Henna(mendhika/mehendi) designs are applied to the bride’s hands and feet, often with friends and family joining in too. It is a relaxed, photo-friendly celebration with music, colour, and lots of bonding.

Henna or mehendi is traditionally associated with good fortune and blessings for the marriage. Many also value its cooling effect, which is popularly believed to help the bride feel calmer and less stressed before the wedding.

A ceremonial chapra (decorative canopy/structure) is set up and prayers are offered to formally begin the wedding rituals and festivities.

This marks an auspicious “wedding-begins-now” moment - inviting blessings, protection, and positive energy into the home as the celebrations begin.

The event occurs in the Bride’s home and not in the venue.

Turmeric-based (haridra, meaning turmeric) sandwood paste is applied on the Bride and the Groom, followed by an auspicious ceremonial shower (mangala snaanam) as part of the wedding preparations.

Turmeric symbolizes purification and protection, and the paste acts as a organic facial pack for healthier skin, while the ceremonial shower represents cleansing and entering the wedding with blessings and positive energy.

A women-led prayer ritual where married women are invited as part of the ceremony, with prayers offered for the family and the upcoming marriage.

Traditionally performed to seek blessings for a happy married life, and to honour the goodwill and experience of married women as the bride begins a new chapter.

This is usually a quieter, devotional moment involving women only.

A celebration night with music and dance where both families come together - performances, couple entries, and lots of joyful energy.

It’s meant to build comfort between families, bring everyone together in a fun way, and kick off the wedding spirit with laughter and celebration.

Please feel free to get on the stage to perform a coordinated routine or join in on the dance floor.

A special pre-wedding prayer traditionally done for the bride, dedicated to Goddess Parvati (Gowri).

The bride seeks blessings for strength, wisdom, and a harmonious married life - a calm, grounding ritual before the main ceremonies on the wedding day.

Intimate rituals, mostly involving the Bride’s family only.

A classic, often humorous moment where the groom symbolically “sets off” for Kashi (a city in India known for starting the renunciation journey - abandonment of the world/attachment to attain salvation), and the bride’s family persuades him that marriage is also a sacred life path to attain salvation.

It represents choosing partnership, responsibility, and shared life - and reminds everyone that spiritual growth can happen within married life too.

This one can be very fun to watch — expect teasing, jokes, and playful drama.

The couple exchanges garlands in front of family and guests, often a lively, photogenic moment.

The garland exchange symbolizes mutual acceptance, respect, and the public acknowledgement of the union beginning.

This is a key photo moment — have your camera ready, and expect the crowd getting louder.

The couple sits on a decorated swing while family sings and offers blessings while they perform rituals.

The swing symbolizes balance through life’s ups and downs, and the blessings wish the couple harmony, steadiness, and sweetness in married life.

Great for photos and videos - please ensure not to crowd the swing area.

Dhaaraa is the “raw rice grain pouring” ceremony, where the couple joyfully pours akshatha (raw rice grains mixed with turmeric or saffron), often along with pearls and flowers, over one another. It’s a lively, photo-friendly moment full of laughter, cheering, and a playful back-and-forth as family encourages them.

Pouring akshatha symbolizes the couple wishing each other happiness, prosperity, and abundance in their married life. The shared ritual also reflects mutual support and togetherness - a light-hearted reminder that marriage is built on giving, receiving, and celebrating one another.

Expect laughter and chaos - it is totally fien to just watch, cheer and take fun photos/videos

Kanyadaanam is the formal way of the Bride’s family showing their trust in the Groom to be a capable husband, followed by Maangalya Dharanam, where the groom ties the sacred thaali/mangalyam (a thread with gold pendant) symbolizing the union.

This is the emotional and spiritual core of the wedding - the moment the couple is formally recognized as united in marriage.

Most important moment to be seated and avoid walking around.

The couple takes seven steps together, with each step representing a vow from vedic times (approximately 1500-500 BC). Below are the 7 vows:

• Nourish and support one another
• Grow in strength together
• Work honestly toward stability and prosperity
• Share joy and sorrow with trust and love
• Care for family and future children (as blessed)
• Stay committed to lifelong companionship
• Remain true friends, always

Saptapadi symbolizes building life as true partners — shared duty, support, trust, and lifelong companionship.

The couple is shown the stars associated with Arundhati and Vashishta and asked to view them together as a blessing.

Arundhati represents steadfast partnership and devotion. The pair is commonly identified with Alcor–Mizar near the Big Dipper in Ursa Major (linked to the Saptarishi tradition in Hinduism), symbolically connecting the marriage to cosmic order, guidance, and enduring unity.

A playful post-wedding ritual with light games and teasing between the couple, often guided by family.

It eases nerves, brings both families closer, and celebrates the couple’s bond in a joyful, informal way.

Expect laughter and chaos - it’s totally fine to just watch, cheer, and take fun videos.