Traditionally, Indian weddings last a couple of days, June 6 and 7, 2025, for us. Although each region of India has its specific customs, the general concept is the same—it will be a big party filled with vibrant colors, music, plenty of food, and dancing rooted in Shristi's South Indian heritage. Although family members and close friends may have a role, the remainder of the guests are invited to sit back and enjoy. Our wedding ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00 PM (please be on time) and will last approximately an hour. The pandit (priest) will describe the different elements of the ceremony in English. A cocktail hour and reception will follow the ceremony.
Friday Welcome Event: This is a family-friendly event. Children are welcome. Saturday Wedding Ceremony and Reception: Adults only affair
You may wear Indian dress or Western dress for both the Welcome Event on Friday or the Ceremony and Reception on Saturday. Either is appropriate! You are welcome to wear semi-formal clothing as you would to a typical American wedding. For our non-Indian guests, if you are interested in wearing Indian attire: the typical wedding attire for men is a Sherwani or a Kurta-Pajama. For women, typical Indian clothing would be a lengha, sari or salwar kameez. You can reach out to either Shristi or Will to get recommendations on where to buy Indian clothes if you need help. The ceremony will be in a grassy area, so please wear appropriate footwear.
We often say that the best part of an Indian wedding is the food. At each event, there will be a wide variety of vegetarian dishes. The food will be served buffet style, so guests will have the option to choose what they’d like to eat. Come hungry!
Henna (Mehndi) services will be provided for the welcome event on Friday, June 6, 2025, at Shristi's parents' house. Henna designs start at $15 a hand. Please speak with the henna artist if you wish to spend more on a more complex design. Please bring cash. If this is your first time getting henna, please speak with the henna artist about getting a small test patch to rule out any reactions.
A Baraat is the procession in which the groom enters the wedding place. Usually, the groom enters with a Dholi (drummer), riding on a horse or animal of some sort along with his friends and family. We invite Will's family and friends to join him behind the social hall a little before 2 pm to make his way to the ceremony area. Get your dancing shoes ready!
During this special moment in our lives, your presence at our wedding is more than enough to make our day. We are currently planning a move and trying to minimize our belongings. If you would like to honor us with a gift, we kindly request no boxed gifts, a familiar Indian wedding custom. We have provided a link on our registry page if you would like to donate to our newlywed fund.