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Anybody been to a Sikh wedding?

28 replies

CountessVonKnackerstein · 02/01/2011 23:24

DH and DC's and I've been invited to attend a Sikh wedding next year, does anybody have any tips on what to expect? Am really looking forward to it!!
Thank you.

OP posts:
Leonora7 · 02/01/2011 23:38

You will have a fantastic time with hundreds of guests, stunningly beautiful, colourful dresses worn by all guests, scrumptious food and lots of dancing and entertainment - and it will go on all day! Have fun!

Leonora7 · 02/01/2011 23:39

I mean all female guests!

CountessVonKnackerstein · 02/01/2011 23:43

Ooh thank you. How do children (3&5) get on? Will they be welcomed, will I be able to take colouring books and toys etc?
Sorry, it's a hundred years since I went to a wedding!

OP posts:
Spero · 02/01/2011 23:43

If you are going to the marriage ceremony itself, you will have to cover your head in the Gudwara (spelling?), that applies to men and women.I think a white covering is a no no as that indicates mourning, but hopefully the family will help you out by explaining dos and don'ts. You can't wear your shoes in the Gudwara either and the one I went to men and women had to sit separately but I don't think this is always the case. It was also sitting on the floor for quite a long time, so be prepared.

The meal was very fast and furious, lots of getting up and dancing between each course to very loud music. No alcohol.

There was also some entertainment; basically very loud and very frantic, I hated it but I am a grumpy killjoy. I imagine it would be quite difficult if your children are young, I didn't see any children under five about.

I would definitely check with the family what is expected if you don't know, I could see lots of occasions for massive faux pas if you are not prepared.

Spero · 02/01/2011 23:45

O and I think you also have to come prepared with quite a lot of cash, you give cash to bride and groom on way out of ceremony and then a second lot was asked for to pay for honeymoon during the meal. I don't know if this is standard, or just for the one I went to, but no one had explained this and it was lucky I had a spare tenner.

EdgarAleNPie · 02/01/2011 23:45

salwar kameez worn by ladies - though v. colourful!

wear a dress that covers shoulders ..other than that get ready to bhangra dance your socks off, eat delicious food and drink drink drink!

take money to give to the happy couple.

the bride is expected to look miserable all day too...

OCDQueen · 02/01/2011 23:47

Ooh you'll have a lovely time. All I can advise that hasn't already been put forward is avoid wearing red, its the colour the bride will wear :).

Lynli · 02/01/2011 23:54

I went to a sikh wedding we met at the grooms house and travelled on two coaches one for males and one for females.

My male companion was allowed to travel with me and the other ladies.

I was not asked to cover my head but had to remove my shoes and kneel with everyone else.

It was a lovely experience, more food than anyone could eat. My friend told me to eat a little of everything as it is impolite to refuse the offer of food.

BadSkiingMum · 03/01/2011 00:07

Don't go early. Don't even go on time. Nothing will start for a good 1 - 2 hours after the published start time.

Take a shawl to cover females' heads and plain white handkerchiefs to cover the males'.

The religious ceremony is very long and noone will expect you to be there for all of it. Part of it will be going on long before the bridal parties arrive. It is quite acceptable for guests to go and sit in for a while then come out again. Best to ask someone at the gurdwara when the key parts of the ceremony are likely to be happening and go up shortly before that time. In the meantime you can hang out in the communal eating hall 'the langar'.

Before entering the main relgious hall:

Remove shoes
Cover heads
Wash your hands

If you would like to pay your respects appropriately, have coins ready to donate to the box in front of the holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib. You walk to the front, kneel down, bow down and put in your donation.

Males/females do sit separately, but it is ok for very little boys to sit with their mothers.

Find somewhere comfortable to sit - the ceremony is very long and that is why most people will be slouched against the wall!

Take a pack of tissues in your handbag as at the end someone will unexpectedly give you some blessed food 'prashad', which is moist and very sticky. It is not good form to refuse or throw it away, although you can ask for a small amount.

At the end there will be lovely food in the langar, served on a thali (subdivided tray). Then you will probably be invited to a reception in another venue with yet more food and loads of dancing.

Men are offered alchohol at the reception, but it is not usually offered to women. However, probably noone would mind if you had some, as a 'visitor'.

CountessVonKnackerstein · 03/01/2011 00:08

Are kids welcomed at these occasions then?
Thanks for all your advice.

OP posts:
CountessVonKnackerstein · 03/01/2011 00:10

X-post BSM ! Thanks!!

OP posts:
BadSkiingMum · 03/01/2011 00:11

On my last point, true etiquette would probably advise that you don't drink alcohol as a woman, but Sikh communities are generally very tolerant and forgiving of non-Sikh guests.

