FAQsFAQs

Question

What should I wear?What should I wear?

Answer

Below are dress options for every event. This information is simply for people who want some guidance on what to wear. Most of all, we just want people to wear whatever makes them feel happy, comfortable, and like themselves! 1. PITHI & MEHNDHI (Thursday night) Attire: Semi-Formal | Indo-Western Welcome Options for Women: Indian attire: Salwar kameez, light saris, or light lehengas Western attire: Semi-formal dresses, or skirts/pants paired with a blouse Fusion: "Indo-western" apparel is perfect for this event and encouraged! Options for men: Indian attire: Light kurta sets (cotton, silk, or satin) Western attire: Jeans or dress pants with a collared shirt (no ties) Fusion: Kurta tops paired with jeans or trousers 2. SANGEET (Friday night) Attire: Formal & Colorful Options for women: Indian attire: Ornate or embellished saris, lehengas, or salwar kameez Western attire: Cocktail dresses or similarly formal evening wear Options for men: Indian attire: Ornate kurta sets, sherwanis, or jackets Western attire: Dress pants with a dress shirt Ties and suits/sport coats are welcome but optional 3. NIKKAH (Saturday afternoon) Attire: Formal & Modest The Nikkah ceremony will take place in a mosque, so please dress in formal, respectful attire (similar to what you might wear to a church). Lighter or softer colors are traditional, but all colors are welcome. Options for women: Indian attire: Saris or salwar kameez Western attire: Formal or semi-formal dresses, or skirts/pants paired with a blouse Bare arms and legs are perfectly fine—it will be warm outside Options for Men: Indian attire: While most men wear Western attire for the Nikkah, Indian attire is welcome. Any kurta set or sherwani is appropriate Western attire: A suit and tie is typical, though dress pants with a dress shirt are also perfectly acceptable 4. AFTER PARTY (Saturday night) Attire: Whatever keeps you dancing and comfy!

Question

Where can I get clothes?Where can I get clothes?

Answer

Since this is an Indian wedding, anyone who has a desire to dress up in Indian clothes should feel very welcome and encouraged to do so! When else will you get the chance? The below websites have a good track record. If you order online, be sure to pay careful attention to the shipping date and the delivery date of your outfit. Also note each website's return/exchange policy, as many don't allow returns/exchanges and those that do have strict policies with short windows. Many outfits can take weeks or months to arrive, as they are usually coming from India or Pakistan. Be sure your outfit will arrive at least six weeks before the wedding, so that you have enough time to get it tailored! WWW.LASHKARAA.COM (most trusted) WWW.UTSAVFASHION.COM WWW.CBAZAAR.COM WWW.KALKIFASHION.COM WWW.AZAFASHIONS.COM If you live in Houston and want to purchase Indian clothes in person, try any of the below (and check out their websites as well!): Roop Sari Palace ($) (on-site tailor) Rani Boutique ($) Poshak ($$) Frontier Heritage ($$$) Almas Tejani Desi Couture ($$$) Panache by Sharmeen ($$$) (Appointment recommended - see website) Little Muffet ($) - Kids only

Question

What is the Pithi?What is the Pithi?

Answer

The pithi ceremony (also commonly called the haldi ceremony) usually takes place the day before the wedding. Family and loved ones take turns putting haldi/pithi (a turmeric paste) on the bride and groom so that they're glowing for their wedding day. They also feed the bride and groom sweets and shower them with rice and blessings. Tradtionally, the bride and groom hold separate pithi ceremonies at separate locations, but the current trend is to combine events! Once the official ceremony is over, things might get a little.....messy for the groom ;) Finally, there will be mehdhi (henna) artists available for anyone who wants to get a temporary tattoo! We will also have stencils and spare cones of mehndhi for a DIY option!

Question

What is the Sangeet?What is the Sangeet?

Answer

The Sangeet, which is usually more formal, is a night for food, fun, music, and lots of dancing. Come in style and ready to dance!

Question

What is the Nikkah?What is the Nikkah?

Answer

Nikkah is the word for the formal Islamic wedding ceremony. It takes place at a jamatkhanna and is led by a leader of the jamatkhanna. The Nikkah ceremony is usually followed by some fun games and mild extortion of the groom =)