FAQs
Question
What does the schedule for the week look like?
Answer
Wednesday, June 4th is the Welcome Party & Mehndi. This will be at the Oregano a la Carte Restaurant at Atlantica Ocean Beach Resort at 6 PM - 10 PM. The restaurant is located on the beach and you can expect live music, henna, a buffet of Greek food along with an open bar. For this fusion of two beautiful cultures, we invite you to dress in something comfortable and colorful, especially yellow to symbolize happiness and love at a mehndi. Think Beach Chic, colorful and classy, but nothing you'd go swimming in. Thursday, June 5th will be the Sikh ceremony. The ceremony will be at 10 AM at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Mata Jeet Kaur JI. This is the only gurdwara on the island of Crete. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you comfortable but please be considerate of covered shoulders and hair. You can expect a baraat followed by an indoor ceremony, ending with a vegetarian lunch provided by the Gurdwara. Men and women will be asked to remove their shoes, cover their hair (bandanas will be provided for men) and sit on opposite sides of the Gurdwara. Friday June 6th will be the western ceremony at SeaView EnKipo. The ceremony will begin at 5pm, please arrive at 4:45 for a welcome drink. You can expect a short ceremony followed by cocktail hour, dinner, and reception. Dinner will be buffet style of Greek and Indian food, accompanied by an open bar. We ask that you please dress in cocktail attire, being considerate that the venue is outdoors.
Question
Which ceremony should we attend?
Answer
Everyone is invited to both ceremonies. Please RSVP to each of the 3 events that you will be attending so that we can have an accurate headcount. Each event will be a fusion of cultures, traditions, and families and everyone is encouraged to attend each and every event that they wish to.
Question
We have never been to a Sikh ceremony before, what should we expect?
Answer
The Sikh ceremony will begin with a baraat (a celebration of escorting the groom to the venue) and then will be held indoors at the Gurdwara. The ceremony will take place in the morning around 10:30 followed by a vegetarian lunch provided by the Gurdwara. During the ceremony, women are expected to sit on one side of the room, and men on the other. The ceremony should last around 45 minutes and you will be sitting on the floor for the duration. Chairs will be available for those who need them.
Question
What should we wear to the Sikh Ceremony?
Answer
Please wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. This is a multicultural wedding week and we are very excited to be joining two cultures, traditions and families together and welcoming everyone to take part. If you would like to wear more traditional garments to the Sikh ceremony, please be cautious that this is a religious event and to dress more conservatively. Women please make sure that your shoulders are covered. Colorful outfits are encouraged, please avoid solid white or black. You will be asked to remove your shoes so make sure that you wear something easy to slip off. Everyone will be asked to cover their hair so women please bring a dupatta or scarf to place over your hair; men, bandanas will be provided for you to wear for the duration of the ceremony. For women we recommend suits, lehengas, saris, or dresses. For men we recommend kurtas or trousers and lightweight button down.
Question
What is happening during the Gurdwara ceremony?
Answer
The Anand Karaj, meaning "ceremony of joy," is a Sikh wedding that takes place in a gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) and centers on spiritual unity. The officiating Sikh wedding official emphasizes that marriage is not just a social or civil contract, but a spiritual union of two souls. The ceremony highlights the responsibilities of both partners: the husband is to love, respect, and support his wife, while the wife is to show loyalty, respect, and contribute to their shared happiness. Both partners aim to achieve a harmonious balance in all aspects of life—intellectually, emotionally, physically, materially, and spiritually. A central aspect of the Anand Karaj is the Laavan, a four-part hymn that describes the spiritual stages of married life. As the Ragis (Sikh musicians) sing each verse, the couple walks around the Guru Granth Sahib, signifying their journey towards spiritual unity. The Laavan marks their union, with each verse representing a different stage in their marital commitment. The bride and groom, bound by the palla (scarf), take their vows, reaffirming their bond and devotion to each other. With each of the four rounds, the couple progresses deeper into their shared spiritual journey, ultimately solidifying their marriage. Following the Laavan, the ceremony concludes with the Ardas, a prayer where the couple bows in reverence, seeking the blessings of Waheguru for their life together. This moment symbolizes the couple’s prayer for divine guidance and strength in their marital journey. After the Ardas, Karah Prashad, a sweet offering, is distributed as a symbol of divine blessing, and the Langar tradition follows, where a communal meal is shared by all guests, reinforcing the sense of equality and unity within the community. These traditions underscore the spiritual and communal aspects of the wedding, fostering love, equality, and devotion.
Question
What should we wear to the SeaView Ceremony?
Answer
We please ask for guests to wear cocktail attire. Any colors or styles are welcome, please wear what makes you feel comfortable. Please be considerate that this venue is outside and you will be outside for the duration of the ceremony through the reception. June should not be too hot and with a slight breeze, average temperatures should range from 75-85*F.
Question
Where should we stay?
Answer
Our venues are SeaView En Kipo, and Gurdwara Singh Sabha Mata Jeet Kaur JI. There are many hotels in Crete to choose from, please refer to our travel page for ones we recommend. Chania is a coastal town near SeaView En Kipo and was highly recommended by our wedding planner.
Question
How do we get there?
Answer
Crete has 2 international airports on the island, Heraklion and Chania. We recommend flying into Chania if possible as it will be much closer to the venues. We are working to provide shuttles from specific locations to each ceremony, we will update this information closer to the time.
Question
Can I bring my kids?
Answer
Kids are welcome at all 3 events, but please refer to each invitation for the names and amount of guests that are invited.
Question
Can I take photos?
Answer
While we love that you want to capture our special moments, we kindly request an unplugged ceremony. We are hiring professional photographers to capture both ceremonies for us, so please put phones away and be present in the moment. Please take as many photos as you would like before and after each ceremony. We will also provide QR codes to upload and share those amazing photos with us after, you can also use the hashtag #sudtobewed
Question
Do you have a registry?
Answer
Your presence at our wedding is enough of a gift for us. Traveling all the way to Greece and celebrating with us is more than we could ever hope. We have however had questions about a registry, if you would like to get us something, we do not have a traditional registry but we have a honeymoon fund on the registry page of this website that would help us create more amazing memories together. We appreciate every one of you.
Question
I still have a lot of questions, and I can't find the answers on the website. When will we know more details?
Answer
We're still finalizing a lot of the details, and once we've got everything in place, we'll be sure to update the website with the information you're looking for. Please continue to check the website as we get closer to the day for updates
