How can I blend Hindu ideas into a Christian/civil wedding ceremony?

Question

I am marrying my fiance, who's family is largely Hindu. Neither of us practice any religion in particular. We both agreed to having a traditional Christian-style wedding ceremony (white dress, tuxes, being walked down the aisle, Canon in D, etc.). Since a close friend is officiating, we can writing our own ceremony. The content of the ceremony is mainly a civil ceremony, with the theme of friendship. However, we'd like to somehow bring some Hindu elements or themes into the wedding to respect his family members. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

At the wedding You can add steps into the Christan wedding
**have a holy (fake) fire and walk around it four times (called Mangal Fera) each times mean somthing different ... spirituality, prosperity, pleasure, salvation
**take the seven holy steps of marriage which are like the vows in a Hindu wedding called Sapta-Padi each meaning somingthing different food, strength, prosperity, well-begin, childern, happiness, and harmony in the marriage
**along with the exchange of rings you can exchange a Mangal Sutra which is where the groom fasten a gold necklace with black beads around your neck and places vermilion which is red powder on the corwn of you forehead and then exchange flower garlands as well
THESE STEPS ARE DONE AT VERY HINDU WEDDING AND ARE VERY VERY VERY IMPORANT

**You can have Indain style wedding cards
**You can Indain style wedding colors whihc is usually red (and gold)

**ALSO I know you said that your wanted a white dress but how about a BEAUITFUL red sari and wear a bindi on your forhead which are those colorful desgined dots?
**Or if you really want a white amercian dress you can change into a sari for the reception?


OTHER THINGS:
**You could have a Mehendi ceremony in Hindu weddings this is when henna is applied to the brides hands and feet and to the hands of the women of both sides of the family (like both your mothers and sisters and aunts and girl cousins) also the women involved in the wedding (like bridesmaids and flowergirls etc.) (as well as colse colse girl friends) ... this ceremony can be done anytime before the wedding I suggest about two days before the wedding

**You could have a Garba and Raas ceremony (in Hindu wedding this is done the night before the wedding) Garba is a Indian clap dance and Raas is a Indian dance that involve using sticks IT IS SOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN... you fiancé in Hindu ... he will know about this so ask him

**You could have Bhangra at your reception which is a Indian Punjabi dance ... ask you fiance about this ...or have Indian music playing while people are dancing.
**You can also serve some Indian food sweets and/or drinks at the reception dinner... if you need ideas e-mail me at [e-mail] lol

There a web site explaining almost everything about a Hindu wedding and you can read more about what I said at the top about the Mangal Fera, Sapta-Padi, Mangal Sutra, Mehendi ceremony and Garba and Raas and well as other things involed in a Hindu wedding
http://marriage.aryabhatt.com/hindu_wedding.asp

I hope i help you out for your wedding
I wish you a very happy and wonderful wedding
good luck planning

Answer 2

Civil Wedding Ceremony Ideas

Answer 3

Christian Wedding Ceremony Ideas

Answer 4

Since neither of you practice any religion in particular, this opens up a huge canvas upon which you can play. Hindu art is terrific and would be fun if placed in certain locals in the wedding area. But what I'd really like to see is the bride dressed in a traditional sari, but if you're really set on the white gown....How about the traditional gown with an Indian style scarf and a dot on the forehead? It could be very stylish. As far as the vows go, there is great wisdom to be found the many of the Hindu texts, and you may want to pick a few out. There is also good stuff in Christian texts, and the things that don't contradict may contain words that touch the hearts of all who hear them.

Answer 5

It would be nice if they each could say something before, during or after the ceremony. There could be a candle ceremony where the bride and groom and the teens light candles in unity and the clergy could say something about bringing families together. If all or any sing, some meaningful song could be sung. My son married a woman with a child who was five and he gave her a small gold band and something was said about bringing her into the new family. It was very touching.

Answer 6

It seems you have your ceremony layed out so here are some ways to bring it in to the reception. Hindu weddings are very colorful lots of reds and golds. So maybe bring in a verity of different color and types of flowers. Maybe have henna put on you and your bridesmaids. To go even further you could have a special chef make some drinks and special foods from his family's culture.

Answer 7

Maybe see if you can go around the holy fire seven times- or alteast bring some element of that in your service. Or exchange not only rings but the mangalsutra (depending which region of India he homes from).
Good luck with planning your wedding.