How to have a Short, Smooth and Efficient Shaadi (Wedding)

Joote Lo Paise Dho!

"Take the shoes and give us money" is a custom in many Indian wedding ceremonies in which the bride’s sisters and friends steal the groom’s shoes and demand money to return them. Such customs were originally created to keep younger members of the wedding party busy during long ceremonies.

The modern trend of performing condensed wedding ceremonies may eliminate such fun and games. In a fast-paced society, weddings ranging four hours or more are no longer the norm.

“We live in a very fast-forward society; we try to fit everything into a schedule,” says Aradhana Luthra, wedding decorator from Washington D.C. area company, As-U-Wish Inc.

Luthra has decorated many shortened versions of various religious wedding ceremonies. Hindu weddings can be cut down to one hour. Sikh weddings can be cut down to about an hour and a half, but no shorter. Muslim weddings can be cut down to a ten minute Nikkah (an actual Islamic marriage) and Christian weddings can be cut down to about ten minutes by just reciting the vows, Luthra says.

To keep your wedding running smoothly and efficiently, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Start planning ahead of time. The shorter the wedding, the more planning it takes to keep everything rolling right along. Give yourself time to explore all options.

2. Traditionally, many Indian wedding dates are chosen based on the suggestion of a pandit (priest) who finds an auspicious time for the ceremony. Lately, this custom is becoming less and less common because of busy lifestyles that don’t allow for this tradition. Not all auspicious dates fall on the weekend and it may be difficult to arrange a wedding that takes place during the week. If you choose to follow this tradition, consult the priest to find out if he can alter the ceremony length to fit your needs and pick an auspicious date for the event to take place. If you aren't the superstitious type, pick a date that is convenient for you and your friends and relatives who may have to travel. Give them the date in advance so they have time to plan their vacation time and book airline tickets. Also make sure you have time to prepare your house and make room for the members of the wedding party who will be staying with you.

3. Make sure the venue is in a convenient location for both bride and groom. The shorter the commute, the more time you’ll have for other important things. You don't want to spend your wedding day going back and forth in traffic when you could be spending that time resting, or getting ready--bright gold jewelry and all.

4. Hire a wedding decorator who will accommodate your needs. You may need to pick decorations that will take less time to set up. Most banquet halls come with time constraints. If you pick decorations that are too elaborate, your ceremony or reception runs the risk of being delayed.

5. Pick a caterer who will be there ahead of time and have the food ready on time. Most caterers will try to accommodate to your needs because they want to make a good impression on the banquet hall management so they will be allowed to cater at that venue again. If you are in an area where there are not many caterers, offer a bonus if the food is ready on time. Give the caterers a schedule in writing saying when you want each course served.

6. Set up a table for gifts and a box for cards. This will keep things organized and make cleaning up at the end of the party much faster. You don't want to run the risk of losing those cash and gift card wedding presents!

7. Assign seats for meals. One way to assign seats is by having table numbers that guests pick up on their way into the banquet hall. This way, they will know exactly where to sit. Also, table numbers will help when dinner is served. You don’t want everyone lining up for a buffet all at once. Announce only a few tables at a time to make the process faster and more enjoyable.

8. This is the bride’s big day! In order to make sure you look picture perfect without spending too much time on your appearance, there are few little tricks which may shorten the process. Try to keep each outfit in a separate bag. Keep one bag for the wedding accessories and makeup and another for the reception outfit. This will save time and create less confusion when you are getting dressed.

9. Desi crowds tend to get caught up in drinking and dancing and are often not ready to leave as the event ends. There are tactful ways to send people home, though. Appoint a relative or friend to thank the guests for attending the wedding and reception about an hour before the venue must be vacated. The DJ or musician can also announce the last song. This will be a sign to the guests that the party is over. Make sure you leave enough time though--it will take about half an hour to clear out the hall and another half hour to clean up.

10. Don’t forget--organization is key! If all is planned well, everything should fit into your schedule. Having a well-planned wedding will give you the freedom to take a deep breath every once in a while and cherish this special day. Your wedding will be one that stays with you for the rest of your life.

Varuna Bhatia is a Freelance Broadcast Journalist in the Washington D.C. area. She's a recent graduate of American University. She has great ideas on short weddings but believes in eternal marriages. Happy Wedding!!

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