12:00 pm
The Mehendi party—a pre-wedding event for everyone that centers around the application of the Mehndi or henna design on hands and feet. There will be lunch on the side, so eat before your hands get occupied!
Attire suggestions- There is no pressure to wear Indian traditional wear, however, if you'd like to partake in the festivities, the vibe is- Indian-inspired informal, often all about bright colors and hues of green, orange, yellow, and pink. For the women- sundresses, skirts with tunics, salwar kameez, kurtis and leggings, indo-western suits, crop tops and palazzos. For the men, button-down shirts or kurtas with pants.
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Dinner, drinks and dancing. It would be advisable to wear comfortable shoes!
Attire suggestions - Cocktail/Informal/Festive in jewel tones or dark hues. For the women- Cocktail dresses(maxis would be preferred over minis), indo-western dresses, lehengas(a crop top with a full, high-waisted skirt), saree(a long piece of fabric, often made of silk, that's used to wrap around the body), crop tops with palazzos, salwar kameez. For the men-a jacket, formal shirts with pants, sherwani(a long coat-like top), a kurta and pants.
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Attire Suggestions: Indian traditional- For the women- a sari, a lehenga, or a salwar kameez. For the men- kurtas with either pajamas or dhotis. If traditional wear isint your thing, semi-formal attire that you're most comfortable in is ideal!
The main event comprises a series of traditional Tamilian functions- 1) Kashi yatra (Varanasi pilgrimage)- The groom pretends to plan a trip to Varanasi to study further (pfft, like Pranav needs more degrees) but is convinced by the bride's father to marry her instead, symbolizing the commitment in marriage. 2) Oonjal (swing)- The Oonjal is a swing decorated with flowers where the couple sit and are gently rocked back and forth. As part of the celebration, the couple is fed sweetened milk and bananas (we've placed a request to swap bananas with cereal instead) while women in the family take turns singing and blessing the couple. Breakfast will be served until after this event! 3) Poojai (prayers)- All the gods are invoked to bless the union. Keep an ear out for loud percussion and wind instruments as that signals the main event: the groom ties the mangal sutra (auspicious thread) around the bride's neck. A typical Tamil feast on banana leaf will be served right after this!