Wedding, July 23rd 2007
1:01 AM
My All-Time Favorite Picture!
We have reached the end of the journey now. It's my Anniversary today! Hence, was my wedding day 3 years back. I will try and narrate the story through my pictures here. Thank you everyone for commenting daily and appreciating what you saw! It never gets old (always makes my day)!
... and My Lifelong Journey begins...
This is what you can call the Indian version of 'walking down the aisle'. Mostly the Indian Bride walks with her friends and female cousins by her side. But since I am a 'Daddy's Girl' to the core, I wanted to walk with my Dad.
P.S. He is looking so tired here [it's about 10pm] 'coz he [and my mom] hadn't had a drop of water or any food all day. This is a custom that requires parents to fast till they don't 'give their daughter away'. All our customs and rituals have stories/reasons behind them. They are not 'a law' or 'compulsory' but if you follow them, it's supposed to be auspicious!
We had finalized my husband's [fiancé then!] sherwani back in May, when he had come down from U.S. for the Roka & Engagement Ceremony. I simply decided to match my outfit to his! Lehnga is my least favorite outfit out of all the Indian Outfits [don't know why!] and since it's least likely I will ever wear it again I thought I will just follow the norm and wear it on my wedding day [I had already exhausted all the other options for other ceremonies!]. The basic idea behind my Wedding Lehnga [Designer - Neeta Paul] was it should match my husband's outfit, be flowing with intricate 'paisley' work, and light enough [I had to wear it for almost 10 hours!].
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First ceremony is where we exchange the garlands which are made with rose petals [hanging in our neck!;)]. Mostly the whole clan climbs up on the stage and makes a ruckus around but I wanted to have only our immediate family up there with no rowdy behavior! [I know I am no fun!]
Later, we did not sit on the stage and click pictures with all the guests. Instead after the ceremony we got up and walked around the banquet hall 'just like normal people' and met all the guests and clicked pictures in person, on the ground! That felt much more human to me than to sit in one position for hours like statues!
The second part is followed by the prayers which are performed by the priest. You make seven promises to each other and then take seven rounds around the fire together. [We do not write our own vows. There are 7 vows which all couples make to each other]
There are many-many rites and rituals [with stories/reasons] which are part of this ceremony but if I start explaining them all I would reach the next year of my marriage and still be writing about it :P
We do not have wedding bands in our culture, but instead we put 'sindoor' [which is a red powder also knows as Vermilion, you put exactly where your forehead ends and hairline starts]. This is the wedding finale. You are traditionally [not legally! ;)] married now :o)
This is a chariot of sorts called 'Doli'. In olden days when there were no cars or transportation, the brides used to go their 'new home' in this [which was usually from one village to another]. However, today this is only done for the sake of restoring an old tradition, so the bride goes from the venue till the car in the 'Doli'.
These are my brother and cousins giving a hand in lifting the Doli!
I was so happy, I had worked out [and even fallen sick] and lost loads of weight before the wedding, else can you imagine the guilt I would feel sitting in it [all fat and heavy] while my poor brothers tried to lift this?!?! :P
The only way I was willing to get married was - If things were run my way! Until I got married I never really thought I would! Not 'coz I do not believe in the institution but 'coz I never thought I would ever find someone willing to 'bear my natak!' [tantrums! ;)].
I am extremely thankful to my family and my in-laws 'coz everyone 'just-let-me-be' and let me run the show [with which my brother helped a lot!!!]. I wanted to do things differently and I was allowed to! Well, ... there is always something more you could have done, but then there is no end to that! [And not to forget I do plan to marry 'my husband' again, this time without falling sick before! :)]
And with this we come towards the end of my Wedding Drama. It was lovely having you all on board! From tomorrow we shall resume back to the scheduled telecast of western outfits and my daily ranting ... Haha ;)
48 comments
happy anniversary daahling!! :) The B&W shots are the best! Apt descriptions of all the ceremonies and customs! God bless you guys! :)
ReplyDeleteohhh Tanvi I just love this post,
ReplyDeletethe first pic is very beautiful and it's so romantic that today is your anniv and the post came out today, the whole account was beautiful and moving.
May you have a wonderful day and year.
That first photo is my favourite one too! You look divine!! You may not like wearing that style of clothing very often, but that outfit is absolutely beautiful!! I really love it all!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing all of the photos, experiences and traditions! I feel like I've learned a lot about your culture by you sharing all these stories, and that's great because it's really not something I have any expertise in! It really makes me want to go travel the world even more! Is there any better way to learn about someone else's culture than by experiencing it? I think not!
