Anytime I tell anyone that I work in the Indian wedding arena, the first thing they say is, “oooooh I love all the color!”  Well, if what you love about Indian weddings is color, color, COLOR, I have just the wedding up my sleeve today. Not only are the clothes, décor, and jewelry colorful, but did you know that the first ceremony of an Indian wedding is one where the bride and groom are drenched in color as well?!  Don’t believe me, take a look at this Holud ceremony sent to us by Photography by Asiya :

Here is the skinny on the Holud ceremony : 

In Hindi, Haldi is turmeric, an extract of ginger root.  When it is dried and ground, it becomes a deep yellow powder.  This powder is mixed into a paste and is applied on both the bride and groom before the wedding ceremony by their married female relatives and friends.   The paste is put on the feet, knees, arms, hands and face and is considered auspicious and is meant to cleanse the body and soul.  It signifies the bride’s preparation and welcoming into adult married life and it also signifies protection, which is why historically the couple cannot leave the house after the ceremony.  It used to be that the bride and groom would each organize a haldi ceremony in their own homes, and from this point the couple should not see each other nor should they leave the house.  But nowadays, the ceremony is often done together. Haldi naturally exfoliates very well, so it is like a mini-facial and body scrub before the wedding—but just a head’s up: if you leave haldi on too long, you might look like you’ve had a bad run-in with self-tanner!

For more of this colorful wedding, check out Maharani Weddings for the rest of the affair!

Vendors :

Floral & Decor: The Design House, NYC / Cinematography: Robles Video / Photography: Photography by Asiya / Catering: Bukhara Grill / Mendhi: Designs by Jamila / DJ & Entertainment: Dj Raj  / Hair & Makeup: Studio Sush