Indian Wedding Etiquettes That You Must Know – Wedamor
There are two ways to look at Indian Weddings. One as an outsider and one as an insider. If you’re an outsider, you’re probably just a guest who doesn’t know half the people invited to the wedding. If you’re an insider, you’re quite responsible for a few things happening over at the wedding. Either way, both must know certain etiquettes and are expected to follow them. As it is these etiquettes that will make you a guest to remember. And that is how You get the same behavioral response from guests at your wedding. What You Give Is What You Get. Indian Wedding Etiquettes are important and people do notice.
Here are some Wedding Etiquettes that you Must know:
Dress Code
Obviously, you can’t just show up at a wedding in your casual or ‘anything but traditional’ wear. It is against the law. (Not literally, but in our minds.. sure!). The hosts notice their guests and its considered rude going in dressed casually. It signifies how much importance you place in the event. Just like any other uniform/dress code, a wedding has an unspoken rule of wearing the right genre of dresses. In case of Indian Weddings, its traditional.
Gift for the Newly Wed
Mostly in Indian Weddings, the gift is always money wrapped in a beautiful envelope. It is a token of blessing from the elders in the family and relatives. Friends/cousins/siblings however, may try something fun and creative to gift the newlyweds. The gifts from all the guests are again taken under full scrutiny and noted. For future reasons, equally valued gifts are given to the guest’s wedding occasions as well. As an Indian, each one of us have heard this phrase from our parents or elders at some point in life. “Jin Jin Ki Shadiyon Mein Khaaya Hai Unhe Khilana Bhi Toh Padega”. Call it culture, call it obligations. It is just the way it is.
Gestures
Weddings are all about enjoyment, responsibility and emotions. For an outsider, it may be just another party to attend to. But for some people, that same party is a life changing event. Gestures are the most undermined part of wedding etiquettes. Gestures at a wedding will include-
- Decent behavior.
- Not drinking too much.
- Not trying to steal the bride and groom’s thunder.
- Being good at small talk with other people.
- Always addressing elders with respect.
- Appropriate attire.
- Being ready to to lend a helping hand anytime of the need.
- Not getting in the way of the photographer.
These are very small things that do count.
Involvement
Well, there’s really not much about it for an outsider guest at weddings. But of course, close friends and family members of the wedding couple are the ones people and elders will expect it from. Quite often, the bride and groom’s parents are so busy and stressed that they miss out to call for help from family members personally. It is an etiquette to be involved in the processes by yourself if you are a member of the family. You have to keep your ego aside and just be there for all of it. Its truly appreciated by the elders of the family to see you obliged to take on some responsibility. Even if that responsibility means dancing your shoes off in the baraat or sangeet.
Timing
What can I say? Indian weddings are not much for time limits! (You know we can keep dancing till 4 am. when the bride and groom have already left). But that’s another story. It is considered good manners if you arrive on time and not after everything is done. Even if you have 4 other weddings to attend, you show up to bless the couple. All the insiders especially are expected the most to be there on time for the entrances and baraat, till the very end. There are rituals like ‘Joota Churai’ and ‘Chheka’ where after the wedding is over and the couple heads back to their home/room, again the siblings and family members gather around the couple and prohibit their entry into the room unless the bride sings a song for them. So of course, if there wouldn’t be any friends or family present until after the wedding, the whole fun is gone.
Every little thing you do matters in a wedding.
Indian weddings are not just a one day celebration, its a trail of celebrations with each event as important as others. Hence, keep these wedding etiquettes in mind at all times and you can even apply it at a small gathering related to the wedding. After all, there is no harm in being humble and thoughtful regardless of the environment.