South Asian destination weddings are a growing trend here in Mexico, with very specific areas like Cancun or Tulum being right at the top of the list. And there really is no wondering why; with bright blue waters and gleaming white stretches of sand, it makes perfect sense that Mexico is the wedding paradise of the World! South Asian bridal parties are increasingly finding that to hold their South Asian wedding parties in Mexico sets them above the ordinary – and starts their marriage on the perfect note!
Is There a Difference?
There is a difference between Indian weddings and South Asian Weddings, though India is a part of South Asia too. Both forms of South Asian Weddings in Mexico have a few major factors in common – they're filled with traditions, rituals, love and religion. Color and festivities feature high on the list of priorities when it comes to the ultimate celebration of love, but the key factor to note is the difference in religions. So even though there are many similarities and the weddings do run side-by-side with many parallels, the difference is in the religion of the South Asian Bridal party.
Tell us more!
South Asian weddings are designed to reflect the color and vibrancy of life. As much as it is a celebration of love, it is also a celebration of family. In times gone by, neighbours and the entire community would pull together and join in the celebrations which would last for days, filled with traditions and rituals that have been passed down through the generations to where we find ourselves today. There are a number of important ceremonies that form an integral part of the South Asian weddings we know today.
Pre-Wedding Ceremonies.
Pre-wedding ceremonies differ slightly from area to area depending on the region and the religion of the bridal party. Most of these prewedding celebrations are attending only by close family, but some do include the friends of the bride. Most events will include some form of delicious refreshment.
Roka.
The end of the search. This is a first step towards solidifying a relationship, a ceremony that formally marks the beginning of a lasting relationship between the families. Traditionally small gifts are exchanged as a symbolic welcoming of the new member of the family. Gifts will be items like jewellery and clothes, and often sweets are included.
Chunni Chadana Ceremony.
The gifting of a scarf to the Bride. The grooms’ family will visit the bride, and a red sari is presented to the future bride by the sister (or sister-in-law) of the groom. This symbolizes the acceptance into the groom's family. The bride will don the clothing that the groom’s family has given her, and her future mother-in-law will present her with a red chunni, or scarf. This forms the main body of the ceremony, and the groom’s mother will also offer some jewellery to the bride. This ritual will end with a swopping of rings between the future bride and groom.
Sangeet Ceremony.
The singing ceremony! A small party is held at the homes of the bride and groom, where singing of wedding folk songs takes place. Friends and relatives will enjoy the celebration by dancing to the tunes, which are filled with well-wishes and blessings for the couple. The bride and groom don’t escape unscathed though, with a little bit of teasing thrown in at the couples' expense.
Mehndi Ceremony
This is a very important part of the pre-wedding ceremonies. Mehndi is taken to the bride's residence by members of the groom's family. Intricate patterns are applied to the bride's hands and feet, and she is offered a variety of gifts including dried fruits, dates being the most prominent among them.
Jago Ceremony.
The candles in a steel pot. Traditionally the bride's maternal family would arrive at the bride's fathers' home, and sing folk songs loudly and boisterously to announce their arrival for the wedding ceremony that is due to take place. Typically, this can happen a few days before the wedding and the noise is designed to invite the neighbours to join in the celebration.
Finally, the Wedding Ceremonies can begin!
Rituals for the Bride!
The Chuda ritual is where the oldest maternal aunt and uncle play a vital role. The Chuda is a set of red and cream ivory bangles. For this ritual, family members and friends offer their heartfelt wishes to the marriages future by touching the chuda. Holy offerings are distributed, followed by kaliras being tied to the bride's bangle.
Vatna involves applying a specially made paste to the bride and grooms' skin. This is a symbol of beauty for the bride and groom, as this is a herbal paste for glowing skin. The couple sit together under a canopy held by family members, and their wrists are tied with red thread to ward off any evils. Once this ritual is complete, the bride heads off to get ready for the wedding before proceeding to the wedding venue.
Don’t forget the Groom!
The groom follows another set of rituals which include sehrabandi (the dressing of the groom followed by his sister tying a sehra onto his head. All the witnesses of this ritual now offer the groom token gifts and cash. The final ceremony is the Ghodi Chadna in which the groom's eyes are lined with surma.
More rituals?
There are more rituals that follow for South Asian weddings at the wedding venue. As we can see, South Asian weddings are full of tradition, rituals and religious practices. They are followed by further post wedding rituals and finally culminate in a reception party thrown by the Grooms family on the day following the wedding. This is a more relaxed time where celebrations happen following the successful conclusion of the wedding ceremonies.
Plan it Right!
And this is where high quality South Asian wedding planners step in! When it comes to South Asian Destination wedding packages, it is imperative to work with the best. And Shaadi Destinations – only the biggest (and award-winning!) agency in Mexico for South Asian and Indian weddings – are certainly that. We’ve partnered together to capture your once in a lifetime experience, to turn it into a treasured memory that will last a lifetime. Take a look here to find out more about our collaboration. https://www.shaadidestinations.com/indiandestination-weddings-blog/videography-with-ruiz-films
South Asian wedding photography is one way of immortalising your day, in snapshots. It is important that your South Asian wedding photographer understands the essence of what is important to you, and that you feel comfortable and happy with them as they will be with you for the duration of the wedding. Photographs are beautiful and a wonderful way of spreading the joy throughout your home, but to have a chance to relive your special day over as the memories fade is priceless.
South Asian wedding Cinematography, is it for me?
This is where we step in. South Asian wedding cinematography gives this precious gift to you, one that you can share with your children and your childrens’ children as time passes. Each of our South Asian wedding cinemographers are creative and unobtrusive, capturing your celebration in spectacular detail to be shared with family and friends over and over again.
Specialized Partners.
One of our specialized partners for South Asian and Indian weddings in the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos is JC Castillo. With all the traditions and rituals involved in South Asian weddings, it is vitally important to have someone on your side who understands the complexities that are involved. And he knows exactly what he is doing!
A true romantic, JC Castillo knows exactly what is needed in the planning of a South Asian wedding - from wedding venues to transport, accommodation and more. We work in close partnership with him, and can assure you that with his many years of experience he understands what sets a South Asian wedding apart from the rest.
He will be able to guide you and offer you advice on things like the ideal South Asian wedding venues in the beautiful Country of Mexico as he covers most areas in the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos; and you can rest assured that all of your needs will be taken care of to the highest standard with our specialized partners.
To Conclude!
There isn’t a more magical place on this Earth to host a South Asian destination wedding. Allow us to worry about the practicalities of capturing and bottling the essence of your experience, while you go ahead and enjoy being in the moment. One that will last a lifetime in video for you to enjoy!