We want you to wear clothing you feel comfortable in. If you would like to, though, we recommend Indian attire for the Sangeet and Sikh Ceremony. The reception event will have individuals in both western (American) and Indian clothes. The Sikh ceremony has some special attire requirements (please see question about the Sikh ceremony alone.)
For women, you can look for a Lehenga (a short blouse + long, high waisted skirt) or a Salwar Kameez/Anarkali/Kurta Set (different terms for a long dress + leggings)/Sharara (palazzo pants), Gararah. Lehenga's are very popular for the Sangeet in particular. For the ceremony, saris are also a beautiful option, but they are much more difficult to put on and will definitely require some help for first-timers. For men, you will be looking for a Kurta, Sherwani, or Jodhpur suit. They are all sets of a fitted top and pants. If you are looking to source clothing for the event, there are a couple of options: Rent: Yes, this is available online. Though checking local sales is may be more cost efficient. Buy: Check if there is an Indian clothing store in your area. Custom tailoring is the norm in Indian clothing, and it is nice to work with someone in person. Here are some online suggestions: www.etsy.com/www.amazon.com (search “men’s kurta” or “women’s lehenga”) www.kalkifashion.com www.lashkaraa.com www.azafashions.com www.utsavfashion.com www.houseofindya.com www.thesareeroom.com www.perniaspopupshop.com www.aaykafashion.com - code: AMANGARRETT10 for 10% off Please note that if you're shopping online for women's attire, when custom measurements are available, you can order your blouse in any style (longer, with sleeves, etc. as desired).
The dress code is formal. The short answer is whatever you are more comfortable in. That could be a dress/long gown/tuxedo/suit from earlier in the day, your saree/lehenga/kurta from the previous morning, or something else.
The word "Sangeet" literally translates to "music," and the term is used to describe the large event the night prior to the wedding. This is a colorful and musical evening with lots of dancing. In the region of India Aman's family is from (Punjab), the traditional dances that are done are Bhangra and Jaago. Dinner will be provided.
You will have the opportunity to get henna on your hands at the Sangeet. Mehndi, also known as henna, is a traditional art form where a natural paste made from the powdered leaves of the henna plant is applied in intricate designs on the hands.
A Baraat is a procession in which the groom enters the wedding place. The groom comes with a Dhol (drummer), riding on either a horse or an automobile with all his friends and family. So if you're from the grooms side, be sure to come early to be a part of the dancing procession as Garrett enters the wedding venue. This is followed by Aman's family and friends greeting him to the Sikh wedding venue.
The Sikh ceremony will be held at Gurdwara, a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs. As you think about what to wear there, you will need to consider that everyone will be sitting on the ground during the ceremony. You should wear pants or a long skirt, and avoid spaghetti straps and less conservative attire. If you have a hard time sitting down on the floor, there will be a bench in the back and cushions you can sit on as well. Culturally, men and women sit on opposite sides of the ceremony, though if you feel more comfortable sitting together as a family please feel free to do so. When you sit at the ceremony, please be careful not to direct the soles of your feet to the center. Everyone needs their head covered when in the gurdwara. Head coverings will be provided, but most women will prefer to bring a scarf. If you are wearing traditional Indian clothing, this will be a part of the outfit (dupatta).
There will be Indian cuisine at each event and fusion (Indian and Western) cuisine at the reception. Each event will offer a buffet-style dining experience, giving you the freedom to choose from a variety of delicious dishes. Please reach out if you have any food allergies.
We are so excited to celebrate with your whole family at the Sangeet/Mehndi and Sikh Ceremony! Due to space limitations, we kindly request that our Christian ceremony and reception be adult-only events for guests aged 12 and above. We truly appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to share these special moments with you.
We totally understand that many of our guests may have other commitments that prevent them from attending all the events! This may be especially unfamiliar to our Western attendees who may not have experienced a multi-day Indian wedding before. We are happy to celebrate with you for any events you are able to attend - please just indicate in your RSVP which events you can make!