indian wedding couples

Indian weddings are easily among the most colourful, elaborate and lively in the world. Unlike the West, where it is the bride and the groom that are the prominent characters, in an India wedding, it is the immediate and extended families on both sides that are the star players! A wedding is a social affair, and heralds the coming together of not just the couple but of their families as well. So, it should come as no surprise that a majority of the youth comply with their family's wishes even today and go in for arranged marriages.

A typical Indian wedding comprises of three broad segments - the pre-wedding ceremonies (which are almost as elaborate as the actual wedding itself), the wedding and some post-wedding rituals.India is a vast and diverse country, with the North, South, East and West each having its own distinctive languages, cuisine, customs and traditions and wedding rituals.

North Indian marriages

A traditional North Indian wedding takes place at the brides' home. North Indian marriages are characterized by several pre-wedding and post-wedding ceremonies. The most important pre-wedding ritual is that of the Mangni or Sagai (engagement ceremony). The boy and the girl exchange rings in the presence of a religious priest and family and close friends.

On the actual day of the wedding, the boy's family sets off for the girls' house in the evening amidst a lot of cheering, dancing and general merriment. The groom mounts a brightly adorned horse, usually with the youngest boy of the family sitting up front with him. He is preceded by a crowd of his male and female relatives, and friends, dressed in all their finery and accompanied by a musical band. His face is covered with a curtain of flowers (the sehra which is tied by his sister). The noisy, procession, with the band belting out the tunes of the latest Bollywood chartbusters, makes its leisurely way past residential houses, busy streets before finally arriving at the girl's house.

The groom and his family are warmly received by the girl's family, new members greet each other by exchanging garlands of flowers.

Finally, the groom and the bride, seated on a dais, get up to exchange garlands in the Jaimala ceremony - one of the most important of North Indian wedding traditions -amidst a lot of good-natured cheering.

The next part is the most symbolic one - the Saat Pheras (or the seven steps) that the bride and groom take around the ceremonial fire. Thus usually takes place very late - usually after 12 midnight - much after the guests have feasted and left and only the very close relatives on either side are left. Both of them circle the scared fire, taking vows to love and honour each other throughout their lives. The groom then applies a streak of vermilion to the bride's head, after which they become lawfully wedded husband and wife. The bride is then given a tearful send-off by her family as she leaves with her new husband to start a brand-new life.

South Indian marriages

The biggest difference between North Indian and South Indian weddings is that the latter takes place during the day instead of at night. The basis for the rituals is the same except that they are conducted in a different manner.

The wedding venue is usually a hall where the wedding mandap ( a small covered enclosure) has plantain trees tied to both the gateposts, overhead festoons made of mango leaves strung together, and Rangoli designs (intricate designs made with coloured powder) at the entrance.

The evening before the actual wedding day, the bridegroom is led in a flower-decked procession from a temple by the bride's parents to the marriage Mandapam (hall). Once there, the formal espousal ceremony takes place. The elephant-headed god Ganapati, the God of Initiation, is invoked, and is entreated to keep away all obstacles away from the couple.

The ritual is followed by presenting clothes to the couple. Interestingly, the marriage ceremonies are performed separately by the bride and the groom.

The marriage ceremony is formalized in the hall by a Vedic priest who chants ancient hymns and verses, recalling the names of three generations of ancestors of both, the bride and the groom before all who have gathered to witness the wedding. The bride and the groom exchange garlands when they are lifted onto the shoulders of their respective uncles.

The bride then sits on her father's lap for the 'Kanyadan' (giving away the daughter) ceremony to the bridegroom. The bride is presented with a Mangalsutra (the scared necklace that signifies her married status) as well as a new sari which is draped around her by the sister of the bridegroom.

After this, the groom walks seven steps with his bride, holding her hand in his. The seven steps are the most important part of the wedding ceremony.

The wedding is followed by an elaborate and delectable wedding feast, usually vegetarian.

indian wedding attire

Having the perfect Indian wedding dress is important as the bride is the centre of attention on the big day. Specially when the wedding events happen consecutively over a week's time. Selecting an Indian wedding dress is a difficult task.

