Your wedding should be one of the happiest moments in your life, and you want to make it as perfect as possible. However, that can require substantial work and resources.

Hindu weddings can cost as much as $200,000 to plan and coordinate – sometimes even more. What can at first seem like a simple affair can quickly spin out of control and cost much more than you anticipated. Many couples (and parents) want to get the best, customized experience without breaking the bank. To do that, it’s important to plan ahead.

Deciding on a Budget

First and foremost, confirm the price range you want to set for your ceremony. Nailing down a number will help you decide the details of your wedding moving forward and what you would like to prioritize. For example, if you want to save up for a beautiful sari, you may want to reduce costs elsewhere, such as contracting a less expensive photographer.

Building a Guest List

Establishing a guest list early on will help solidify your budget and other arrangements, even if it can be frustratingly unstable. For example, some of your guests may want to bring a last-minute plus one. Or, if you have relatives flying in from outside the U.S., there’s the possibility their visa could get rejected.

While you might not be able to avoid some last-minute additions or subtractions, planning at least a generous estimation of your guest list with your partner and families will help you solidify seating arrangements, table settings, food and every other detail of your wedding.

Selecting a Wedding Planner

Having an expert by your side, especially if your guest list is getting close to 150 or more people, will help keep you from becoming overwhelmed. While paying their fee may seem costly, a wedding planner can help you save money throughout the process, from getting you discounts on decor to scouting for the best, affordable hotels for your guests.

First consultations are usually complimentary, so you can meet with various wedding planners and decide which one’s vision aligns with yours. At CrystalView, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop wedding solution provider and would be happy to set you up with a world-class planner with experience planning weddings like yours. 

Picking the Wedding’s Theme and Decor

While the ceremony involves many people, more than anything, your wedding is for you and your partner. You want it to have both of you in every detail, from the floral arrangements to the mandap. Having a theme can potentially make decorating easier. It gives you a story to work with and a structure to build your wedding around. Popular themes  range from fairytales, royalty, Rajasthani and Lucknowi.

Organizing the Event List

When it comes to Hindu weddings, there are various traditions to be mindful of when planning and scheduling the days before the wedding:

Sangeet

Before the wedding, there is the sangeet (or garba), where family members sing traditional folk songs to welcome each other before singing and dancing together or in an easy-going competition. Typically, it takes place in the bride’s home, but if many people are attending, it may be necessary to book a venue.

Mehndi

The bride’s female friends and family gather for a party in which henna is applied to the bride’s hands and feet. Some brides customize the henna and bury the partner’s name in the artwork. It becomes a testament to the patience and love that will be present in their marriage.

Tilak

This ceremony is similar to the Mehndi in that the groom, surrounded by male friends and family members, has his forehead painted in roli paste made from a sacred thread. This paste symbolizes his promise to be a good husband and father.

Finding the Perfect Venue

Ultimately, the foundation of your wedding relies on the venue, where you and your guests will make many life-long memories as you dance and celebrate. The location will affect many of the wedding’s details, from the decor and the food service to how comfortable your guests are. Not to mention that it will be the backdrop for the photos that will eternally commemorate this event.

It’s essential to book almost a year in advance, about 10 to 12 months, so you don’t get locked out by other couples.

If You’re Planning Your Wedding in Fairfax, VA, CrystalView Will Provide You With a Gorgeous Space and Attentive Service to Make Everything as Seamless as Possible

CrystalView is an event space with gorgeous spaces ideal for medium-sized to large weddings, receptions and ceremonial events. Our ballrooms host dozens of jaw-dropping chandeliers and a mezzanine perfect for weddings. Enjoy service from world-class vendors and fundamental necessities, including high-quality air conditioning and unlimited free parking and valet. You can also fully customize the ballroom to match your vision.

Contact us today to schedule a tour or discuss booking.