Menka & Eric

Traditional Indian OR Western.

Ladies: Salwar kameez or maxi dress. 

Gentlemen: Polo shirt or button-down shirt with pants.

*All guests are invited from both the Bride and Groom’s side to join and witness the prayers performed by the priest, however it is OPTIONAL.


The Navgrahi Puja is the final and most important Hindu religion custom performed by the priest typically on the eve of the wedding day. This features a prayer to the Gods of the “nine planets” and blessings to the couple, symbolizing the welcoming of Gods into their home. The Gods are invited into the house as guests by offering them food, water and light, which is done to appease all cosmic and mythical deities to remove any obstacles in way of the auspicious day.


Then the priest performs the Ghari Puja which is a series of prayers combined with offerings of wheat, coconut, betel nuts, rice and spices symbolizing prosperity. Married ladies grind wheat on a small old fashioned grinder symbolizing that the home will always be prosperous. The groom offers a handful of grains to the priest indicating that although he is changing his lifestyle, he will always give to charity and look after those less fortunate than himself.


The Bride’s mother will wear her wedding traditional dress and walk to the doorways of the houses with special pots filled with water on her head. The son-in-law of the family cuts the water with a knife to ward off any evil spirits. The Bride’s parents are adorned with garlands of flowers and money by their friends and relatives. The bride and groom put on old clothes which will be torn off with excitement by their friends and family members, illustrating the end of the single lives of the couple.


Semi-Formal.

Gentlemen: Pants, polo or a button-down shirt, or a simple suit jacket. 

Ladies: Flowy dress, cocktail dress, midi dress, maxi dress, pantsuit, or jumpsuit

Pro-tip: Think you are going to an outdoor lounge!

The Welcome Dinner will be a chance for all of our guests to meet and get to know each other. There will be live entertainment, music, food, and drinks provided throughout the night!

Indo-Western. (Please refer to the FAQ section for websites to rent/buy Indo-Western outfits.)

Gentlemen: Kurta pyjama or sherwani. The sherwani can be worn with tighter-fitting pants or trousers called churidars. Churidars are trousers that are loose around the hips and thighs but are tight and gathered around the ankle.

Ladies: Lehenga, saree, or anarkali.

Pro-tip: Since the theme of the Sangeet is typically music and dancing, you should wear something you can twirl the night away in!

*We highly recommend you wear an Indo-Western outfit, as almost everyone will be in this attire, but Western attire (Gentlemen: suit and tie, Ladies: gown or maxi-dress) is also an option for this event.

What is a Mehndi?

The word “Mehndi” means henna in Hindi. At a Mehndi ceremony, the bride and her female family members and friends gather for henna. The henna is believed to ward off evil, promote fertility, and attract good energy for the soon-to-be wedded couple. Everyone from the wedding is invited to get henna, including men, if they wish!

The names of both the bride and the groom are “hidden” in the bride’s artwork and the groom is meant to find the names. There is also a saying that the deeper the color of the henna, the stronger the bond between husband and wife and the better the bride will get along with her mother-in-law. So brides often let the henna dry for up to eight hours! 


What is a Sangeet?

The word "Sangeet" means music party in Hindi. A Sangeet or cocktail party is typically the last celebration before the wedding day of an Indian wedding celebration. Typically, the bride and groom's close family and friends perform choreographed dances to the latest Bollywood tunes. The night ends in a big celebration of dancing and music.

What if I want to do a performance during the Sangeet?

We are so thrilled you want to contribute and be a part of the Sangeet! Please email us at menkaanderic@gmail.com and we can start planning accordingly.

8:45 AM Baraat gathering

We will have golf carts available at the Balam Ballroom to bring guests from the hotel rooms to the Beach

**RSVP NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT**

Traditional Indian OR Western.

Gentlemen: Kurta pyjama with a Nehru jacket, or light pants and a button-down shirt.

Ladies: Saree, lehenga, flowy dress, or maxi dress.

Pro-tip: This event is going to be by the beach, so you will want to wear something that is light and breathable!

*This will be the same attire for the wedding.

What is a Baraat?

In most Indian wedding celebrations, the day begins with the Groom’s procession, as his entire family and friends all lead him to the wedding altar. This is called the Baraat. This ‘ceremony within a ceremony’ is where the Groom rides on a white horse and makes his grand entrance. He is ushered in by a long line of his family and friends, who are all singing, dancing, and shouting out traditional Indian well wishes. Think of the Baraat as a mini parade, but where the guests are participants instead of the audience. It is a rousing spectacle! There will be refreshments (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), a DJ, and a dhol player (an Indian wedding drummer) during this event. You don’t want to miss it! 


What is an Indian tradition during this event that we should be aware of?

During the Pheras, traditionally, the bride’s family will try to steal the groom’s shoes (he has to take them off when he enters the altar). This is known as the Joota Chupai. The Groom’s side of the family attempts to thwart the females from taking the shoes by poking fun and searching for the shoes as the ceremony proceeds. 

If the bride’s side does manage to steal his shoes, they’ll demand money from the groom or his family (usually his brothers or cousins) in order to give it back. For a very handsome fee, the girls surrender the shoes, thus ending the ritual.

It’s not uncommon for people to pretend that this is a real battle and start (literally) jumping on each other. The game is meant to show the acceptance and open hearts of both sides of the family and how willing and ready they are to share a lifetime of laughter and fun together.

1:30 PM

Location: Studios Courtyard

**RSVP NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT**

Traditional Indian OR Western.

Gentlemen: Kurta pyjama with a Nehru jacket, or light pants and a button-down shirt.

Ladies: Saree, lehenga, flowy dress, or maxi dress.

Pro-tip: This event is going to be by the beach, so you will want to wear something that is light and breathable!

*You will have time to change between the wedding and the cocktail hour/reception. 

What is a Pheras?

A Hindu marriage is called the Pheras. Hindu weddings take place outside under a canopy known as a Mandap. Each of the four pillars of the bridal canopy represents one of the four parents. Both sets of parents and any siblings stand up at the Mandap during the ceremony. Front and center under the Mandap is the sacred fire. The fire can be small and confined to a brazier or dish for safety. Agni, the God of Fire, is said to sustain life and thus gives life to the marriage.

The ceremony starts off with the bride’s parents giving away the bride in a ritual called Kanyadan.

The bride and groom then join hands and circle around the enclosed fire in a ritual called the Mangalphera, the walk around the fire. The bride and groom walk around the fire four times, with each turn representing a major goal in life: Dharma (morality); Artha (prosperity); Kama (personal gratification); and Moksha (spirituality). As they perform the Mangalphera, the Pundit (Indian priest), who chants verses during the ceremony, ties them together. Once they finish their walk around the fire, the couple rushes to their seats, since it is said that whoever sits down first will be the dominant one in the marriage. At the end of this, the couple is officially married – this is the legal element of the Hindu marriage ceremony.

Then the couple will do the Saptapadi (take seven steps forward), where they recite seven vows to each other.

Finally, the groom will apply a red Sindoor (powder) to the center of the bride’s forehead and tie a Mangalsutra (a necklace made of gold and black beads) around her neck, symbolizing that she is now a married woman.

For happiness and prosperity, friends and families also throw flowers after the couple is married.

When does the Catholic service happen?

We will be combining the Hindu and Catholic services into one, so they will both be happening at the same time.

8:00 PM Onwards

We ask that all guests attending, please place your desired meal selection, as our reception is plated. You can do so through the link below. Please do this no later than December 20th.

Submit your meal selection

Black Tie Optional.

Gentlemen - suit and tie or a tuxedo.

Ladies - evening gown or floor-length dress.