# Indian wedding ceremony: rituals, length and how to plan it > The Indian wedding ceremony explained: main rituals, how long it lasts, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim versions, who attends and a planning checklist. - **URL**: https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/wedding-ceremony Also called: Pheras, Anand Karaj, Nikah, Shaadi The short answer The wedding ceremony is the religious heart of a South Asian wedding. Hindu couples marry under a mandap with the jaimala, kanyadaan and pheras around a sacred fire; Sikh couples marry in the Anand Karaj, and Muslim couples in the nikah. In a US banquet hall most hosts book 60 to 90 minutes; a full ceremony can run three hours. - **When:** The wedding day, often morning or midday; the muhurat may set the time - **How long:** Often 60 to 90 minutes in a US hall; up to 3 hours with every ritual - **Typical guests:** Most of the guest list, often 150 to 400 - **Hosted by:** Traditionally the bride's family - **What to wear:** Formal Indian wear; cover your head at a gurdwara What it is ## What is a wedding ceremony? In a Hindu ceremony, the couple sits under a mandap, a decorated canopy, with a priest leading the rituals in Sanskrit. A common North Indian order is the jaimala (exchange of garlands), kanyadaan (the bride's parents giving her hand), the pheras (the couple circling the sacred fire, often seven times, each round a vow), then sindoor and the mangalsutra. South Indian, Gujarati, Bengali and other traditions keep the heart of it and change many details, so plan the order with your priest. A Sikh wedding is the Anand Karaj, held in a gurdwara in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. The couple walks around it four times as the four laavan are sung, and the ceremony is usually followed by langar, the shared community meal. Anand Karaj ceremonies are typically held in the morning. A Muslim wedding centers on the nikah, a contract witnessed and led by an imam or qazi. The couple gives consent, the mehr (a gift from the groom to the bride) is agreed, and the nikahnama is signed. It can be short and is often followed by a meal. Many families also hold a walima afterward. Timing ## When it happens and how the wedding ceremony runs A sample Hindu ceremony day around a late-morning muhurat: 1. Morning: Hair and makeup, getting-ready photos, groom's side gathers for the baraat. 2. Before the ceremony: Baraat, milni and welcome at the entrance. 3. Ceremony: Jaimala, kanyadaan, pheras, sindoor and mangalsutra under the mandap. 4. After: Blessings from elders, family photos and lunch for guests. 5. Later: Vidaai, the emotional send-off of the bride, before the evening reception. For an hour-by-hour version of the whole day, see our Indian wedding day timeline. Guests ## How many guests come to a wedding ceremony? The ceremony usually includes most of the guest list. For a large wedding weekend that is often 150 to 400 people, slightly fewer than the reception in many families. Seating is usually rows facing the mandap rather than tables, so plan the room by rows and aisles, and save the front for close family and elders who will want to see the rituals. To estimate each event's turnout, [try the guest attendance calculator](https://www.planme.club/tools/indian-wedding-guest-attendance-calculator). Checklist ## Wedding ceremony planning checklist ### 9 to 12 months before - Agree on the ceremony type and traditions with both families. - Ask your priest, granthi or imam about dates, timings and any muhurat. - Book the venue, gurdwara or hall, and confirm what decor and food rules apply. ### 3 to 6 months before - Book the mandap and decor, or confirm what the gurdwara provides. - Go through the order of rituals with the officiant and decide what to shorten or explain. - Plan ceremony seating by rows, with space for the families near the front. - Book the photographer and videographer for the ceremony and family portraits. ### The final month - Gather puja items, garlands, the mangalsutra, rings or anything your officiant needs. - Write a short program explaining the rituals for guests who are new to them. - Confirm the lunch or langar plan and timing. - Share the ceremony start time and where to sit with every guest. Costs ## What drives the cost of a wedding ceremony Ceremony costs come mostly from the venue, mandap or decor and the meal afterward. Costs depend on your city, the season and your guest count, so we don't quote ranges here. Get two or three quotes for each line below, and see [what an Indian wedding costs in the US](https://www.planme.club/articles/how-much-does-an-indian-wedding-cost) for published ranges with sources. | Cost | What to ask for in the quote | What drives it | | --- | --- | --- | | Venue | From a gurdwara or temple donation to a hotel ballroom | Morning ceremonies often cost less than evening events. | | Mandap and ceremony decor | Typically one of the bigger decor costs of the weekend | Florals, the mandap and aisle decor. | | Officiant | A dakshina or fee | Set by the priest, granthi or imam, or the family. | | Lunch after the ceremony | Priced per head | Often lighter than the reception dinner. | | Photo and video | Usually part of the main wedding package | The ceremony is the one event nobody wants to miss. | Holding the ceremony