Whether you or your fiance -- or both of you -- have Indian heritage, you might want a celebration that mixes South-Asian customs with Western ones. Here are four ways you can honor both cultures at your wedding.
Spiced-up Ceremony
There’s a host of Western and Eastern wedding traditions you can combine to create a totally personalized ceremony. For example, start with an Indian exchange of flower garlands, follow that with a Western ring exchange, and finish with the seven steps, or saptapadi, around a flame while you alternate saying customary Hindu vows and Western ones.
Costume Change
If you love the idea of wearing traditional Indian wedding attire but have always envisioned walking down the aisle in a big, white dress, do both! Wear a ball gown for the ceremony and slip into a sari for the reception (it’ll be easier to dance in, anyway). Or skip Indian clothing on your wedding day, but still plan a traditional mehndi night with your bridesmaids so your hands and feet will be decked out in henna at the wedding.
Culinary Creativity
If you don’t want the fare to be full-on Indian, you can spice up one of the other wedding events -- like the rehearsal dinner or postwedding brunch -- with Indian dishes and drinks. Or pair Western-style entrees with Indian side dishes, like garlic naan, samosa pastries, and pakoras, aka fried snacks, for your reception menu. You could even consider a fusion approach by serving traditional dishes with a twist, such as Indian bruschetta with curried plum tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, cilantro, and tamarind chutney on French bread.
Musical Mix
Your reception music not only sets the tone for your party, but it can also nod to your Indian heritage. Mixing in traditional or contemporary Indian songs with your pop and R&B hits makes for a playlist that will get everyone on the dance floor. If you want to keep the bhangra to a minimum, pick a predominantly American playlist and hire dancers (or just teach your bridal party!) to surprise guests with one Bollywood-style performance.
-- Justine Lorelle Blanchard