A Grand Indian Wedding: Making It Uniquely Yours

Planning an Indian wedding and looking for ways to make it unique? From decorations to catering, here are some ideas to make your big day stand out.

An enchanting entrance is a must – consider a flower shower, colourful smoke bombs, or even a royal palanquin carried by your cousins or brothers. For the food, think beyond the usual kebabs and try something different like fish and chips or tortilla wraps. Add a DIY counter where guests can make their own veggie or meat wraps.

For decorations, centrepieces are a must-have – think flowers, candelabras, or even colourful fruit displays. Ceiling decorations can include satin drapes, fairy lights, or paper chandeliers. A photo booth with fun props is also a great addition.

For the reception, set up a sweetheart table for the newlyweds surrounded by family. A DJ request box is a fun way to get guests involved in the music selection. And don't forget to include a unique performance during the Sangeet – it doesn't always have to be dancing!

These are just a few ideas to make your Indian wedding unique. With a bit of creativity and imagination, you can make your special day truly memorable.

Creative entrances for the bride

The bride's entrance is one of the most anticipated moments at an Indian wedding, and there are many ways to make it unique and memorable. Here are some creative entrance ideas for the bride to make a statement and wow the guests:

Royal Entry

If the groom can make a grand entrance riding a white horse, why can't the bride? Make a royal entrance like a princess, arriving on a beautifully decorated elephant or in a carriage. This will surely leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Under a Chaadar

Create a stunning entrance like in the movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, where the bride enters under a chaadar made of tealights. Enhance the effect with kaliras and lights, making your face glow under the lighting. This will undoubtedly be a magical moment.

Swag Wali Entry

Be a hatke dulhan and arrive at the venue on a bike or in a vintage car. Decorate your ride with flowers and a quirky signboard, and be prepared to turn heads and drop jaws!

Dance Your Way In

Enter the venue dancing with your girl gang to the beats of dhol, nagade, and shehnai. This bold and joyful entrance will get everyone grooving and set a festive tone for the celebration.

Flower Shower

Make a whimsical entrance with a flower shower. Have your friends and sisters greet you with palms full of petals as you walk towards the mandap. For added impact, they can even synchronize their dress colours to match yours.

Dramatic Smoke Bombs

For a daytime wedding, consider incorporating colourful smoke bombs into your entrance. This dramatic effect will create a memorable visual as you make your way to the ceremony.

Sparkling Fireworks

Synchronize your entrance with a dazzling display of fireworks. This idea will add a touch of sparkle and excitement to your arrival, leaving a lasting impression on your guests.

Palanquin or Palki

Arrive like a queen carried in a palanquin or palki by your brothers or cousins. This traditional mode of transport will make you feel like royalty and create lasting memories for you and your guests.

Song and Dance

Make a movie-style entrance by arriving over a song, with your bridesmaids performing a choreographed dance routine. This entertaining idea will be a delightful surprise for your guests.

Flower Bed

Regal and enchanting, entering on a bed of flowers is sure to leave a lasting impression. This idea adds a touch of magic and romance to your entrance, creating a memorable visual for all in attendance.

Unique performances at the sangeet

There are many ways to make an Indian wedding stand out and be memorable. Here are some unique performance ideas for the Sangeet:

• A surprise performance by the groom on the bride's favourite actor's popular dancing numbers.
• A sister duo performing on a bunch of hit songs.
• The bride's solo dance performance with swift moves and unique songs.
• A face-off between the bride and groom, with a mix of slow and peppy numbers.
• The groom dancing with his squad, including best men and groomsmen.
• A performance by the bride and her squad on the FRIENDS theme song.
• A mother-daughter duo dancing together.
• A performance by the entire family, including uncles and aunts.
• A dance-off between the bride's side and the groom's side.
• A professionally choreographed dance by the bride and groom.
• A flash mob, where a group of people suddenly arrive and perform a coordinated dance.
• A Qawwali performance for those who are shy to dance.
• A karaoke performance.
• A celebrity impersonator.
• A live band.
• A couple dancing inside a zorbing ball.

Whimsical decor

Centrepieces and Table Decor

Flowers, candelabras, coloured candlesticks, and even fruit can be used as centrepieces. You could also opt for intricate vases or colourful candles inside them. Table runners made of silk, sequins, or hessian fabric with crystals or borders stitched onto them will add a touch of glamour.

Ceiling Decor

Satin drapes, fairy lights, potted plants, bird cages, or paper chandeliers can be hung from the ceiling to create a whimsical atmosphere.

Backdrops and Props

Backdrops can be created using a flower wall or drapes, adding a touch of elegance to the wedding stage. Umbrellas, especially lacy or paper ones, can also be used as creative bunting items.

Lighting

Light-up letters are a versatile choice for the dance floor or wedding stage, providing a great background for candid photography.