Ce qui m'inspire
Loved this glimpse into your life... and a very very happy anniv... :) wish u guys years and years of bliss ahead...
ReplyDeleteTanvii I found the connect, today's also my parent's wedding anniversary! Had to be a reason why I like you soooo :D
ReplyDeleteTanvi, I have really appreciated this week of your wedding! I have learned so much about the traditions and customs (ours are slightly different and also I have not really paid attention at the weddings I do go to, haha) My favorite picture is the one with daddy dearest :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I LOVE lehengas! They are my FAVORITE type of outfit! So naturally, though this was your least fave outfit, this was my favorite of all the ones you have shown so far!
Oh and I like the fact that you came OFF the stage to take pictures. I think it's horrible that the bride and groom sit for hours on end with frozen smiles while people come and take pictures!
And finally, happy anniversary, and hope you have many more :)
♥ Leia's Delights
Awww, you look so pretty. I love how you matched outfits with your husband. The blue lengha looks stunning on you.
ReplyDeleteI decided ages ago that I want a Doli for my wedding. I think it would be fun to be carried around and it's such a fun tradition.
First up Happpyyyy Anniversary darling! Wishing you many many years of togetherness and more importantly happiness :) Love the wedding saga pics, a little sad you are all out :( But the finale is most fun. What's amazing is that you look like you genuinely smiling in all your pics unlike most brides who look dead tired and have a fake smiled plastered on their faces. Also love that you guys mingled with the crowd instead of standing on the stage, it looks and feel so artificial, plus those three minute conversations with all the guests! Wierd!
ReplyDeleteLove the lehenga, paisley is such a beautiful thing! Awwww and the matching matching is sooo cute :)
Happpy Anniversaryyyyyy!!! Third year is the lucky one...and May you both always be blessed with khushi, pyaar, and luck!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you both!!
Muah!
Tanvi... I have no words. You are a STAR. That photograph of you is just... DIVINE. Goddess. Old world screen star when they were just luminous...
ReplyDeleteI am not a wedding person. Much to my parent's disappointment. I love marriage but weddings are not my thing. But reading your account... I'm feeling strange pangs of... wish I did... despite being so sick, your wedding was pretty much perfect.
The way you live your life is just... INSPIRATIONAL. I absolutely awe-dore you. :D
LOVE THIS.
ReplyDeleteIts like witnessing the whole thing just how it happened babe.
And Happy Anniversary!
God bless.
A very Happy Anniversary to both of you.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading those explanations.
Ashi kaa jawaaab nahien.(Sp his smile)This color looked fabulous on you.Make-up,Jwels,Lahenga all r simply gorgeeeeee.
Ppl here r enquiring for another party !!
May you have a Happy life throughout.Have fun.Bless you.
Tans sweetheart, this has to be one of your BEST posts!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the way you have taken everybody with you down memory lane...I think everybody who has been following you felt a part of your wedding celebrations!
I loved the way you have described all the traditions...the rituals...your clothes and why you chose them...I must say very well written posts...Bravo!
I wish you and Ashish a very very happy wedding anniversary...May there be many many more happier ones in the coming years...Lots of best wishes!!
Lotsa Love & best wishes!
Tans sweetheart, this has to be one of your BEST posts!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the way you have taken everybody with you down memory lane...I think everybody who has been following you felt a part of your wedding celebrations!
I loved the way you have described all the traditions...the rituals...your clothes and why you chose them...I must say very well written posts...Bravo!
I wish you and Ashish a very very happy wedding anniversary...May there be many many more happier ones in the coming years...Lots of best wishes!!
Lotsa Love & best wishes!
Lovely series!
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary, Tanvi! Thank you so much for this voyage through your wedding. I learned so much and the beautiful pictures are so enjoyable. I love all your outfits (including the Lehnga!), but I think what intrigued me most were your delicately painted henna hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed how you combined tradition with your own ideas, and good on your family that they 'let you be'! xoxo
Happy Anniversary Tanvi!!! LOVE all of your wedding pictures, thanks for sharing with us!!! XOXO, j
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary to the both of you! It's been wonderful to read your recap of the wedding, and isn't it lovely to look back at all these pics and beautiful memories?
ReplyDeleteOh and that first pic of you, so glamourous, darling!!
xx
Happy anniversary, and thank you so much for stopping by G&G! I am so glad to have found you...I loved this post!
ReplyDeleteInteresting, the walking around the fire. Greeks do a wedding walk that includes three rotations.
You looked INCREDIBLE!
Would you consider doing a guest post on my blog about the symbolism of the bracelets and the henna? I am fascinated by both.
