Haldi is a prewedding ritual. It is a significant event where family and friends apply turmeric paste (haldi) on the bride and groom. The purpose of this ritual is to bless the bride and groom before the wedding and give them the "wedding glow".

The Shantak is a prayer ritual performed by the parents of both the bride and groom. It is a prayer to invite our Gods to help remove all obstacles from the bride and groom's path. It is also to bless the family before undergoing such an auspicious event.

The Sangeet and Mehndi night is a prewedding custom. It is a night where guests will be properly introduced to the wedding party with speeches and games. It also involves applying henna and enjoying the night with singing and dancing.

The Hindu ceremony is our wedding day, filled with rituals and dancing. The officiant (pandit), bride and groom perform the ceremonies around a sacred fire. This leads to the groom applying sindoor (red powder) to the brides forehead signifying they are married.

Hindu Ceremony Breakdown:

A Hindu wedding is filled with many traditions, the ceremony will include the following:

1. Baraat - Groom's Parade
   The groom and his family and friends parade to the wedding venue, with dancing, dhol music (drumming) and other traditional instruments.

2. Swagatam - Welcoming the Groom's Family
   The bride's family receives the groom and his family upon their arrival for the wedding ceremony. The bride's mother performs welcome rituals and gives their blessings.

3. Ganesh Pooja - The First Prayer
   The first prayer in any Hindu ceremony is always to Lord Ganesh - the remover of obstacles - to ensure everything proceeds smoothly.

4. Kanya Agaman - Bride's Arrival
   The bride arrives at the mandap where a curtain will separate her and the groom for the first part of the ceremony.

5. Varmala - Exchanging Garlands
   The bride arrives and the couple exchanges garlands to show their consent to the match. They take their places in the mandap for the ceremony.

6. Kanya Daan and Hasta Milap - Joining of Hands
   The bride's parents place their daughter's right hand into the groom's right hand. This signifies their parental blessing for the marriage.

7. Agni Pooja - Calling Lord Agni as Witness
   Agni (fire) is lit as a witness to a marriage. The bride and groom offer various items to feed the fire, and recite vows to be faithful and respectful to one another.

8. Gath Bandhan - Tying the Knot
   The end of the couple's shawls are tied together to symbolise the joining of their lives. The couple hold hands and accept each other as husband and wife.

9. Mangal Phera - Circling the Sacred Fire
   The bride and groom circle the sacred fire, taking their first steps as a married couple. With each circle, they seek happiness and prosperity in their household.

10. Saptapadi - The Seven Steps
    The couple will take seven steps together that represent the beginning of their journey in life together. With each step, they make a vow to each other then together we will:

    1. Pursue physical vitality.

    2. Pursue strong mental energy.

    3. Pursue prosperity and share our worldly goods.

    4. Fill our hearts with great joy, peace, trust and spiritual values.

    5. Raise healthy and virtuous children.

    6. Live in harmony with nature.

    7. Remain lifelong companions and friends.

11. Mangal Sutra and Sindoor - Symbols of Marriage
    The groom applies red vermillion powder (sindoor) to the bride's hair parting and places a mangal sutra (a sacred necklace) around her neck as a symbol of his love, commitment, and respect. These two offerings signify the bride's status as a married woman.

12. Kansar - Offering of Sweets
    The couple feed each other sweets signifying their first meal together as husband and wife, demonstrating that they will share all things in life.

13. Aashirvaad - Blessing
    The priest declares the bride and groom as husband and wife and blesses the newlyweds with a happy and prosperous life together. He asks the congregation to join him in showering the couple with blessings and good wishes. The couple then seeks blessings from family and friends as the ceremony concludes.

The reception will start off with the Civil ceremony, followed by cocktail hour. Then the reception will start filled with speeches, games, good food and dancing.