How to Plan the Perfect Tamil Wedding Ceremony?

Planning a wedding is not an easy job. It takes a lot of preparation and efforts to finally execute things that have been planned. You’ve all heard of Indian weddings. They’re big, loud, colourful and filled with lots of fun. Well, that’s all true and Tamil weddings are no exception.  There are lots of functions and rituals that are followed a week before and after the wedding. So plan for all occasions individually.

So here is the checklist for planning your Tamil matrimony and make it an occasion to remember for years to come.

  • Wedding Venue– The first thing to do while planning a wedding is to book a venue as they get filled up very fast. Tamil weddings are usually held in marriage halls so find the best in your town and book it off as soon as your wedding date is fixed.
  • Wedding Attire– The most important aspect of any wedding is the wedding ensemble of both the bride and the groom but more stress is laid on the bride’s attire. It is selected much in advance and the accessories to go with it are also decided way before the wedding. A Tamilian bride looks every bit of a Goddess on earth in a beautiful kanjeevaram silk sari, wearing tradition gold jewellery from head to toe and showing off her long braid accessorized with hair jewellery and flowers. The groom, on the other hand, could wear a dhoti and kurta or a sherwani if he wants. Ensure that the wedding outfits for both are decided and kept ready with all the accessories much in advance.
  • Decor– The decor in Tamil weddings is basic and traditional. A lot of it is done with flowers. The wedding mandap or stage is covered with floral arrangements. The more modern decor would also use drapes, lights and other decorative props for the venue. The main idea is to make the hall look festive, bordering on gaudy. However, now with tastes and trends evolving people have started going in for subdued and classy décor. Ensure that you fix up a decorator much in advance and discuss what you want him to do.
  • Food– Usually in Tamil Weddings, you will find purely vegetarian food and typically of the state.  So it is important that you find good caterers who can produce delicious and authentic Tamilian cuisine.

Now as now the major aspects of Tamil matrimonial, you can easily plan a South Indian wedding for your loved ones. Just fix a budget and work on it to organise the wedding.

5 Things you must know before you attend a Tamil Christian Marriage

Wedding ceremonies differ throughout the world, as every culture has its own traditions and customs. Likewise, Tamil Christian marriages in South India blend Indian and Western rituals. Indian Christians, still very much attached to their Indian culture, have fused some Western customs as well. As in other Indian ethnic groups, Indian Christians do sometimes opt for traditional arranged marriages, but that trend is slowly changing as the present generation chooses their own life partners.

Indian Christian weddings are different than what it is shown in English movies.  Many people assume that in few minutes their rituals get over but that’s not the truth. So figure it out for yourself, how a Tamil Christian matrimony looks like!

  1. Tamil Christian wedding rituals are not short

Hollywood has made us believe that Christian weddings are the shortest in the world. The bride and the groom exchange vows, slip the ring on the finger, kiss and they are done. In about Fifteen minutes and you are married! This could be true in western culture, but in India, the entire process takes about an hour or more. It’s an entire mass and the ritual goes on for long. If the couple chooses to only exchange the vows, then and only then the wedding ends within fifteen minutes or so.

  1. It’s not always a dreamy ivory wedding gown

There has been a popular belief that Christian brides always and only wear a gown at their weddings, but the fact is that many don’t. It all depends on the culture and on the preference of the bride. There are many brides who wear a sari even with a veil for their wedding and carry the outfit gracefully.

  1. Mehndi Ceremonies

Yes Tamil Christians perform Mehndi Ceremonies too! So don’t be shocked next time when you attend a Tamil Christian wedding. Many Tamil brides prefer to get a mehndi art done on their hands before the wedding.

  1. The church offers the declarations

In most Tamil Christian matrimonial the bride and the groom do not write their own oaths. The church already has a pre-written set of oaths for the bride and the groom since centuries and most couples only recite those.

  1. It’s not  ‘kiss the bride’

You have watched this in movies and it excites most people because no other culture allows this. But the reality is this doesn’t happen. Just in case you thought that you will get to see a newly married Tamil Christian couple kiss, then you have highly mistaken. Few do it, some choose to kiss on the cheek and many don’t.

Thus anytime you attend a Tamil Christian wedding, don’t expect that you will get to go all dreamy like what it happens in romantic Holly movies.

10 Tamil Marriage Rituals and Procedures That Makes It So Stunning

Tamil matrimony rituals are exceptionally popular and are filled with lots of fun. Being part of several Tamil weddings I can vouch that you have not seen so colourful and yet so methodical rituals in any other community. Tamilians are widely known for their charm and simplicity even if it’s for an extravagant affair like a wedding.   

Tamilian culture is pretty vibrant and it is quite evident from their wedding ceremonies. You will find intricate wedding attires, enriching décor and delicious foods. So, if you haven’t attended any South Indian wedding yet, then here is a glimpse of amazing Tamil wedding rituals-

  1. Panda Kaal Muhurtham

This ceremony holds a prime importance in Tamil families since the wedding functions begin with this. Both the families of bride and groom offer prayers to God for a blissful and uninterrupted wedding.

  1. Pallikai Thellichal

This ritual is really fun as you have to feed the fishes. Now you must be thinking how? Well, you need seven earthen pots decorated with sandalwood in which you have to fill nine types of grains along with curd. Then you have to dip these pots in the water to feed the fishes. This ceremony is considered lucky for the couple’s journey ahead.

  1. Sumangali Prarthanai

‘Prarthanai’ the term refers to offering prayers to god. In Tamil marraige, the bride-to-be seeks blessings from deities for a peaceful wedded life ahead.

  1. Naandi Shrardham

This ritual requires both the families of bride and grooms to offer prayers to the departed souls of their ancestors. They invite Brahmins for an authentic South Indian feast and request them to bless the couple.

  1. Nichayathartham

This is the ritual of engagement. Here the bride and the groom exchange rings in the presence of family members and friends. The ritual starts with the Ganesh Puja performed by the bride’s family. The groom’s family gives the bride a new saree, jewellery and gifts and the bride’s family gifts the groom new set of attires.

  1.    Lagna Pathirikai

In this ceremony,  the wedding date is announced officially by the priest.

  1. Mangala Snaanam

This ritual is performed by both families on the morning of the wedding day. The guests and family members apply haldi, kumkum and oil on the bride and groom before they take a bath and get ready for the wedding.

  1. Gauri Puja

Gauri Puja is an auspicious ritual performed by the bride on her wedding day. Once the bride gets ready, she offers prayers to Goddess Gauri.

  1. Kashi Yatra

This ritual is actually funny, here the groom pretends that he does not want to marry, and is going away a holy trip to Kashi. At this time, the bride’s father stops him and convinces him towards married life, and offers to have his daughter married to him. The groom then agrees and is taken to the wedding venue.

  1. Maalai Maatral

In this ritual the bride and the groom exchange flower garlands, three times followed by Oonjal or swing ceremony.

Even today all of these rituals are strictly followed by the Tamil families to maintain their culture and family traditions. Tamilians put a lot of effort into arranging all events and they put more stress while finding matches.  We all know it’s not easy to find perfect brides or grooms for our loved ones. So this is why Tamilians resort to newspapers for finding life partners as this is the most reliable platform. So, in case you are looking for Tamil bride or grooms, then newspapers would be the best bait.  Just book a Tamil matrimonial in your preferred newspaper to reach out your target audience.

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