in the morning and the reception at a different venue in the evening can lower venue and decor costs, at the price of a move between venues. Venue and decor prices shift by city and season, so get quotes. To price your own weekend event by event, use the [Indian wedding budget calculator](https://www.planme.club/tools/indian-wedding-budget-calculator). RSVPs and guests ## RSVP and guest tips for the wedding ceremony - Give the exact start time and gently say that the ceremony starts on time, especially if there is a muhurat. - Tell guests at a gurdwara to cover their heads and remove their shoes, and bring spare head coverings. - Explain the rituals in a short program, on paper or on your website. Guests enjoy the ceremony more when they know what's happening. - Share where lunch is served and how long the break is before the reception. If the ceremony and reception have different lists, see [how to run one RSVP per event](https://www.planme.club/articles/wedding-rsvp-multiple-events) and [when to set your RSVP deadline](https://www.planme.club/tools/wedding-rsvp-deadline-calculator). With PlanMe ## How PlanMe helps you plan the wedding ceremony PlanMe treats the ceremony as one [festivity](https://www.planme.club/features/festivities) among several, each with its own guest list, RSVP, schedule and seating. Here, that means: - A minute-by-minute schedule from getting ready to the vidaai, with people assigned to each step. - A [floor plan](https://www.planme.club/features/seating-chart) for the ceremony room, with a stage for the mandap, walkways and seats for family near the front. - A lunch menu with dietary tags for your caterer. - A website schedule block so every guest knows the start time and venue. - [Email or text a reminder](https://www.planme.club/features/guest-messaging) to guests who haven't replied yet, using RSVP status or a tag like Bride side. [Start planning free](https://app.planme.club/sign-up) - [See all features](https://www.planme.club/features) Free during beta. No credit card needed. Questions ## Wedding ceremony questions Related reading - [Indian wedding day timeline, hour by hour](https://www.planme.club/articles/wedding-day-timeline) - [Indian wedding events in order](https://www.planme.club/articles/indian-wedding-events-in-order) - [Indian wedding seating chart](https://www.planme.club/articles/indian-wedding-seating-chart) - [Wedding table calculator](https://www.planme.club/tools/wedding-table-calculator) ### How long is an Indian wedding ceremony? In a US banquet hall most hosts book 60 to 90 minutes for the ceremony itself. With every ritual it can run up to three hours, and many couples ask their priest which parts to shorten. Our [Indian wedding timeline](https://www.planme.club/articles/wedding-day-timeline) shows a sample day by the hour. ### What are the main rituals in a Hindu wedding ceremony? A common North Indian order is jaimala, kanyadaan, pheras around the sacred fire, then sindoor and mangalsutra. Other regions change the rituals and their names. ### What is a muhurat? An auspicious time for the ceremony, chosen by a priest using the couple's horoscopes. Families who follow it plan the whole day around that time. ### What happens at an Anand Karaj? The Sikh wedding ceremony, held in a gurdwara. The couple walks around the Guru Granth Sahib four times while the four laavan are sung, usually followed by langar. ### What is a nikah? The Muslim wedding ceremony, a contract led by an imam or qazi. The couple consents, the mehr is agreed and the nikahnama is signed in front of witnesses. ### Do guests need to attend the whole ceremony? Close family usually stays for all of it. Other guests often come for the main rituals and lunch. Your program can show which parts matter most. More wedding events ## Plan the rest of the weekend - [Roka and engagement: The families agree, the couple exchanges rings, and wedding planning officially starts.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/roka) - [Haldi: Turmeric paste, close family and a lot of yellow, usually the day before or morning of the wedding.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/haldi) - [Mehndi: Henna for the bride, music and food for close family, usually one to three days before the wedding.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/mehndi) - [Garba and raas: A Gujarati night of circle dancing and dandiya, often one of the liveliest events of the weekend.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/garba) - [Baraat: The groom arrives with dancing family and friends, and the bride's family welcomes them in.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/baraat) - [Reception: The biggest party of the weekend: entrances, speeches, dinner and dancing for the whole guest list.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/reception) - [Walima: The groom's family hosts a feast after the nikah, often the final big event of a Muslim wedding.](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events/walima) - [Sangeet: Our full sangeet planning guide.](https://www.planme.club/articles/how-to-plan-a-sangeet) Not sure what order they go in? See [Indian wedding events in order](https://www.planme.club/articles/indian-wedding-events-in-order), or [all wedding event guides](https://www.planme.club/wedding-events).