Indian Fusion Wedding

I was a guest at a wedding this year that had an Indian ceremony followed by Christian ceremony followed by reception. The bridesmaids wore saris for the Indian ceremony and then traditional American bridesmaid dresses for the Christian ceremony and the reception. Guests were welcome to dress for an Indian wedding, Christian wedding or both (it was held at a hotel, so I changed in my hotel room between ceremonies). This couple also did a mix of Indian and American food at the reception which was great because I was able to try a bite off my friend’s plate without committing to the full Indian supper. 😊
I can’t speak to live band or Sangeet since they had a DJ and I wasn’t aware of a Sangeet for this particular wedding (so they didn’t have or we werent invited).

Hi Meghna! I used to plan weddings in AZ for almost 3 years and multicultural (especially Hindu based) were our specialty!

Find a great DJ - they’ll hype your crowd and be able to play your mix of songs.

Ive never seen the bridesmaids dress idea you mentioned but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. Just know your bridesmaids love you and will wear what you put them in. In fact, all the Americans in my multicultural weddings LOVED being immersed in the culture.

Please dont feel the need to hide your culture and heritage and don’t be afraid to mix and match. You can show your Hindu pride and balance the things you love about America as well. No one will judge you because it’s going to express who you are. People invited know who you are. They will be fine with all Hindu elements you incorporate. I have seen so many Americans fall in love with the culture after attending Hindu weddings.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

I've attended several Indian weddings, and even though both the brides and grooms were Indian, they all were American born and the receptions reflected that! The receptions featured DJs who played both styles of music and were even able to mix them (eg, an American song played over an Indian beat).

The groomsmen wore traditional attire during the ceremony and suits for the reception. Bridesmaids wore sarees/lenghas for the ceremony and changed into either a party lengha or western dress for reception. As a non-Indian woman who wears Indian clothing a lot (bharatanatyam dancer), lehengas are SUPER comfortable, easy to "figure out," and simple to wear. I don't think your bridesmaids will be uncomfortable in one. But the suggestion you gave about the Indian fabric to make western dress sounds cute, too.

Every sangeet I've been to has been traditional. However, the best one I attended was when the bride and groom reached out to their non-Indian guests in advance and gave us information on the history/tradition of a sangeet and also offered to let us borrow clothing for the night. (They had their families pack extra anarkali/kurta outfits that non-Indians could borrow.) Everyone felt very much included and a part of the event. I think that's important during an event that is in a language your guests may not know.

On that same note, it may be good to have an officiant who will explain what's happening during the ceremony in English. If your guests are lucky, there will be a kind aunty explaining what's going on, but since people sit with those they know, it's not likely. Also prepare them for an Indian ceremony – note that it's normal for guests to get up and walk around, and that there will be snacks in the middle!