Question

How is an Indian wedding different from a Western/Christian wedding?

Answer

Sunita's family are Kannadiga Lingayats, which is a beautiful culture hailing from South India. A radical feature of Lingayatism is its staunch opposition to the caste system and advocacy for social equality, challenging societal norms of the times. Unlike mainstream Hinduism, Lingayatism rejects scriptural authority of vedas, puranas, and ritualistic practices, promoting a direct, personal experience of the divine. Hannah and Sunita love this aspect of the culture, and how wedding ceremony traditions are also more equal and progressive compared to Western weddings (for example, it's traditional for both parents to walk their children down the aisle instead of just the father). The ceremony seeks to bring the families and community together and therefore, you may be requested to participate in aspects of the ceremony.

Question

What is parking like for the wedding venue/reception?

Answer

There is a free parking lot for both Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Garver Feed Mill. In the chance both lots are full, there is street parking available in the nearby Eastmorland neighborhood. Alternate side parking in Madison, WI is in effect starting Nov 15th so if you are planning to stay in Madison the week after our wedding, read more about alternate side street parking here: https://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/winter/parking/alternatesideparking.cfm

Question

Accessibility & COVID-19

Answer

Accessibility: Olbrich Botanical Gardens & Garver Feed Mill are ADA compliant and completely wheelchair accessible. There's a wide range of plants, flowers, water features and birds in the conservatory including quails, canaries, and doves. *There are no chairs allowed; however, we will have cushions for folks to sit on. If you need additional accommodations, please let Hannah and Nandi know in advance. No animals are allowed at either venue. COVID-19 Precautions: We will strive to make this event as safe as possible and prevent the possible spread of viruses. If you are not feeling well, please wear a mask during our wedding (KN95 or above). We will have extra masks available if needed. We also strongly encourage everyone to take precautions like masking while travelling, and to receive all updated vaccinations if able.

Question

What is the weather like in Wisconsin this time of year?

Answer

Wisconsin winters can be cold and snowy, so please travel safely. Winter temperatures can drop into the negatives so it is recommended you bring a winter coat and warm shoes with traction in case of snow. We will keep you updated on the weather closer to our wedding day. The wedding ceremony itself, however, will be taking place in a large botanical greenhouse where temperatures range from 70-80 degrees with high humidity. There are free coat racks in the lobby which will be exclusively for our party as the gardens are closed to the public after 4PM.

Question

Photos & Phone Usage

Answer

We will have an amazing photographer to document our special day and to capture all that happens and everyone present with us. The last thing we would want is for your beautiful faces (or ours) to be covered by a screen! Therefore, during the ceremony, we ask that you be in the moment with us by keeping your phones away during the ceremony. Never fear- we will have a few moments throughout for you to take your phones out and take pictures. Our swami, Asha, will prompt you on when these opportunities are. After the wedding, our photographer will upload our images to their website and we will be sure to send a link for you to download/print if you wish once they are ready.

Question

I'm not Indian or Desi; can I still wear Indian clothing to your wedding?

Answer

Yes! A cultural event, such as a holiday or wedding is the perfect opportunity to go all out and wear the beautiful Indian clothing you never thought you would wear. Cultural appropriation is when a member of a majority group oversimplifies the culture of a marginalized group, or treats the culture of a marginalized group as a joke. As long as you are showing up in Desi clothing from a place of love and respect, we would love to see you wear traditional Indian clothing on our special day and it would truly mean the world to us! If you have further questions and/or worries about cultural appropriation/best practices, please reach out to us!

Question

How and where can I buy Indian clothing? Where do I start?

Answer

Below are some links to good information and guidelines about what to wear and how to shop. The biggest rules are to AVOID wearing all white (traditional attire for funerals in India) or all black (traditional attire for funerals in Europe/America). If you have further questions or concerns, please reach out to us! https://docs.google.com/document/d/15TpVnxlrLNG7sk-4U6_WAo9M9xz8juuqCRP3Ik8reaY/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eZ9yPi4RNGfKoLJ4iycneoL99vNTctG_2qypegkJmU4/edit?usp=sharing