"There is a huge variety of colours and styles available to suit any type of wedding. It would be advisable to check what kind of Mandap has been selected and what color are the wedding mandap decorations"

Selecting an Indian wedding dress or a saree to be more specific can be time consuming, made even more difficult by the busy schedule many women have 10 months before their wedding. It can take up to four months for the dress to be ordered and delivered, not to mention the many fittings to guarantee the dress fits perfectly. This is a very delicate task which should not be stressed over or rushed. Many brides-to-be have an idea of the type of wedding dress they want, but it is worth keeping an open mind and trying different styles and colors well before the wedding. It is conventional for the bride-to-be to take a few trusted friends with her for opinions. Be sure to take people who will give you an honest opinion and with trustworthy judgment. Once the perfect dress has been found, you can be sure to mark your wedding day a successful one keeping in view the importance of a wedding dress in an Indian wedding. The bride should trust her instinct and go with the dress she knows is perfect.

indian celebrity wedding

They say the average woman starts planning her wedding during childhood. She plays dress-up with her friends, plans the weddings of her dolls and stuffed animals, and eventually grows to an age where friendships turn into something more. Unfortunately, the average bride is limited when it comes to what she can afford in terms of a wedding. She may have a savings and her parents may be willing to pay, but there is always a budget. That is, unless you're a celebrity or woman coming from a well-to-do family. In that case, you might be able to throw an affair that is simply over-the top, just like these couples did.

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pit Wedding Price Tag: $1 million

Brad and Jennifer got married at a gorgeous Malibu estate in 2000. We know the price tag associated with a 200-guest wedding is bound to be high, but $1 million seems a bit extraordinary. Her Lawrence Steele gown was gorgeous, her Manolo Blahnik sandals were the envy of every woman with a shoe fetish, and the ridiculous number of flowers (somewhere around 50,000) did create a charming atmosphere. We're pretty sure the fireworks display at the end of the night is what put the price tag for this affair over the top. We hope it was worth the expense considering the marriage only lasted 5 years.

Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods Wedding Price Tag: $1.5 million

While not one of the most expensive weddings on earth, the story of Tiger and Elin has certainly been a hot topic of conversation. The now-divorced couple was married in 2004 at a secret ceremony witnessed by 120 of their closest friends and family members. The couple rented out the entire hotel and made sure that the only charter helicopter company on the island was booked solid for the weekend as well. We wonder how much it cost to have Hootie and the Blowfish perform before the fireworks display over the ocean.

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise Wedding Price Tag: $2 Million

These two superstars married in 2006 and spent a pretty penny to do so. They bypassed the concept of hiring a corporate limo to take them to the church and instead opted to get married in a 15th Century castle in the middle of Italy. Katie and her bridal party were outfitted in Georgio Armani dresses designed specifically for her wedding and the couple entertained their guests by having Andrea Boccelli perform live. Over the top? We think so but we're sure the couple and their guests had a great time.

Liza Minelli & David Gest Wedding Price Tag: $3.5 Million

Liza and David were married in New York City in 2002 in a ceremony that words simply can't do justice. Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor served as the best man and maid of honor while more then 500 celebrities, friends, and family members looked on. At the reception, Tony Bennet provided the entertainment along with a 60-piece orchestra. The entire event, topped with a 12-tier cake, seems just a bit over the top. It's a shame the marriage only lasted 1 year.

Delphine Arnault and Allesandro Vallarino Gancia Wedding Price Tag: $7 Million

Delphine is the daughter of a French businessman and Allesandro's family owns a wine dynasty. They were married in France in 2005. She wore a stunning gown designed for her by John Galliano. We're sure the 5,000 white roses used to decorate the reception hall added to the cost of the affair as well. Harper's Bazaar included this ceremony in their list of spectacular weddings that year.

Vikram Chatwal and Priya Sachdev Wedding Price Tag: $20 Million

Have you ever been to a traditional Indian wedding? Don't let Vikram (son of a hotel mogul) and Priya (a gorgeous actress) fool you into believing their $20 million ceremony is anything close to normal. They opted to bypass traditional limo services, instead hiring private jets to fly their guests from city to city over the course of their 10-day party. They shared their special day(s) with more than 600 guests.

Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia Wedding Price Tag: $78 Million

As far as we can tell, the wedding of Vahisha Mittal (daughter of a millionaire) and Amit Bhatia (an investment banker) is the most expensive on record. They were married in France in 2004 and even Forbe's Magazine has acknowledged this as the most expensive wedding to date. Forget invitations. These two opted to send out 20-page books lined in silver to the1,000 guests participating in their 5-day affair. The chef, from Calcutta, prepared more than 100 different dishes and the wine tab alone was more than $1.5 million. This one holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records - and for good reason.

There are dozens of stories about extravagant weddings - many with price tags higher than those listed here (with the exception of the last). The reality of the situation is that most of us will have to stick to dresses from David's Bridal, food from local caterers, affordable limousine rentals, and flowers from the shop up the street. We won't get married in French castles and we probably won't be able to charter entire islands. Even still, it doesn't hurt to dream a little!

sample wedding announcements after the ceremony

Six Months Ahead

Take some time to choose the right wedding invitation. Regardless if your wedding is daytime or evening, traditional or contemporary, the style and formality of your celebration will help decide the look of your invitation. The perfect invitation, whether it's a classic white panel style or a charming design embellished with a floral border, will mirror the tone of your wedding and, ultimately, your personality.

If you're a romantic, for example, you might choose a chic white card with a floral overlay, but decide to keep the traditional wording. Although etiquette still offers guidelines to simplify the process and make everyone feel at ease, there are more wedding invitation options than ever before. The savvy bride knows this is definitely a task to start sooner rather than later.

Order thank-you notes with your maiden name to acknowledge early gifts, and notes with your new name or monogram for personal correspondence after the ceremony, or notes simply printed with "Thank You" to match your invitations. If you plan a wedding that will take place around a busy holiday season, or plan to invite guests to join you for a destination wedding, also order save-the-date cards to be mailed approximately three months before the date.

Four to Six Months Ahead

Order wedding invitations and wedding announcements. Also order response cards, reception cards, and At Home cards. Consider a printed directions card and accommodations card with hotel information for out-of-town guests.

Six Weeks Ahead

Take a completely assembled wedding invitation to the post office to have the proper amount of postage determined. Mail completely assembled invitations. Allow eight weeks or more for international mailings, if your wedding falls on a holiday weekend, or if you are inviting guests to take part in a destination wedding.

The Day of the Wedding

Have a close friend mail announcements to friends or relatives who were not invited to the wedding.

wedding photo announcements

If final exams weren't enough, high school graduation brings with it several social obligations and a great opportunity for celebration. The whole process can be simplified with high school graduation ceremony announcements, party invitations, and matching Thank You cards, all custom designed from the comfort of home. Using school and family photographs and a computer, photo greeting cards can be created and sent to family and friends across the globe to announce this grand achievement.

High school graduation is an emotional and rewarding experience for both the new grads and their families. Sharing the excitement and pride that come with graduation makes photo greeting cards the most fun way to express the individuality of the grad while reminding everyone to have a good time celebrating this accomplishment.

High School Graduation Announcements And Invitations

High school graduation announcements can be sent to practically everyone. Nearly everyone is thrilled to be included in this moment of success. In addition to family members and friends, graduation announcements are also sent to those teachers, mentors, and coaches who helped in the achievement of this long awaited goal. Announcements are simply a way to tell everyone who has graduated, where the graduation ceremony is taking place, and what degree, certification, or other accomplishment is being awarded.

Graduation announcement photo greeting cards can be personalized with a collection of school, family, and other random photos of the graduate at different ages, participating in different activities, or surrounded by friends. The design of the announcement can be made to look like a diploma or whatever appeals to the grad's personal style. Some people prefer to wait until after the ceremony to send out graduation announcements so that they can use photographs from the ceremony in the card.

If someone is being invited to the actual graduation ceremony, be aware that traditionally these are formal invitations, very much like wedding invitations. They are sent in a blue or black inner envelope and the addressing follows all of the formal rules of etiquette. Also, many high schools put strict limits on the number of people each graduate can invite, so careful thought must be given to who will receive one of these highly coveted graduation invitations.

