Refresher on Hindu Wedding Ceremonies
Baraath
This is the groom's procession. It is a moving party, parade, celebration. It often highlights how great the groom is.
First is the mobile baraath unit, often a truck, van, or SUV with speakers and a DJ playing music.
Second is all the guests, walking, dancing, cheering, celebrating.
Third is the groom, often on a horse, horse & carriage, elephant, or luxury car. *Despite the groom being the reason for the celebration he is often a little bit separate from the action.
Many groom's will get off of their 'horse/other' and dance with their friends in the crowd for a period of time. This is not traditional, but 'everybody does it', because it is more fun for the groom that way.
Old school tradition says that the groom's side needs to be bribed to stop celebrating and instead come and marry the bride.
After the celebration
North Indian Tradition 'Milni': Bride's side men and Groom's side men are introduced to each other, they exchange garlands, exchange a gift or envelope or handshake or hug, then return to their respective sides. The final introduction is father of bride and father of groom.
Other regions of India do not do this.
Groom's Welcome: Mother of the Bride welcomes the Groom. The priest oversees this and guides the tradition. This is brief, approx 5 minutes. Mother of Bride moves plate in a circle, puts vermillion on groom's forehead, throws flower petals on him. Groom crushes a small clay bowl (think Jewish ceremony 'breaking the glass').
**The Groom's Welcome is often a time when everybody is outside, everyone is trying to see the action of two people (and often the mother of the bride is short). There is a lot of energy, but also a lot of crowding. Often this is the photo and video team's least favorite part of the day as you must be in the thick of it... and it is quite thick! There isn't a solution for the situation, but just be prepared.
Some families: The bride comes out and greets the groom.
Then everybody makes their way to the ceremony space.
Ceremony
*Games
This is the groom's procession. It is a moving party, parade, celebration. It often highlights how great the groom is.
First is the mobile baraath unit, often a truck, van, or SUV with speakers and a DJ playing music.
Second is all the guests, walking, dancing, cheering, celebrating.
Third is the groom, often on a horse, horse & carriage, elephant, or luxury car. *Despite the groom being the reason for the celebration he is often a little bit separate from the action.
Many groom's will get off of their 'horse/other' and dance with their friends in the crowd for a period of time. This is not traditional, but 'everybody does it', because it is more fun for the groom that way.
Old school tradition says that the groom's side needs to be bribed to stop celebrating and instead come and marry the bride.
After the celebration
North Indian Tradition 'Milni': Bride's side men and Groom's side men are introduced to each other, they exchange garlands, exchange a gift or envelope or handshake or hug, then return to their respective sides. The final introduction is father of bride and father of groom.
Other regions of India do not do this.
Groom's Welcome: Mother of the Bride welcomes the Groom. The priest oversees this and guides the tradition. This is brief, approx 5 minutes. Mother of Bride moves plate in a circle, puts vermillion on groom's forehead, throws flower petals on him. Groom crushes a small clay bowl (think Jewish ceremony 'breaking the glass').
**The Groom's Welcome is often a time when everybody is outside, everyone is trying to see the action of two people (and often the mother of the bride is short). There is a lot of energy, but also a lot of crowding. Often this is the photo and video team's least favorite part of the day as you must be in the thick of it... and it is quite thick! There isn't a solution for the situation, but just be prepared.
Some families: The bride comes out and greets the groom.
Then everybody makes their way to the ceremony space.
Ceremony
*Games
