Wedding Blog

One of the reasons I chose my icon is because the jasmine flower is such a meaningful part of Indian weddings. Its creamy white petals and lush, heady fragrance play both important symbolic and cultural roles.

Many Indian brides make a spectacular entrance into the ceremony under a fragrant net of jasmine flowers:

Also, jasmine adorns the hair of many Indian brides. The star-shaped flowers are cut at night, when the scent is the strongest, so the fragrance will linger throughout the big day.

Another important part of the Indian wedding ceremony is when the bride and groom exchange garlands of roses, marigold, and jasmine. This exchange is symbolic of their acceptance of one another as husband and wife.

Actress Aishwarya Rai and Actor Abhishek Bachan at their wedding: they are the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt of India!

The bridal suite is often covered with a canopy of sweetly-scented jasmine flowers over the bed. It’s said that the fragrance will be a life long memory for the husband and wife who honor their vows.

Some Indian and Pakistani grooms wear a sehra, a veil of jasmine flowers covering the groom’s face as he approaches the bride. Traditionally, the “sehra bandhi” ceremony occurs right as the groom and his baraat are leaving for the wedding. The groom is also presented with gifts from his family members. Occasionally, a commissioned poem is read and the family shares a prayer that all will go well with the wedding and the future of the bride and groom.

Jasmine flowers are also used to cover the front of the bride and groom’s getaway car:

Are you using any flowers that have special significance to you?