FAQs

Question

What should I expect at an Indian wedding?

Answer

Indian weddings are colorful events filled with traditions that are celebrating the union of two families. The first night will be the Sangeet & Garba, a musical evening to welcome everyone and kick off the festivities. The next day will begin with the Baraat followed by the wedding ceremony and reception. Be ready for lots of dancing, food, traditions, and FUN!

Question

What is the Sangeet and Garba?

Answer

The Sangeet is a celebratory event that directly translates to “Musical Night". The evening will include time to mingle with food and drinks, henna artists, dance performances, and dinner. The event will then shift to become a Garba, which is a traditional dance originating from the state of Gujarat (where Annasha's family is from). Garba involves rhythmic dance steps with clapping in a circle. It is followed by Raas, which is a dance done with a partner using sticks called Dandiya. Everyone can participate and the steps are very easy to pick up!

Question

What is the Baraat?

Answer

The Baraat, or the Groom's procession, will begin at 2pm complete with a DJ and a Dholi (drummer). Chris will arrive surrounded by his friends and family (all of you!) who will dance their way towards the ceremony location. Once there, Annasha’s family will welcome Chris and his dance entourage, continuing the celebration before everyone makes their way to their seats for the Wedding Ceremony. Please be sure to arrive on time to be a part of this!

Question

What will the Hindu Ceremony be like?

Answer

The Hindu wedding ceremony will take place within a Mandap (a Hindu altar that is made of canopy-like structure). For most of the ceremony, Annasha and Chris will be seated alongside their parents in front of a Hindu priest who will officiate, recite verses in Sanskrit, and guide numerous relatives in their specific roles and traditions. The priest will be translating most of the rituals to English so that everyone can understand, and you can expect the entire ceremony to last ~90 minutes.

Question

Do I have to wear Indian clothes?

Answer

Absolutely not! You should wear whatever you are most comfortable in. However if you want to wear Indian clothes, it is most encouraged! The Welcome Garba & Sangeet will be the event you may enjoy wearing Indian clothes at the most, however we also would love for you to dress in Indian clothing for the Wedding Ceremony if you are up for it! For the Reception, ladies can stay in their Indian clothes or change into a formal American dress, while men should change into a suit or tux.

Question

Where can I get Indian clothing?

Answer

The best place to start would be to ask any Indian or South Asian friends if they have clothes you can borrow! Websites to rent Indian clothes: - AllBorrow - Borrow the Bazaar - Glamourental - Rent Preserve - Riya Collective Websites to buy Indian clothes: - Lashkaara - Shop Kynah - Pernia's Pop Up Shop - Kalki - Aza Fashion - Seasons - Mayas Desi Boutique - The Saree Room - House of Indya Stores to buy Indian Clothes in Cerritos, CA: - Frontier Heritage - Manshaa - Sari Palace - Dreams Collections - Sona Chaandi - Loveleen - Mirage

Question

What specific Indian clothing should I wear at the events?

Answer

SANGEET & GARBA: Movement-friendly, colorful, and dressy attire! If you'd like to purchase traditional Indian attire for the Sangeet, we recommend browsing the above websites and specifically looking for a Lehenga (for women) and a Kurta (for men). Feel free to run any potential selections by A&C before you purchase! NOTE: Many of these stores are located in India and will require a significant amount of time to stitch and mail outfits, so please order well in advance so you receive it on time! For those wanting to wear American clothing, a mid-length dress or skirt would work well for ladies, as long as it's not so tight that it restricts movement. Slacks and shirts for men are fine. Garba and Raas are generally done barefoot, so skip the stockings and bring shoes you don't mind taking off! WEDDING CEREMONY: Formal American or Indian attire are perfect for the ceremony. If you wish to wear Indian clothing to the ceremony as well, women may wear a more formal Lehenga or may also wear a Salwar Kameez or Sari. We recommend that women avoid dark colors like black or navy, as well as avoid wearing red as that color is usually reserved for the bride and groom. Men may wear a suit or tux to the ceremony and reception, however for those wanting to wear Indian clothing, men may wear a more formal Kurta or a Sherwani. Again, please feel free to run any potential selections by A&C before you purchase and remember to order well in advance given delays in shipping time from India. COCKTAIL HOUR AND RECEPTION: All guests are welcome to stay in their outfits from the Wedding Ceremony for the Reception as well, however if you would like to change, we recommend any Indian or American formal attire for the event. For men that wore a Kurta or Sherwani to the ceremony, we recommend changing into a suit or tux. For women that wore a Lehenga or Sari to the ceremony, you may keep it on or change into a formal American dress!

Question

Are kids invited?

Answer

YES! We love kids and want everyone's families to be a part of the celebrations. We respectfully ask that during the Ceremony, however, families with small children sit towards the back of the space or do their best to keep their child's voice down to not distract from the Hindu ceremony that is happening. If you do not see your child's name as part of your RSVP link, please let A&C know.

Question

What is the closest airport to fly into?

Answer

John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, CA is only about a 10 minute drive to the hotel where all of our events will be, so we recommend flying into here if you can. Long Beach Airport (LGB) is small and convenient airport that is about 30 minutes away from the hotel. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 1 hour away from the hotel without traffic (but let's be real, when is there not traffic in LA?)

Question

Where should I stay?

Answer

We recommend staying at the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach, as that is where all of our wedding events will be. We have also suggested some other local hotels in the "Travel" section of the website. You can also look into renting an Air BnB or VRBO - there are some gorgeous homes to stay at in Newport Beach!