We’re looking forward to blending Indian and European/American traditions throughout our wedding weekend. This page has details on what you can expect at the various events and also provides details on what to wear!
Sangeet and Greet
The Sangeet is a traditional part of Indian wedding celebrations. It's typically held a day or two before the wedding and one of the first times both sides of the family come together to celebrate. Typically, there are choreographed dances or singing by friends and family. However, we're putting our own spin on the celebrations.
We’re having more of a meet and greet…or a “Sangeet and Greet” where all of our friends and family can get together to start the festivities! We'll have mehndi artists for guests, food trucks, and live music. We have a lot of people coming in from out of town, and this event will give us an opportunity to spend more time with everyone before the wedding. This is definitely more low key than the wedding. The idea is to celebrate with bright colors and just enjoy everyone's company! It's basically a pre-party!
What to Wear: Bright and fun colors! It's all about festive fun! Avani is wearing an Indian lehenga. George plans on wearing Bulgarian clothes. It's an Indian wedding tradition. We can guarantee you will not be overdressed for anything! Be as "extra" as you want! We’ve also included links below for places you can buy or rent Indian clothes.
Sangeet Ceremony - Significance of the Sangeet Ceremony in Indian Wedding
Baraat
We plan to start the wedding festivities with the baraat leading up to the ceremony.
The baraat is a Hindu tradition that dates back to the days when the groom and his friends and family would travel to the bride's home for the wedding. The baraat is a big processional/party with music and dancing all the way to the site of the wedding.
We are combining this with the Bulgarian tradition of “inviting the bride”. In this Bulgarian tradition, the groom and his family come to the bride’s house to invite her to the wedding that takes place at the groom’s house. This is a lively affair, with the groom’s family going through town, inviting people to the wedding and offering the Bulgarian spirit, rakia, as they go.
Our baraat will start at the front of the venue and make the short procession to the ceremony site. Our DJ will play music on a portable device while the wedding guests join in on the fun and dance all the way to the altar. We plan on having all of our guests (not just the groom's side) participate in this festive tradition! So get ready to dance! We'll have a DJ, a dhol player, and some fun surprises to pay homage to George's New Orleans roots!
What to Wear: Indian or Western attire is acceptable for the wedding. Avani and her bridal party are wearing traditional Indian clothes; George and his wedding party are wearing suits. The baraat and wedding ceremony will take place outside, and the reception will be inside. Follow your heart!
Where Can I Get Indian Clothes?
Indian wedding attire is festive and colorful! Here are a few places which rent/sell Indian clothes for men and women. Options for women include lehengas, kurti, saris, or Indian-inspired, Western style dresses. Men can wear a kurta, which is like a long oversized shirt worn over slightly fitted pants underneath. If you’re using any of these options, we highly recommend paying attention to delivery time as items arriving from India might take extra time to arrive.
KP COUTURE (@kpcoutureofficial) – This is our amazing wedding planner, Kiran’s, boutique! She’s got gorgeous off the rack options for those who are interested.