Bringing entire communities together in celebration of love, unity and tradition, Sikh weddings are truly memorable experiences for anyone in attendance from the wedding venue itself to the glamorous outfits. All of the usual things you might expect at a wedding are involved; food, dancing and joy. And yet, Sikh weddings put a unique cultural spin on each of these.
As colourful and sociable an event as any, if you’ve had the good fortune to be invited to a Sikh wedding you’re in for a treat! Here’s our guide to what you can expect...
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The Location
The Sikh Wedding rituals and actual ceremony are most likely to take place in a temple such as a Gurdwara. Here, friends and family will come together to watch the official part union of the couple.
Sikh weddings tend to involve between 500 to 1000 guests, so often the reception is usually held at a large venue which can cater to large numbers of people. There are lots of large wedding venues throughout the UK, from multi-purpose ones such as conference centres, to dedicated large wedding venues, including those which cater specifically to Asian weddings.
Browse Large Wedding Venues here.
The Attire
At most Sikh weddings, the guests will wear at least some form of traditional dress. However, this isn’t the only option. Men often wear suits in a variety of colours, whilst women might wear traditional Punjabi dress. Here, bright colours are preferred, with blue, orange, brown, green all popular choices. Generally, white or very dark colours are best avoided, and it’s also best to avoid bright red as this is a traditional bridal colour!
Whatever your choice of attire, make sure that it’s respectful of the occasion - especially if you’re attending a religious venue such as a Gurdwara. The rules are slightly more relaxed at the reception, but make sure you don’t wear anything too revealing.
If you are attending the ceremony, it is also important to keep in mind that you may well be seated on the floor for around 45 minutes and towards the end of the ceremony you will need to stand and sit down multiple times, so choose something suitable for this. In addition to this, you will be required to cover your head when you are in the Gurdwara. Women should carry a scarf, men may be provided with a covering at the venue or they might carry a large white handkerchief.
Religious venues will also require you to remove your shoes. Socks or stockings are generally permitted in most areas, however in some you may need to be barefoot. This all sounds like a lot to remember, but the couple will usually provide some guidance on dress code when they invite you!
The Ceremony
A Sikh wedding ceremony typically lasts less than an hour, however there are a number of rituals before, during and after the ceremony itself which means that the wedding can last between 3 or 4 hours. Such rituals include Baraat, the arrival and welcoming of the groom, Milni, where the two families meet and pray together to symbolise the union, and Anand Sahib, the Song of Bliss, which is sung to conclude the ceremony.
To help you gain a greater understanding of these customs, we have written a detailed guide to Sikh wedding ceremonies, which you can find here.
The Reception
The post-ceremony celebrations at a Sikh wedding vary, depending on the customs and preferences of the couple and their families. Some couples might adopt fewer of the rituals which are typical of a classic Sikh wedding.
Traditionally, the celebrations would have been held in a Lehenga, a communal kitchen and eating area at the Gurdwara. However, contemporary Sikh receptions usually look more similar to those you might expect at a wedding; dinner and dancing in a dedicated events venue.
Food
As mentioned above, a lot of the choices for the reception are based on which traditional elements the couple and their families wish to include. You might be expecting a vegetarian menu, however this is not the case for all Sikhs.
What you can expect is a selection of delicious and fresh curry and rice dishes, with both vegetarian and meat options usually available. Tasty breads and other treats are also traditional, so you definitely won’t be going home hungry!
Drink
Generally, Sikhs are more relaxed about alcohol than other Eastern religions, so there may very well be alcoholic drinks at the reception. However, be aware that this may not be the case. Again, it’s up to the couple.
Entertainment
The classic entertainment at a Sikh wedding is Bhangra dancing. Bhangra is a popular genre of Punjabi music, and the tradition of dancing together reflects the theme of community which is so important at Sikh celebrations.
As well as this, there’s a fun tradition called Joota Chupai where the bride’s sisters tease the groom by stealing his shoes! They then demand a bribe for the return of the shoes, to the amusement of the entire wedding.
