Wedding Blog
Contrary to what some might believe, not all Indian weddings are the same.
When people ask about the wedding, I get questions about wearing red and walking around a fire. And this is in the Bay Area, where the Indian population just keeps growing.
For one thing, our wedding day won’t be very Indian. For another, I’m an Ismaili Muslim—Ismaili brides wear white on their wedding days, and only Hindus walk around fires.
And, also, even if you have two Indian families with the exact same background, the odds are they won’t do things in quite the same way.
Long ago, one of my cousins theorized that this was because Indians have too many obscure wedding traditions and no one could remember them all. I picture one auntie asking another, “What do we do now?” And the other auntie saying, “I don’t really know, but how about we just do it this way?”
That’s why I really liked something I read on a photography blog:
“It’s one of the most wonderful and baffling things about Indian weddings. No matter how much you think you know, and how many times you have seen things done one way, there is always the chance that you will be thrown a curve ball, and see something totally different and totally new.”
–Lauren from Rob & Lauren Photographers
Not convinced? Take a look at these pictures from Indian weddings. Even if you’re an Indian wedding veteran, I guarantee you’ll find something new to see. (And, honestly, can anyone actually resist wedding eye candy??)
Traditional Bengali wedding makeup application, photo by Sephi Bergerson
The application of the bride’s sindoor under cover at a Fijian Indian wedding, photo by Andrena Photography
An Ismaili wedding ceremony, photo by Rob & Lauren Photographers
A Malayalam Christian wedding ceremony, photo by Stephanie Williams Photography
Miss Margarita following Sri Lankan tradition by wearing a white sari with a veil, photo by Andrena Photography
A Sikh wedding ceremony, photo by Rob & Lauren Photographers
An Ismaili groom at his pithi ceremony, photo by Elementz of Photographie
Does your wedding have traditions that other people might not expect?
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Share this post: The Thing About Indian Weddings
That’s so awesome that you have so many traditions from which to pick! You can really personalize your wedding and make it very memorable for everyone involved 
I totally feel you! Mr. Margarita’s traditions were very different than my sis in law’s (who is also Indian) and Sri Lankan tradition is all over the place too.
Its kinda of fun to learn about all the different varieties but can be very frustrating when you’re trying to incorporate all you can into your day. I’m excited to see how you incorporate your Ismaili traditions with Mr. DDs
Those are great photos! Can’t wait to see what you do for your own. As for my own wedding, nope, nadda, we got nothing! We are going to include guest vows (which I love the thought of them taking vows to support us throughout our marriage, etc), but no unity candle, pouring of sand or hand tying–that’s just not us. We have no idea what to include in our ceremony!
That’s really neat! Thanks for opening our eyes to the diversity in Indian weddings! Great that you can pick the traditions that mean the most to you!
i love the pix. we’re having a tea ceremony which will be common for my family, but not for his. we’re also having the bride’s family go first, which is not conventional, since the groom’s family’s never seen one.
Those pics are so cool I’m so glad you can incorporate all you want
Thanks for sharing your culture with us! =) It’s fascinating to see how different each subgroup is.
wow, so many different traditions! i love it! which are your favorites?
I am fascinated by Indian weddings! They are always so big, beautiful, and full of color! And the traditions, although so different from each other like you said, are also so different then the catholic traditions that I have grown up with, I always want to learn more. Thanks for all the eye candy too!
This is so true! Among Hindus, the traditions can be so different down to not just the region where you live, but also your caste/subcaste and even your own family.
I think South Asian weddings and their traditions are beautiful. Thanks for letting us know the depth and breadth of all of these traditions.
Ohhhhhhh Miss Dew Drop! I have been excitedly following your posts already (I am IN LOVE with your dress!) but now I am even more excited - I am marrying an Ismaili Muslim! And I have recently seen lots of these pictures in my own search to find out more about the wedding traditions before we talk to his parents, which like you’ve said, I’ve learned vary greatly! So fun!
I heart Indian weddings. Mr. Peep wanted to model our ceremony after an Indian wedding we went to. I had not idea that they could be so different. Cool post and great pics.
I love the gold makeup in the first picture! Gorgeous!
This is such an enlightening post - it is so beautiful to see other traditions and cultures celebrating marriage!
How did I ever miss that AMAZING veil from Miss Margarita?!? Loved this post!
How cool!!!! We had a Korean Wine Ceremony and it was really unexpected since most people don’t know right off the bat i’m part Korean
These photos are amazing. I think it’s so cool how diverse weddings can be.
