Schedule
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Mehendi
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
92 Choo Choo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Guests may wear Indian attire or semi-formal Western wear. Green and other bright colors are preferred.
The mehendi ceremony precedes all of our other wedding events and will be the most relaxed. Compared to the intensity of sangeet and the reception, and the emotional heights of the ceremony, it will be subtle yet joyful. The mehendi ceremony offers an opportunity for the bride and close guests to gather as henna is applied. In Hindu traditions, usually only the bride and close women participate, with the groom sometimes being involved. However, today's mehendi events are often open to more guests than is traditional. Sarah and Parth have elected to invite several friends and family members who they think might not have an opportunity in the future to attend another mehendi. If you have been invited with a plus one and intend to have mehendi applied, please consider bringing that plus one to the mehendi. They will have an important task: helping you to eat, drink, and move around comfortably while your henna dries. ***Indoor/Outdoor***
Friday, June 27, 2025
Vidhi
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
92 Choo Choo Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Guests may wear Indian attire or semi-formal Western wear. Yellows and other light colors are preferred.
The vidhi (prayers and haldi) is one of the most joyful and vibrant pre-wedding events in Indian culture. The celebration will be filled with laughter, music, and the application of turmeric paste on the bride and groom. This event purifies the couple before the big day and infuses their journey with positivity and blessings for the future. Yellow and gold are the most popular and traditional choice for this bright, happy event. Other bright and cheerful highlights like orange, pink, green, or red will match the festive spirit. However, guests can also opt for pastel tones such as peach, mint green, soft pink, or ivory or other shades of white. Avoid colors like black or deep reds, as they do not resonate with the auspiciousness and lighthearted spirit of the event. ***Indoor/Outdoor***
Garba
Fri, Jun 27, 2025, 6:00 pm - Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 10:00 pm
92 Choo Choo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Guests may wear Indian attire or semi-formal Western wear. Choose something comfortable and as multicolored as possible. Dark colors as a background with many bright splashes of color throughout are common.
Garba is a traditional style of folk dance from Parth's ancestral state, Gujarat. The dance honors, worships, and celebrates the feminine form of divinity, Navratri. It can also be viewed as a tribute to femininity. There are a few different Garba dances. One of the dances is called daandiya, and it involves the use of small sticks that represent the sword of the goddess Durga, a prominent figure in Hindu mythology. She is revered as a powerful warrior goddess. We will provide instruction on how to perform the dances. Don't be afraid to try! Wear comfortable shoes. Indoor
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Baraat
8:30 am - 9:30 am
92 Choo Choo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402
This "mini-event" bleeds straight over into the wedding ceremony, so wear what you will wear to the wedding!
The word "baraat" is derived from Sanskrit word Varayātrā (वरयात्रा), which means "groom's procession." It's a parade! Traditionally, the groom would have travelled to the wedding venue via horse or elephant, accompanied by drummers, family members, and close friends. Nowadays, many more people attend the baraat, and the groom might appear atop a white Jeep, seated in a maserati, or even in a festive auto-rickshaw. Parth and Sarah would like Sarah's side of the family to feel free to attend Parth's baraat. Expect a lot of dancing and joyful celebration as the procession winds its way a short distance around the Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic District, terminating a the wedding venue. ***Outdoor***
Ceremony
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
21 Choo Choo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Guests may wear Indian attire or formal Western wear, in any color. Do not worry about avoiding white or red; if you have something in those colors that you love, please feel free to wear it!
This is a traditional Gujarati wedding ceremony, containing multiple rituals and prayers to bless Sarah, Parth, and their families as they unite. Guests will be provided with step-by-step information so that they can follow along with the different key moments, if they desire to do so. At the end of the ceremony, Sarah and Parth will seek blessings from their priest, elders, relatives, and friends for a long and happy married life together. ***Indoor***
Reception
Sat, Jun 28, 2025, 6:30 pm - Sun, Jun 29, 2025, 12:30 am
21 Choo Choo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Guests may wear Indian attire or formal Western wear. There are no preferred colors and there are no colors that we would like you to avoid.
It's a reception, just like any other wedding reception! Be ready to eat, dance, and be merry. Cocktail hour: 6:30pm-7:30pm Dinner buffet: 7:45pm Late night snack: 12am ***Indoor***