Things not to Do for Indian Weddings

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Receiving an invitation to attend an Indian wedding is a very significant thing. It implies that the bride/groom or both consider you as a person important enough to be present for the occasion. Thus, it’s of utmost relevance that you are aware of the protocols to be followed by the invitees during wedding events in India.

It is especially pivotal that you know about the things that should not be done at Indian weddings. This write-up is going to educate you about all the related aspects.

First and foremost, you should dress decently, while attending the event. That does not mean that you mandatorily have to wear only traditional Indian attire. But, you need to avoid things such as sleeveless shirts and shorts. And, in the case of female invitees, it’s better to refrain from wearing tight-fitting clothes, as well.
This also is a point regarding the correct way to dress for an Indian wedding. Stay away from dresses that are either fully black or white. In India, people wear white-colored dresses while attending funerals/and paying respects to departed souls. Likewise, the color black indicates mourning.
You have to understand that many events and rituals are included in a typical Indian wedding. If you are invited for both the main wedding ceremony and other events, please ensure that the same dress is not repeated. Try to attend each event in a different dress.
Dancing is an integral element of almost every Indian marriage ceremony. Yet, you have to note that this is different from the dance that you get to see at a Western wedding. At a dancing event at an Indian wedding, public displays of affection towards the opposite gender are taboo. By all means, actively participate in the fun and frolic; but bear in mind that there is a limit that should not be crossed.
Several traditions and cultural aspects are involved in all Indian weddings. Even if you happen to find any specific ritual/custom peculiar, kindly do not comment on that. By making such comments, you are unwittingly disrespecting your hosts.
Serving alcoholic beverages is a routine thing at weddings taking place in Western societies. But the same is not the case in Indian marriages. At least, the lunch/dinner that is served soon after the main wedding ceremony, doesn’t include alcohol. In this connection, we need to be very careful; we cannot directly request a drink.

In weddings happening in some households, there might be a few events where alcoholic drinks are a part of lunch/dinner. Hence, if you are fond of these beverages, you can find out whether any such events have been organized.

An invitee must not be over-enthusiastic while clicking the pictures when the event is in progress. Remember, in an Indian wedding the bride and the groom are necessitated to perform many rituals where they need to be thoroughly focused. And here, if one is trying to click too many photos, they only end up disturbing the proceedings.
One must not forget that Hinduism gives tremendous importance to the aspect of respecting the elderly and aged people. And at any Indian wedding, you will get to interact with these seniors. Do not commit the mistake of speaking to them casually. Talk to senior citizens appropriately and respectfully, befitting their age.

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