Luckily, tradition no longer dictates the formality of graduation invitations and graduation announcements. There is much more leeway and freedom of expression in graduation announcements and graduation invitations today. They can still be formal and serious, but they can also be whimsical and silly, or something entirely different -- whatever the new grad desires!

The Graduation Party

Of course, it's the party after the ceremony that all of the high school graduates are really looking forward to. This celebration has been a long time coming with years of tedious homework, exams, teachers, and students all working toward the same goal. Therefore, an invitation to this kind of party deserves a little pizzazz! Amazing party invitations can be created online with just a handful of photographs and a little creativity. For the uncreative or inartistic types, there are plenty of templates and suggestions online to help create ideal photo greeting cards for graduation party invitations.

The graduation party theme can be brought to life with unique invitation photo greeting cards. The invitation can be used to challenge guests to bring on their Best School Spirit, to dress up in the attire of their future career, prepare a speech about why they are the Most Likely to Succeed, or any number of other possibilities. Regardless of your party theme, by using customization options when designing invitation photo greeting cards, you can ensure your graduation party will be voted Most Popular!

Remember To Say Thank You!

After all the hard work in school, the long graduation ceremony, and a great party, it's always nice to remember to say thank you to everyone who helped in achieving this success or who brought a gift. Teachers, parents, coaches, and tutors all appreciate the knowledge that they helped someone else succeed. Thank You notes should always be sent after a gift is received, and the sooner you can get them out, the better.

The possibilities surrounding graduation ceremonies and parties are endless, and this is the perfect opportunity for celebration and personal expression. A few moments of time and a handful of photographs can easily and inexpensively transformed otherwise ordinary graduation announcements into personalized, memorable photo greeting cards that will be treasured forever.

wedding announcements from a parent

It would be boorish not to invited your ex in-laws to your second wedding if you have close ties with them especially if you have been widowed. All throughout the years that you reared your young ones, without your husband, their son, they were there for you. Should you ignore sending your ex in-laws your wedding invitations?

The Matter with Ex In-Laws

You alone can decide if you are going to invite you're your ex in-laws to your second wedding. If you have been widowed and remained close with your in-laws, you should invite your ex in-laws. This happy event is not only for you and your groom, but also for your children who will be having a father figure in their lives. Sharing the big day with the people who have supported you emotionally and financially during the rough times is just proper. So send them those wedding invitations!

However, if after the death of your spouse, your in-laws did not bother to call or give a hand when you were down and out, there's not need to bother sending them wedding invitations but you can inform them; after all your children are their grandchildren but it's your wedding and your second shot at happiness. Even if your partner is amenable to the idea of having your sister in-law and her parents at the wedding, don't risk it. You can never tell what might happen then.

But there are cases when the bride has not severed ties with the in-laws and theirs is not the usual in-law relation but friendship strengthened through the years. Not inviting your dear in-laws would be unspeakable. Like your dearest friends, your wonderful in-laws would be happy to be there at our wedding.

Dealing with the In-Laws

If you are divorced, you have all the reasons not to send wedding invitations but if you have remained on good terms with your ex and with your in-laws, you can consider inviting them. Have a talk with your ex and sound him out about the prospect. But if you had a nasty divorce, why invite your ex and ex in-laws? If a second wedding requires that all signs of the previous wedding - engagement ring and wedding ring should be removed, so what's the reason for inviting the exes over?

Discuss ex in-law issues with your new partner. He must have his own problems too. An insistent sis-in-law who demands that he update them and invite them to every event in his life can be big problem. At this point, he must let the interfering ex in-laws know that he has moved on. In addition, the presence of ex in-laws can put your families and friends in an awkward position so there's no point at all to invite them to your encore wedding.

You can do this too if you feel that your ex in-laws are just being nosy. Be firm when informing them about the second wedding; you can give the excuse that it's a private affair with just a few of your friends and your parents. You don't have to mention the wedding invitations.

Those wedding invitations are meant for your closest and dearest family and friends, not for exes and ex in-laws unless there is a good reason to have them over, with the consent of your new partner of course.

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