When I landed in Georgia last week, I thought I was signing up for some sweet tea, southern charm and maybe a quick weekend wedding. What I got instead was a full-blown, three-day Indian celebration that made every “typical” American wedding I’ve ever been to look like a rehearsal dinner.
My best friend’s brother was getting married, and the couple is Gujarati — which basically meant I had gotten an invite to the most colorful, high-energy love fest of my life. Think less “something borrowed, something blue” and more “someone’s aunt just pulled me into a dance circle before I even found my seat.”
The second I put on my first gifted outfit — a bright yellow dress for our first event of the weekend — I realized this was not your typical “smile politely, eat cake, go home” wedding. This was pure, joyful chaos dressed in sequins.
THE HALDI: A GOLDEN KICKOFF
The first event, called the haldi, is a pre-wedding ritual meant to bless the couple before their big day. Family and friends apply a paste made of turmeric, oil and sandalwood to the bride and groom’s skin to bring good luck and happiness; and yes, to give them that literal golden glow.
It sounds peaceful, right? Yeah, not quite. Within minutes of arriving, I watched as the groom’s family started laughing and smearing turmeric on his face, arms and legs. Then my best friend said, “Your turn!” and suddenly I was smearing the paste all over him as well.
While it is a playful event, it felt incredibly sacred to be invited into the moment to celebrate the start of the marriage. And by the end, my hands were stained yellow, but my heart was full. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know all the traditions, it was impossible not to feel the love in it or feel like part of their family.
THE SANGEET: MUSIC, DANCE AND A NIGHT OF JOY
If the haldi was lively, the sangeet was a full-blown production. It’s basically a night of singing, dancing and celebration before the wedding. Families and friends perform choreographed dances for the couple, and when I say everyone brings their A-game, I mean everyone, like grandmas and grandpas, everyone.
The outfits were sparkling, the lights were dramatic and the energy was through the roof. It was like being in a Bollywood movie, except I was just an extra trying to keep up. Eventually, my friends and I joined a dance circle, and even though we didn’t know the moves, we went for it anyway.
At some point, I stopped worrying about whether I was doing it right and just leaned into the chaos. That’s kind of the magic in this event, no one cares if you know the steps, but as long as you’re having fun you’re doing it right. By the end of the night my friend and I curled into bed, anxiously awaiting the next day’s celebrations.
THE WEDDING: LOVE, LOUD AND UNAPOLOGETIC
The next morning started early with the baraat, which is the groom’s big entrance. In American weddings, he just walks down an aisle. Here? He showed up in a red Ferrari surrounded by a crowd of family and friends dancing him into the venue with the sound of pounding drums and the most fun Indian music you can imagine.
Once the ceremony began, everything slowed down in the best way. Every gesture, every chant and every element felt intentional. At one point, a cloth was held between the couple to symbolize their separate lives, and when it dropped, everyone rang little bells to celebrate their first look as husband and wife.
The bride looked stunning in a traditional red dress (red symbolizes love and strength) and the whole moment radiated meaning. Even though I didn’t understand every word of the prayers, I didn’t need to. You could feel the love in the room.
THE RECEPTION: ONE LAST DANCE (AND THEN ANOTHER)
By the time the reception rolled around, I was convinced nothing could top what I’d already seen. Spoiler: I was wrong.
The ballroom looked unreal and totally transformed from the evening before. Gold and green accented the tables and traditional Gujarati vegetarian dishes soon were enjoyed in the space for guests to relish the moment over delicious food.
Before the night got too lively, speeches were made to celebrate the couple’s love together. The groom even provided his own thank you to the guests, with an iconic joke that India’s divorce rate is so low because after a wedding this elaborate, “no one wants to do it again.” Everyone burst out laughing, and honestly, he wasn’t wrong.
After the speeches and dinner, the music started getting louder and people started to shift from their seats to the dance floor. The DJ switched between Indian pop hits and Western tracks and somehow it all worked perfectly.
My best friend and I danced with the groom, laughed through songs we didn’t know and joined total strangers on the dance floor like we’d been lifelong friends. It wasn’t about perfect choreography or tradition anymore, but about being present in the moment of joy.
MORE THAN A WEDDING
On the flight home, I kept thinking about how much love I’d just witnessed, not just from the couple, but with everyone who came to celebrate them as well. Every event, every song and every laugh was rooted in connection. There was no such thing as being “just a guest.”
I left with turmeric still under my nails, traditional bracelets stuck on my wrists and a new appreciation for the way love is celebrated around the world. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s beautiful — and if you’re lucky enough to be invited in, it changes you a little.
