Pasadena Hindu Wedding l Shantel & Audel - PART I

Shantel's a lawyer and Audel's an engineer.  What a fabulous couple! When I met with Shantel and Audel for the first time, my thoughts were, they are going to take beautiful photos.  My meeting usually lasts an hour; however, when I finally realized the time, three hours had passed.  We connected right away and went right at it.  Shantel had everything laid out and ready to go.  This girl is a planner.  I'd love to hire her to work for me. She knew exactly what she wanted.  I really enjoyed working with Shantel and Audel.  They are such a lovely couple.  I wish them much happiness in the years to come!

There was so much going on at this wedding that I'd like to break it down into three parts. 

Part I:  The Hindu Wedding Ceremony

Part II: The Traditional "White Dress" Ceremony

Part III The Wedding Reception at Madame Tussauds

In one wedding, we went from India Style to Hollywood Style!  You gotta love it!

Wedding Coordinator: Beverly Harris Weddings & Events (Much thanks to my hardworking team: Stacy Trujeque, Winnie Phung, Danielle Smith, Christian Beabes and Jackie Hodan)
Get Ready Venue: Westin Hotel Pasadena
Ceremony Venue: Pasadena City Hall
Hindu Priest: Pandita Ji
Bride's Attire: Friendship in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, India
Groom's Attire: Mumbai, India at Inorbitz Mall Suit Shop
Henna: Mayuri Bridal in Cerritos
Hair & Make-up: Kajal Sakhrani
Mandap: Sonali's Flowers
Rentals (stage, tables and chairs): Sir Michael's Party Rental 
DJ/MC:  LSM Entertainment
Horse: Ghori for Your Shaadi
Blue Rose Petals: Peter's Flowers
Photographer: Harvard Photography
Videographer: Buckley Videography
Samosas & Chutney: Haveli Indian Cuisine

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

Hindu Wedding Ceremony: Mandap

Traditional Hindu wedding ceremonies are performed inside a Mandap. A mandap is a canopy, supported by four columns, in which the bride, groom, and parents of both sit throughout the entire ceremony. It is traditionally decorated in red and golden colors, signifying prosperity and is the central, most decorated focal point of the wedding.  Read more about the Mandap at weddings.iloveindia.com

The beautiful Mandap pictured below, provided by Sonali Flowers, was used at Shantel and Audel’s  wedding on July 23, 2011. Congratulations to the two of you! It was a very beautiful wedding.

Guest blog post by Winnie Phung

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698

A Hindu and Traditional Wedding Ceremony

Since I’ll soon be coordinating Shantel and Audel's Hindu/ Traditional wedding, I thought I’d blog about what I've learned for preparation of the Ceremony.

Marriage is one of a series of holy sacraments in the Hindu faith, just as it is in the Roman Catholic Church.  It’s believed that marriage has a purifying quality.

In India, the Hindu wedding ceremony, which is conducted by a priest, can usually last all day.  Here in the U.S. , the Hindu ceremony has been shortened by ninety minutes , even though cultural traditions surrounding the wedding can last several days.  It doesn’t have to be performed in a temple and is often conducted in a bride’s home.

During the ceremony, whether of a duration of ninety minutes or an entire day, the couple is instructed in lessons for married life.  There is a frequent chanting of mantras, or prayers in Sanskrit, which ask for blessings on the union.  A traditional Hindu mantra is “I am the word and you are the melody.  I am the melody and you are the word.”

The bride usually wears a sari made of a single piece of red fabric embroidered in gold. She is also adorned with 24-karat-gold jewelry, presented to her by the groom’s family.  The groom usually wears white trousers, a tunic, and a ceremonial hat.  However, since this groom is Mexican he will wear a Mariachi outfit.

At the beginning of the service, the bride and groom are seated under a canopy, which is called mandaps where garlands of flowers are exchanged.  After emphasizing the importance of marriage, the priest ties the couple’s right hands together with cord and sprinkles holy water over them.  The bride’s father then gives his daughter to the groom.  A sacred flame is lit, and the bride and groom make an offer of rice to symbolize their hope of fertility.  Here’s the most important part of the service, “The Seven Steps”.  The marriage is not completed until this has been completed.  The Seven Steps symbolize food, strength, wealth, fortune, children, happy seasons, and friendships.  Together the bride and groom either take seven steps around the sacred flame or walk around it seven times. Once married, the bride and groom feed each other five times with little bits of sweet food, and the ceremony ends with prayers and readings.

As a wedding coordinator, this is what I have to look forward to on July 23, 2011 with Shantel and Audel’s wedding.  Can’t wait!

Beverly Harris Weddings & Events

(310) 487-9698