Day 6: Expect the Unexpected

One of Brian's coworkers was invited to a wedding by one of the contractors he works with. He knew about my love for weddings and invited me to go along with him. Ever since I found out we had the chance to come to India, seeing a wedding was #2 on my list of things to do (#1 is the Taj Mahal).

In the U.S., Indian weddings are a huge deal and include lots of guests, food, decor, everything. From talking to a few Indians who we know, weddings in India are on an even larger scale. So, there was no chance I was going to pass up this opportunity to see the Indian culture up close in one of their most sacred rituals.

Well, let's just say I was underwhelmed. I have realized that in India, you really do have to expect the unexpected. Nothing is as you would imagine. I know it was still a wonderful day for the bride and groom and their families and don't want to take away from that, but it was really not what I expected.

I was prepared to see all of the guests dressed in their best saris and sherwanis. To see beautiful gold jewelry. To see more of the amazing flower garlands I have seen the Indian ladies stringing for special occasions. To see the bride in the most beautiful outfit that her family has been preparing for her since she was a child. To see the ancient rituals of an Indian marriage ceremony.

I was not prepared for pink tulle, silver tinsel, Styrofoam white-skinned angels, guests in blue jeans, cell phones ringing during the ceremony, the bride's mother offering a loaf of white bread still in the bag from the grocery store to the altar or the beautiful Indian bride wearing a Western-style white veil with her gorgeous sari!

It was not so much the departure away from the traditional elements that disturbs me, but the incursion of Western culture that irks me more. Angels are fine- but why can't they have brown angels?!

*Just a note for those wondering why the photos are in a church- this was a Catholic wedding ceremony. Even with Indian Christians, the weddings are still arranged and traditional elements of Indian wedding ceremonies are incorporated.