Invitation wording- two ceremonies

I personally think the Baraat Ceremony should be listed before the Indian Ceremony. Go in chronological order. Also will all guests be asked to attend each ceremony or is it optional which one they attend? If it were me I would want to attend both just because I've never been to a Hindu ceremony but then again it may be a big inconvenience to other to attend both.. You will need to make it clear to your guests what you are expecting. Why is there such a big gap between the American ceremony and the Baraat Ceremony?

Why are the two ceremonies so far apart in time? But agree with Katie they should be listed in chronological order. Are you offering guests something to do in between ceremonies?

PP brought up a lot of good points.

1. Why the gap between American and Baraat ceremony? Are the guests going to be waiting at the venue?

2. List them in chronological order.

Good thoughts. We are inviting everyone to attend both but its their choice (we work in healthcare and many people might have to work during the first ceremony so its no pressure to attend both I guess). Is there a way to phrase it that might suggest you are invited to both?

We were really struggling with the times of the ceremony. There is a family specific ceremony before the Baraat so that is from 2-3ish that only the groom and his parents/grandparents are invited to. The American ceremony is until 11:30, then I'm sure we'll thank folks for coming, take some wedding party photos and have the parents/bridal party change outfits entirely (and grab a small lunch!). So unfortunately we are not offering guests something to do in between. Which I know is not the best wedding etiquette but I really didn't know any way around it.

So, just to clarify...American Ceremony, Family Specific Ceremony, Baraat Ceremony, and Indian Ceremony? Do you really need all four? Not trying to degrade if it's a cultural tradition but that sounds excessive.

Could the venue set up a small lunch buffet for your guests who came to the american ceremony? or if there is an outdoor courtyard maybe some lawn games and a brunch? Mimosas and the like so your guests won't feel "abandoned" but it would still buy you FH family and your self time to do the Hindu traditions

@Holly Hindu (assuming Hindu is what OP means by "indian" ceremony) is very intricate and each event has a very specific purpose. They can seem excessive but believe me, anyone who is rooted in those traditions will find them absolutely necessary.

Thanks @mrstobe - yes @holly- all of the ceremonies are necessary and Hindu tradition (and this is actually us shortening or cutting out many things!)

I think we'll phrase the invitation in order of the times and maybe can phrase the invitation header as "bride and groom with their parents request your presence at each of the following cermonies" so to make it clear that everyone is invited to all three things + reception

Will the guests be invited to the "small lunch"?

Also make sure you indicate it on your rsvp card so people know they are invited to all. E.g 3 seats have been reserved for you at each ceremonies. _ accepts to wedding _ accept to American _ accepts to... or something of sort.

I agree with mrstobe. Def feed them between the breaks.

That's a good idea about letting them know they're welcome to all in the rsvp cards rather than getting too wordy on the invite. Maybe 3 seats are reserved and then the categories being _____ will be attending all 3, ______ Indian ceremony only, ______ American ceremony only.

A friend had an insert with the invitation that listed the entire schedule since she had a fusion wedding as well.

If you can't offer the guests something between the American ceremony and the Family Specific ceremony, can you switch up your timeline a bit?

2-3ish Family Specific Ceremony

3:30pm Baraat Ceremony

4pm Hindu Ceremony

(immediately after Hindu Ceremony) ~5pm American Ceremony

(immediately after American Ceremony) ~5:30pm cocktail hour for guests while you do wedding party photos

~6:30pm Dinner reception

I like E&M's timeline. If you could put each ceremony in a more pragmatic timeline, it wont confuse people and there will be a better outcome on guest attendance. Can you arrange a change in the American ceremony?

Also if you were able to make the time change to the American ceremony, for the guests who do not want to partake the Hindu ceremony, could you open up cocktail hour that way people have something to do? Not sure if your venue is able to host that, but it is an option to offer guests.

What about having an enclosure with the schedule of the day, rather than trying to include the info on the actual invitation? Then maybe you could include a little background info on the different ceremonies and it doesn't feel weird because you're not trying to figure out the right wording for the invitation. As a guest, I would wonder if I was not supposed to the Hindu ceremony because I'm American.

I like E&M's idea, only the bride and parents will need time to change between the Hindu and American Ceremony. From experience, the Indian Outfit takes longer than the American one. (We did a hybrid Hindu, Catholic and American ceremony in Indian Clothes and wore American wedding clothes for the reception). Having the Hindu ceremonies first will take the timing pressure off you. We cut the bharat since DH's wouldn't know what to do. @ Holly Indian Weddings are excessive lol.

I am also marrying a Hindu man and am doing both ceremonies!

However, we split it up between two days. Our American ceremony and Reception are on Saturday, the day before we are doing the Hindu ceremony- since it's such a lengthy ceremony.

Could you possibly move up the Hindu ceremony to maybe noon (we are shortening ours to about 2-3 hours, so I'm not sure how many hours yours will be) so that you can follow it with the American ceremony? I'm not sure how your guests are, but it's mostly just family joining us for the Hindu part, then everyone will be at the American part and reception.

Also, for all the Hindu ceremonies I've attended for my FH's family, the bride has worn a white "American" dress to the reception. Are you planning on doing the same? seems like a hassle to wear it in the morning, then again in the evening.

My son and dil had a Hindu ceremony but it was a few days from the American one and big reception. But I understand too that auspicious dates are a big part of determining when the Hindu ceremony is held.

If you can't move things around, try your best to explain what is going on and who is invited to what. Perhaps using the inside of a card style invitation with the Hindu info on one side and the American on the other.

Who wants to see me in sari?!