hindu ceremony

the wedding day was an extravaganza.

in the morning, we all woke up early to say hi to becca before she went to take pictures downstairs. then we all got wrapped in our saris which was pretty funny/challenging/involved bazillions of safety pins. (below is marissa, who's 8 months pregnant).

so once we were all wrapped and ready to go, we went downstairs as the barat was happening. nirav rode in on this horse:

(those are some of the wedding planners) and there was a little ceremony with a coconut and stealing of his shoes, so that later, during the ceremony, when the veil is dropped.. he won't see becca (for the first time, traditionally) and run away.
we weren't allowed to be part of it.. so we peeked through the windows as the parade passed us. it was pretty funny actually because my high school friends were standing right outside, so we were knocking like crazy on the window until they saw us through the curtain and waved.

we all agreed that the indian ceremony is much more interesting than the christian one. it's all in sanskrit, there are lots of different parts, they get up and walk around, race to see who can sit down first (becca won, which is supposed to symbolize that she'll wear the pants in the marriage).
we all commented on how now we want to marry in to another culture. so much more interesting. and look at her new extended family!