Photo Booths

Set up a funky photo booth with vehicles and props, or large, framed photo booths. Outlandish props and backdrops, such as giant polaroid frames or green screens, will make for fun photographic moments.

Personalised Touches

Add personal touches by displaying pre-wedding photos or favourites in a custom-built stacked corner. A wish tree or blessing station, where guests can write their blessings, is another way to make the event unique.

Other Ideas

• Chalkboard signboards with quirky statements and directions
• Creative printed cards asking for advice from guests about the couple's future
• A giant poster of the couple displayed on stage before their entry

Fun food and drink ideas

Food is one of the most important and memorable parts of an Indian wedding. It is also a great way to showcase your creativity and make your wedding unique. Here are some fun food and drink ideas to consider:

Creative Presentation

Make your food presentation fun and unique. For example, serve pani puri shots, kulfi in a spoon, or chaat in martini glasses. You could also set up a chaat station where guests can build their own. Other ideas include serving food in cones, like sundal in ice cream cones, or using creative containers such as soup spoons for aloo chaat or corn chaat.

Indian Tapas

Simplify your wedding food by having an Indian tapas bar. Include a variety of munchies such as papri chat, masala peanuts, sundal, dry poha, and diced chicken bits. This allows your guests to sample a variety of flavours and creates a fun and interactive dining experience.

Alcoholic Treats

Add a fun twist to traditional Indian snacks by incorporating alcohol. For example, serve alcoholic chuski or popsicles, or pair golgappas with vodka shots. You could also offer cocktail pani puri shots or serve daaru chuski.

Fusion Food

Fusion food is a great way to add a unique twist to your wedding menu. Try making Indian nachos by combining Tex-Mex and Indian ingredients. Or, serve spicy prawn appetisers rolled up in roti like sushi, or tandoori chicken crisps with mango chutney. You could even serve roti potlis with the stuffing of your choice.

Desserts

Desserts are a great way to add variety to your menu and create a pretty dessert bar. Try serving traditional Indian sweets such as gulab jamuns in cocktail glasses, or jalebi, a classic Indian sweet made from deep-fried flour soaked in sweet syrup. For a crunchy dessert option, consider malpua, which is similar to pancakes coated in a sweet syrup and topped with sliced nuts. You could also serve modern desserts with an Indian twist, such as paan-flavoured pannacotta.

Drinks

Traditional Indian wedding celebrations do not serve alcohol, but if you want to blend modern customs with traditions, be sure to clearly label which drinks contain alcohol. For a summer wedding, offer refreshing drinks such as piyush (yogurt and milk smoothie) or gondhoraj ghol (a frothy, citrus beverage made with yogurt, ginger, lime juice, and lime zest). You could also serve noon chai (a comforting pink tea) or sharbat (Indian sherbet), which can be served as a dessert or watered down as a beverage.

Interactive guest experiences

Indian weddings are a celebration of love, culture, and community. Here are some creative ways to make your wedding interactive and unique, leaving your guests with unforgettable memories:

Fun Performances and Activities:

• Organise fun and unique performances during the Sangeet or pre-wedding events. While choreographed dances are always enjoyable, consider adding variety with singing, instrumental music, or even a flash mob!
• Encourage guests to participate in activities like a dance-off, karaoke, or a game of musical chairs.
• For a unique twist, try a dance competition with a twist, such as the paper dance or limbo.

Creative Catering:

• Move beyond the usual appetizers and offer your guests a wide range of tasty treats, such as fish and chips, tortilla wraps, exotic tikkas, or sausages.
• Set up interactive food stations like a 'make your own golgappa' bar with flavoured water or a DIY veggie and meat wrap counter.
• For drinks, serve alcoholic chuskis (spiked kala khatta) or exotic, coloured juices for a summer wedding. Don't forget to include a tasty mocktail option too!

Whimsical Decor and Photo Ops:

• Create a magical entrance for the bride with a flower shower, colourful smoke bombs, or a regal bed of flowers.
• Decorate the Mandap with a chandelier, drapes, and flowers or fairy lights for a touch of glamour.
• Set up creative photo ops like a giant polaroid photo booth, a green screen booth, or a vintage magazine cover booth.
• Add a personal touch with a wish tree or blessing station, where guests can write their blessings for the happy couple.

Unique Guest Involvement:

• Include guests in the celebrations by setting up a DJ request box, where they can drop in their favourite songs.
• Have a unique guest book, such as an audio guest book or a typewriter guest book, where guests can leave heartfelt messages.
• For a fun activity, organise a cricket match between the bride's side and the groom's side to break the ice and get everyone involved.
• Provide guests with whistles or tambourines to cheer on the performers during the Sangeet.

These interactive experiences will ensure your guests are engaged, entertained, and leave with wonderful memories of your special day.

Frequently asked questions