Destination Indian Wedding

Imagine having numerous family members you've never met! One day, you're invited to your mother's cousin's wedding. You're introduced to many members of your extended family, and you all have a wonderful time. That's what I experienced this summer.

My mom has a lot of cousins. However, I had never met any of these cousins except the groom. My mom’s cousins also had young children. One of these children was an adorable 2-year-old baby who followed me wherever I went. It felt nice to meet my family, as they were very kind and welcoming towards me, and I realized that I had a lot of relatives who cared for me. It was a touching experience.

The wedding itself was a blast. The parties were amazing and lasted long into the night - there were welcome lunches and dinners as the guests arrived over different days, a Sangeet, Black Tie Dinners, an Afterparty in addition to the wedding ceremonies like Haldi and Mehendi where there was wonderful India music and energetic dancing by everyone in the Wedding party. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and there were singers invited and dance competitions between the groom’s and the bride’s families. The food was also top-notch. There were all sorts of cuisines, like Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and of course, Indian. This is not the first time I have been to an Indian wedding. I went to my uncle’s wedding when I was 3, but unfortunately, I don’t remember it. Attending this wedding was a wonderful experience and it will leave a lasting impression on me.

The cultural blend between North Indian and South Indian was significant. The groom’s family (me, my parents, grandparents, and their siblings and cousins) were from Bengaluru (South India), and the bride’s family was from Surat (North India), so the wedding was held in Jaipur, so that no family seemed more important. There was both a North Indian style wedding and a South Indian style wedding as well.  This cultural inclusiveness was great, and it meant a lot to both families.

Indian weddings are fantastic. You get to meet all of your family, eat good food, and have a wonderful time. Recently, I went to my mom’s cousin’s wedding in Jaipur. I greatly enjoyed the time I had when I met my mom’s family for the first time and ate delicious food at the buffet.