♥ V
http://www.gritandglamour.com
Happy anniversary!! love the third pic where u are resting ur head on his shoulder..u look so pretty in the first pic, straight out of a black and white movie. And I love ur doli!! Once gain, congrats..lots of love!!
ReplyDeleteIndian bride looks the best of all... that lehenga suits you...and you are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy a happy married life and a belated "HAPPY MARRIAGE ANNIVERSARY"
Regards
Blasphemous Aesthete
This is amazing ! All the different ceremonies that occur before the big day. This let's you know your in love. I wish we did that. Thanks for sharing this with us.:)
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing ! All the different ceremonies that occur before the big day. This let's you know your in love. I wish we did that. Thanks for sharing this with us.:)
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary sweetheart!!! great selection of pics and rem how much we enjoyed that evening..u were a fantastic bride--looked beautiful!!! i still have memories of all the fun that we had in the room waiting tht day!!congratulations to you and Ashish too!!muuuaaaahhhhh!!!
ReplyDeletehappy anniversary!
ReplyDeletei absolutely adore this post!
happy anniversary to both of you..wish you many many beautiful years ahead..and as always you are looking gorgeous in the lehenga..i love the photographs..and love the poses he captured. our photographer was not so good(realizing it more after seeing your pics) and of all your outfits lehenga one is my favorite..i am a huge lehenga fan and wore three different ones for wedding functions..i can barely walk in a saree and dont know how to tie it..i like suits though..they are pretty comfortable but in saree i can juts stand and get clicked..i can't move..when are you back?
ReplyDeletehappy anniversary tanvi :) :) may you have all many happy memories for your future. Needless to say you are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sonu and Jasleen :)
I've loved the whole journey. I really appreciate you sharing all of this.
ReplyDeletecongrats on your anniversary. Loved this post!!! Gorgeous trousseau, Gorgeous pictures, Gorgeous people!
ReplyDeleteI'm younger than you..but phir bhi..I hope y'all celebrate many more anniversaries!!
Awww..you look great Tanvi..The color of your lehenga and your eye makeup looks so pretty on you!! I'm with Sovina on this..I like lehengas the most too..I mean I love saris too but I still can't walk in them and am always fidgeting with it! Anyway, I loved your wedding week and am kind of sad it's over!! I enjoyed it soo much!! Happy anniversary once again!! Wish you two all the happiness in the world!!
ReplyDeletethe first picture is indeed a favorite (am sure to all readers too). it's beautiful!
ReplyDeletethe wedding series was fun and wish you both a long and blissful married life:)
happy anniversary, your journey was pretty interesting and made me remember my journey :))
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy Anniversary Tanvi...
ReplyDeleteloved your lehenga and its colour!!! beautiful!!! congrats once again
happy anniversary !! :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos and memories..
wish you manymanymany more !
Tanvi! This is such a lovely post. Thanks for sharing it with us.You look especially lovely in the first picture.
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary!
A life long of happiness for the two of you :)
purple-peeptoes.blogspot.com
what gorgeous couple;) Beautiful photos. thanks for sharing. Happy anniversary. x
ReplyDeletegreat pics tanvi.. ur lukin very very pretty in all of the pics. and ur hubby is luuking great too..,..
ReplyDeleteur wedding outfit is also quite different... and btw happy anniversary to both of u ... wishing u a great year ahead filled with loads of love and happiness.... tcre
so much fun to remember all the events. And yes, another party is order!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
ReplyDeletei absolutely looooooooooooooved the pictures n the narration..felt like i was a part of ur wedding...
ReplyDeleten u made a stunning bride!
quite a striker ur husband brought home...
though he looks different now than he did at the time of the wedding na?*of course that means hotter...is there any other adjective to describe u guys?:)*
loved the shots:-)
Before I write this comment let me tell you, I am not stalking you ;)
ReplyDeleteYou look so beautiful as a bride! Love your outfit too!!!!!
beautifuly narrated :)
ReplyDeleteloved the pics...
take care
I love the fact you`ve worn blue and not the traditional maroonish-red!
ReplyDeleteoh WOW! Absolutely breathtaking, thanks so much for sharing. Really, just beautiful, and I just adore the blue on you! You look like royalty! xx
ReplyDeletepretty!!!
ReplyDeleteWowowow I just saw this! You look SO beautiful, Tanvi :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning!
p.s - all those little updates about you and your husband are so cute :)
You looked absolutely beautiful! Your wedding lehnga is stunning!
ReplyDeletexo L.
its my birthday on 23rd july...n lovely pair tanvi...
ReplyDelete