- Henna and the Mehndi Party: The Mehndi party occurs the evening before the main celebration. Here, the bride and her loved ones get henna applied to their hands and feet by a professional artist.
- Puja or Path: These are ceremonial prayer offerings that can occur at home or during a religious ritual.
- Turmeric: Turmeric paste is placed on the couple during the Haldi ceremony for good luck.
- Haldi Ceremony: A pre-wedding event where guests pour turmeric, rose water, and sandalwood powder on the bride and groom.
- Agni, the Sacred Fire: Agni represents transformation, love, and blessings. In the Hindu culture, Agni Puja signifies the beginning of the wedding festivities.
- Baraat: Also known as Ghodi in Punjabi celebrations, a baraat is a parade that escorts the groom to the wedding venue. In many cases, the groom rides on a white horse.
- Tie the Mangalsutra: A mangalsutra is a necklace tied around the bride’s neck to symbolize the commitment and bond of the married couple. This tradition may vary depending on the culture. For instance, in some traditions, the knot is tied with the groom’s scarf and the bride’s sari.
- Pheras: A ceremony that takes place beneath a wedding mandap, a four-pillar structure commonly used in Indian weddings. The pillars symbolize the four elements of a successful marriage: duty, prosperity, love, and spirituality.
- Saptapadi: The first seven steps of a married couple.
7 Tips for Planning an Indian Wedding
Wedding planning can take six months to a year or more. If you recently got engaged, keep reading to learn what to do next.
Determine How Many Wedding Events To Host
Indian weddings have quite a few festivities, but that doesn’t mean you have to include them all. Figure out which events you want to include, such as the Mehndi party, the Haldi ceremony, or other traditions.
Make a Guest List and Finalize It
Do you have a general idea of who you want to invite? Set aside time to write everyone down, from your inner circle to distant relatives and colleagues. You can use the estimated headcount to guide you during your wedding venue search.
Note: Consider your first guest list a rough draft. Use it as a starting point and update it later.
Select Your Wedding Date
Schedule a consultation with a Hindu priest to help clarify your celebration’s date and time.
Reserve a Local Wedding Venue
After touring your favorite event spaces, book your top choice. Wedding venues are often first come, first serve, so check the venue’s availability before sending your invitations.
Work With an Indian Wedding Planner or Day-of Coordinator
An Indian wedding can be a handful, especially with multiple festivities. Consider hiring an Indian wedding planner or day-of coordinator to help you stay on track with the preparation and main events.
Establish a Planning Timeline and Follow It
An organized approach, with a planning checklist and deadlines, can make all the difference in having a stress-free experience. If you have a wedding planner, they can take the reins and check in regularly.
Ready to Make Memories at Your Houston Indian Wedding?
Your wedding deserves to be the highlight of your year. You can achieve this by weaving your culture into every aspect of your event, from specialized attire and popular traditions to intentional color palettes, pre-wedding activities, and meaningful ceremonies.
Your multi-day celebration will become a home to beautiful stories you can pass onto the next generation. If you need help incorporating your roots while making your celebration feel like a reflection of you and your partner, contact DJ Franco Events today!
About the Author: Gianfranco Hidalgo
