India is a country that is widely known for its diverse culture and traditions, which are vividly reflected through its colorful festivals and weddings. The grandeur and beauty of Indian weddings are known far and wide. With each state having its own set of customs and traditions, Indian weddings are a truly unique celebration of love. But what happens when two people with different cultural backgrounds fall in love? A fusion Indian wedding is born. A wedding where the beliefs of both partners are well blended, creating an unforgettable and unique celebration of love.
Everything You Need To Know To Plan a Fusion Indian Wedding
Wedding scene from the movie 2 States
Image courtesy: Vogue India
Fusion Indian weddings have become increasingly popular in recent years. Today, the combination of diverse customs, rituals, and traditions from different parts of India and the world are celebrated in a unique and personified way. Naturally, planning a fun and memorable fusion Indian wedding could be a daunting task, but, with thoughtful choices, it can be a beautiful celebration of love and blended beliefs and traditions. So, here is a guide for you to plan an unforgettable fusion Indian wedding that celebrates traditions while reflecting your personal style.
Talk It Out
Weddings and other festivities differ with beliefs and regions. Hence, the first step in planning a fusion Indian wedding should be to understand the customs of the families involved. And who else could guide you through it better than your elders? Involve your families to help you with Indian wedding traditions and ideas. Sit with both families; get them involved for a better understanding and to honor their beliefs in the best possible way. Clear communication regarding which traditions to incorporate into the wedding will help you have a clear idea of the budget and number of events, and most essentially, it will make sure that you and the entire family are on the same page.
Find Similarities
Every culture has its own identity and a unique set of festivities. Once you have talked with your elders and know about the uniqueness of each of them and can also list out a few, you can blend them together. For example, you can easily whisk Gujarat's Garba to a Punjabi sangeet ceremony. Find similarities between a few fun festivities to break the ice between the families. This will turn the wedding into a party where everyone will know each other by the end of the wedding.
The Number of Events and Ceremonies
Indian weddings have festivities that span days. For a fusion Indian wedding, it is important to choose which one to incorporate if you are planning to have a single ceremony or two different ceremonies honoring them all. Couples usually prefer having two different ceremonies; they opt out of a few festivities to wrap up their wedding in a shorter duration. This gives their wedding a personal touch while not digging a hole in their pockets!
The Budget Followed by the Guestlist and Venue
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Now that you have decided on the number of ceremonies and events, draw up a budget to proceed with. It's essential to establish a budget first as it will help you get a clear idea about how much you can spend on each of the ceremonies. Move ahead with the guest list and the venue once the budget is fixed and try to stick to it to avoid overspending. All these three aspects are very closely related as the number of guests often determines the size of the venue which depends upon the budget.
For a fusion Indian wedding, generally larger properties or heritage destinations are preferred that also offer accommodations. Choose a venue that can serve your purpose without hitting hard on the budget.
Invites: Use Them To Educate the Guests
Fusion weddings serve something different than the traditional Indian wedding. Every fusion wedding has a personal touch from the bride and groom, along with their different cultures. In such a blend, the guests might feel a bit out of place or have no clue what to expect. Try incorporating the itinerary of the wedding in the invite with a quirky write-up or graphic. This will help them be a part of the ceremonies like the big family that they are going to be. Make it fun for you and for the guests!
Dress Codes
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Along with the nice blend of cultures, what stands out about fusion Indian weddings is the outfits guests wear! Having a dress code maintains the authenticity of various rituals and ceremonies.
If you’re unsure about how to proceed ahead with the dress code, it may be helpful to seek the guidance of a wedding stylist. A wedding stylist will work with you to understand your preferences and can suggest ideas that go well with your personal style along with the theme of the wedding bringing harmony to the pictures. Setting a dress code for the guests can land you photos that make your fusion Indian wedding look royal.
Decor
Colors play a significant role in various traditions, and decor is a way to incorporate them into various ceremonies. Blending colors together will also bring both families together. For example, green plays a significant role in Maharashtrian traditions, and a combination of red and white is important in Gujarati and Bengali traditions. Going for decor while keeping the significance of color in mind will bring life to the ceremony.
Going for different colors for different ceremonies is also recommended. Be sure to use relevant colors for the decor of various ceremonies, such as yellow or orange for haldi and vibrant shades for sangeet. For a personal touch, you can use decor to tell your story by incorporating photos in the decor.
Don’t Forget the Food
Food is undoubtedly an essential part of weddings. For a fusion Indian wedding, it could be one of the best opportunities to make both sides feel accepted and welcomed. Discuss with your venue partner and caterer the signature dishes of your culture. If you are having one ceremony, try creating a menu blending the tastes of both families. It would be one of the best tricks to help the families get closer.
Dance It Out!
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A wedding is a celebration of love, and no celebration is complete without dance. While planning your fusion Indian wedding, make sure to make the dance function an integral part of it. This will help all the guests mingle, and the wedding will be like a party blended with traditions where everyone will know each other's name by the end of it. It will make not just the family members but also other guests involved in the wedding. You can also make it fun by adding fun games and activities to it. Either way, dance, and music will be excellent ways to bring everyone together.
Planning a fusion Indian wedding could sound like a daunting task, but with careful consideration and by accepting and respecting the beliefs of each family, you could create a unique and unforgettable wedding experience, not just for you but for the guests as well. With a fusion Indian wedding, celebrate cultural diversity in your own unique way!
Featured image courtesy: A still from the movie Unindian via NDTV