I think it’s great that no two weddings are exactly the same, and it’s so amazing that there are so many traditions and customs for you to chose from! I can’t wait to hear about all of the different ceremonies and options!
Combine the variety of traditions with the fact that here you often have a Bengali marrying a Tamil or some other equally unique combination, and you have the perfect opportunity for tons of unique weddings! I love going to Indian weddings
I love all the varying colors and traditions my FI is very traditional so I am going to have a hard time trying to tie in some of the ideas I have but no matter what its all about the love anyways which makes each wedding beautiful.
I have always been fascinated by Indian/South Asian weddings. The colors, the families, the traditions–so beautiful. I know our wedding might come as a surprise to some, as everyone assumes I’m Greek Orthodox because my mom is from Greece, but I’m not. We’re Greek Protestants–we have some of our own traditions, but for the most part it will be like a regular American wedding.
I really admire the beauty and traditon involved in Indian weddings. They always take my breath away. I wish that in my “next life” I can have an Indian wedding!
@thefuturemrsjewell: I’m kind of partial to my own community/family’s traditions. But that might be because I know them best!
@Miss Labrador: Oh, I so agree–her veil is gorgeous!
@Mrs. DG: So true!
India the country is huge, I can only imagine the great diversity there.
i’m excited to hear more abt yours!
but no matter what, they all seem to have beautiful colors in common!
Thanks or enlightening us on the different types of Indian ceremonies! I wanna hear more about your traditions (if you choose to incorporate some Indian traditions into your wedding).
There really arent any traditions that we have…so I think we are making new ones! We’re going to do a sand ceremony that will include us and my fiance’s children. I can’t wait! Its so great that there are many traditions. I cant wait to learn about yours. I love the beautiful bride in the first photo.
Ok Miss DD - the coincidences are wayyyyy too weird. I am ismaili too (well my mum is) and my fiance is non-muslim but is going to convert so we can have a ceremony that is important to me.
Anyhoo, we’re incorporating some traditions as I really love them and for a lot of my friends, this will be the first south asian marriage that they have participated in, so i want them to see how interesting and fun our ceremonies can be
And my ivory wedding dress? The cream sari my mum wore 35 years ago at her wedding… with a modern twist to her blouse - vintage is sooooo cool!
@Miss Mouse: There will definitely be some Indian traditions incorporated into our wedding!
@samjam: I agree–too weird! How exciting that you can wear your mom’s wedding sari. My mom didn’t actually wear a sari at her wedding, but that’s probably a subject better left for a post! 
Our church (which I’m a member of, but none of my family is) doesn’t believe in jewelry, so there won’t be an exchange of rings during the ceremony. I’m sure it will throw some of my family for a loop!
Wow, I had no idea of all the different types/traditions! I’m in love with the Bengali makeup! So incredibly beautiful!
[...] As I mentioned earlier, my family is Ismaili Muslim. That means no mandap, no fire, and no red wedding sari. (Mine is ivory-colored, instead.) So there’s pretty much no way Mr. DD and I would have the Bollywood-style über-Indian wedding of everyone’s dreams, anyway. [...]
I am trying to look for more blogs to tell my story about one of the Indian photo and videographers in Orlando, “Digital Dream Studio 1167 Doss Ave., Orlando, FL”. Mr Ashok Pancholi, THE WORST GUY YOU CAN PUT YOUR PRECIOUS MOMENTS ON FIRE WITH. Him/ his team does not know “anything” about photography or videography. Doesnt matter how many promises he makes. He screwed up my sister’s wedding BIG TIME. Ites been a YEAR and I still havent received its DVDs and pics. Everytime, he tells me one story or the other… no there is no issue with payment. He will send non-indian people in your wedding and they “dont know anything”. They dont have good camera either. DVDs and pics are total waste. PLZ DONT PUT YOUR VALUABLE ONE-TIMER MOMENTS ON STAKE.
November 21, 2009 8:48 AM
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Miss Dew Drop, San Francisco
Age and Occupation: 31, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Managerial Type at an Internet Company
Engagement Date: December 12, 2008
Wedding Date: September 2009
Venue: Ralston Hall Mansion
About Me: I'm a food-and-baking-obsessed, occasionally sword wielding Bay Area native who is quickly becoming overwhelmed with planning a wedding and opening a law practice at the same time. (Brilliant move, that one.) I love reading, online shopping, ice cream, my Macbook, Bollywood movies, hoodies, the UCLA Bruins, and of course, Mr. Dew Drop.
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