12 Months To Go!
planning your South Asian wedding
12 months to go!
planning YOUR SOUTH ASIAN WEDDING
Congratulations on your engagement! As you embark on this beautiful journey toward your wedding, you will find that planning a South Asian Wedding involves unique traditions, rich cultural elements, and a series of vibrant events. With a year to prepare, here are 10 steps to take to ensure that your special day reflects your heritage while creating unforgettable memories.
1. announce your engagement
Share your joyous news with family and friends! Whether through an intimate gathering or a vibrant social media announcement, celebrate this exciting milestone.
2.set your budget
Start by establishing a budget that encompasses all aspects of your wedding. South Asian weddings often involve multiple events, so be sure to allocate funds for each celebration, including the engagement ceremony, mehndi, sangeet, and the wedding day itself. Discuss contributions, if applicable, from family members to get a clearer picture.
3. Create Your Guest List
Draft an initial guest list with addresses, considering the an extensive guest list if desired. This step will help you choose a venue that can accommodate your family and friends while providing a rough estimate of costs.
4. Choose your wedding date
Selecting a wedding date and time is crucial. Consult with each other, friends and family, and especially a wedding planner to find the most suitable date for your celebrations. Keep in mind that these multi-day events require a big time commitment for guests, long weekends could be a great option to consider. Once you’ve secured your date, send out Save the Dates 8-12 months before the big day.
5. hire a wedding planner
Given the complexity of South Asian weddings, consider hiring a wedding planner experienced in cultural traditions. At The Marigold Company, we help you navigate the logistics of all of your events, recommend and handle all of your vendors, plus keep everything seamlessly organized, making the planning process much smoother. From the mendhi to your wedding day ceremony, we ensure every detail is captured perfectly.
6. Book Your Venue
Look for venues that can host multiple events, keeping everything as close together as possible. Check for places that offer flexibility in catering and decoration to accommodate your vision and traditions. Schedule tours to get a feel for the ambiance and discuss what services they offer – the space, furniture, catering and more are options to consider.
If you’re having trouble locating a venue on your own, a wedding planner can help navigate this process. We partner with venues who have experience hosting South Asian Weddings of all types. Our team helps by understanding your vision and budget, researching suitable venues, arranging site visits, negotiating contracts, and coordinating logistics, ensuring you find the perfect space for your special day.
7.define your wedding style
Decide on the overall theme and style of your wedding. Whether you envision a traditional ceremony with rich colors and ornate décor or a modern twist on cultural elements, start collecting inspiration from bridal magazines, Pinterest, and past weddings. The Marigold Blog is a portfolio of knowledge for you to explore, providing tips on choosing your wedding theme and colors for ceremony. When collaborating with our team, we create a design board together to execute your dream vision.
8. Start researching vendors
Begin your search for essential vendors like caterers, photographers, videographers, florists, and entertainers. Look for those who specialize in South Asian weddings, as they will be familiar with cultural traditions and requirements. Read reviews and ask for recommendations from friends and family. Our preferred vendors list is a great place to start, as we’ve worked with these vendors and can attest to their dedication and high quality work.
9.create a wedding website
A wedding website can serve as a central hub for information. Include details about your love story, the schedule of events, accommodations, and registry information. Make sure to provide RSVP options to help with planning. Zola, The Knot and With Joy are all free, user friendly platforms to consider.
10. start shopping for attire
Begin your search for wedding attire, including your bridal outfit, groom’s attire, and outfits for various events. Explore traditional options like lehengas, sarees, and sherwanis. Don’t forget to consider accessories and jewelry that complement your look. We highly encourage you to start this process as early as possible, keeping in mind order preparation and shipping.
Planning a South Asian wedding can be an exhilarating adventure, filled with rich traditions and heartfelt celebrations. With a year to prepare, you have ample time to create a magical experience that honors your culture and brings together your loved ones. Enjoy every moment of this beautiful journey toward your wedding day!
Photos in this blog are the works of Lin and Jirsa, Marlies Hartmann, American Porta, Minted, Kynah, The Typsy Gypsy and Emily Franks.