All posts in July 2018

When it comes to Asian wedding traditions, it can be hard to know which customs are right for your wedding day. Each society and community will have its own customs, some of which will be perfect for your wedding day. On the other hand, some traditions will not suit you as a couple. To help you incorporate the right Asian wedding traditions for your big day, here are five of our favourite age-old Asian wedding customs.

Five of the best Asian wedding traditions for your wedding

• Written in the stars

For many Asian cultures, choosing the date of your wedding is very important. If you want your marriage to be successful, you may wish to consult astrology or the spirits to find the best time for you to get married.

For example, for a Hindu wedding, the couple can visit a pandit who will use the stars to work out the best date for the wedding. In Vietnam, the bride and groom may visit a monk, fortune teller or spiritual leader to find the best wedding date for them.

• Sangeet

If you want your wedding to run smoothly with no distractions, awkwardness or problems, you may want to hold a sangeet. A sangeet is considered a mini wedding reception, warm-up or rehearsal. It is a chance for both families to all come together and get to know one another before two families become one.

This is a great chance to celebrate, ensure both families get along and enjoy plenty of food and singing to put you at ease before the big day.

• Early to rise

As the best day of your life so far, you’ll want to celebrate your wedding day for as long as possible. The best way to do this is to get married early. For example, a traditional Thai wedding will involve a wedding ceremony that takes place around 6 am. With this, nine monks are invited to bless the couple.

While you may not want a 6 am start, having the ceremony in the morning gives you plenty of opportunity to party and celebrate with your friends.

• Mangal Phere

Circling the Sacred Fire is a crucial custom in many cultures and is one that can be incredibly symbolic and beautiful on your wedding day. With this, the bride and groom will walk around the fire several times. In some traditional Asian weddings, the bride and groom will complete four circles of the fire, in others, they may complete seven laps. Each loop will keep your aspirations in the forefront of your minds such as prosperity as well as your duty to yourselves, family and God.

In some traditions, the last lap will be a race between the newlyweds. The first to complete the lap and sit down will be claimed to be the ruler of the house.

• Ravishing red

For the most prosperity, red is the most auspicious colour to include in your wedding day. Red is a popular choice in Indian weddings as well as for weddings in China. It is important to remember that India and China have many ethnic groups, the right colour for your wedding may alter slightly. However, red will usually symbolise love and loyalty, while gold will symbolise fortune and prosperity.

If you would like to find out more about how Payal can assist you with any of these traditional features then we would be delighted to hear from you. Feel free to contact us with your ideas.