BadSkiingMum · 03/01/2011 00:17

There will definitely be all ages there, Sikh communities adore children. However, very good behaviour would be expected in the hall where the ceremony is taking place. I think it would be ok for your children to take in a quiet activity like a book or colouring book, as long as you don't get it out straight away and they are seen to respectfully participate for a little while iyswim.

At the evening reception there will be loads of little children running around and dancing!

vanimal · 03/01/2011 00:26

Kids are always welcome, take colouring books for the yurudwara ceremony, but the reception they can run around and dance with everyone else. They are always welcomed at Sikh weddings.

Be warned though, as mentioned the music at receptions is often very loud, and the dance floor can get a little rough when the drunk middle aged men get up for a boogie. They may be safer dancing with an adult there for protection!

Also expect the tood to be fairly hot/spicy, take sandwiches or something for them if they cant eat hot food.

But they and you will love it.

vanimal · 03/01/2011 00:28

Food, not tood obviously. Fat fingers typing on small phone!

atswimtwolengths · 03/01/2011 00:29

I wish I was going!

threefeethighandrising · 03/01/2011 00:31

I went to a Sikh wedding and it was brilliant!

There was lots of drinking at this wedding (in a good way), both men and women. (Not me though I was 6 months pregnant!)

The colours were amazing - definitely wear something colourful. The feeling of community was great. Children were definitely very welcome.

FudgeGirl · 03/01/2011 00:37

From what's been posted here (and what I'm about to post) all Sikh weddings are different!

I went to a very good friend's wedding with ex OH.

In the Gurdwara, yes, cover your head (a wide scarf or shawl will do) and remove your shoes, no money was required.

Lunchtime do was completely dry - no booze, as this was the do organised by the bride's family, who followed a certain way of Sikhism which meant they didn't drink at all.

Evening do was totally different, lots of food, GALLONS of booze (bottles of whiskey, vodka, wine and brandy on every single table - and replaced if they were half empty) and the women were most certainly not drinking!

Children made very welcome. Sweets were given to every guest in a box, no need for tissues or the like.

It's like any "English" wedding, they are all different. The most important thing if you're going to the temple is to have something to cover your head, no other preparation really needed.

CointreauVersial · 03/01/2011 00:39

My best friend from school married a Sikh - the wedding was great fun! As she didn't have enough male relatives, dh stood in, and had to lead her around the Gurdwara on a ribbon (complete with white hanky on his head). It was quite an alien environment for her, and for all of her friends, but we were made to feel really welcome.

Echoing what everyone else has said, wear something modest and bring a scarf for head-covering. Children were welcomed, and no-one seemed to mind if the tiny ones wandered about during the service. The food (a kind of vegetarian mezze on divided plates) was absolutely delicious!

Have fun.

FudgeGirl · 03/01/2011 00:40

Sorry - the women were most certainly NOT not drinking! Everyone was hammered, male and female!

I stood smoking outside with lots of the men (as OH had to go to work) and they were all moaning that if they were drinking at the reception, why on earth couldn't we all smoke inside too? It was pre-smoking ban.

I could have easily ended up with a Sikh OH had I not been with DP, I was awfully popular that night after he left! But in a very respectful, gentle kind of way - lots of men wanted to dance!

FudgeGirl · 03/01/2011 00:43

Oh, and lunchtime was vegan, night do was vegan and meat dishes- just shows, it's as weird and wonderful as any other CE, RC or non-demoninational wedding.

giveitago · 03/01/2011 18:44

Oh it should be fun - glam up with a great salwar kameez. Kids are more than welcome but ceremony can be tiring for them (long and sitting down). At the temple you'll take your shoes off - men and women often sit apart. The temple provided head coverings for men and my ds 4 was required to also wear one. Depends on the venue I guess but my scarf came off when eating and I was told off a bit (lots of women pin their scarves into the hair - wish I'd done that as I have huge hair and the scarf wouldn't stay on!).

Then a lunch in the temple (no alcohol) - reception in the evening - lots of alchohol for everyone - mounds of lovely food - lots of dancing to loud thumping music (might be hard for the little ones) - merry making and jolly good fun and lots of smiling faces.

Enjoy it - it will be a proper party.

giveitago · 03/01/2011 18:52

Oh - word to the wise - if you like dancing (it's hard not to like the music - everyone gets up) you might not want to wear your sexiest most uncomfortable shoes.

CountessVonKnackerstein · 04/01/2011 00:31

Brilliant advice, thank you all very much!

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tinkertitonk · 04/01/2011 12:18

I've been to one Sikh wedding and had a wonderful time. Beautiful music during the religious ceremony and a great party afterwards. I can't recall the small children situation; ask your hosts. The invitation had a precise timetable on it which all the anglo-saxon guests took seriously, to everyone else's hilarity.

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