While I thought the festivities kicked off Wednesday night, for Sonja and Sanjay, they had already been celebrating with family since the week before! Lots of his family from India and around the US had flown in for the celebrations. As we've learned, Indian wedding are a 1-2 week celebration - so lots of partying and eating (and drinking) involved. For the Westerners, Wednesday night was a kick off party for a yacht cruise on Lake Michigan. We however, didn't get into town until Thursday, along with our other Mason City friends, so the party started Thursday for most of Sonja's family and friends. 
Thursday night was called the Sangeet, and it is a celebration of music party. Sanjay's sister and sister-in-law prepared special performances for S&S, which they watched from their special swing next to the dance floor. There was wonderful (and spicy for the Iowans!) Indian buffet food, three open bars and live Indian dance music with singers. I should back up and explain the set up. Most of the events for the week(s) were being hosted by Sanjay's parents, who live in Oak Brook, a wealthy suburb of Chicago. They had outfitted the back of their house with a huge tent to host all of the parties. Thursday had a lovely green/yellow color scheme, lots of flowers and as I mentioned, food/drink and dancing. 
It was a fun way to experience the Indian wedding culture and learn how to Indian dance (one arm up "screw in the light bulb", one arm out "opening the door knob" and bob your shoulders up and down!). It was great to catch up with the high school girlies - Sarah, Rhea, Lisa, Erica & Shae. Miss ya ladies!
Luckily, Friday's activities didn't begin until the afternoon (as one might assume that attendees would be moving a bit slow in the a.m.). At 1, there was the Mehendi and Lunch, which is a favorite of the ladies. This is where the ladies can pick out glass bangle bracelets for the wedding, and get henna tattoos (only temporary!) done on their arms. Sonja, as the bride, had henna put on all up and down her arms (both sides) and on her feet/legs. It took 4 hours to get in put on - where mine was just 10 mins! They apply it on as if it was icing in a piping bag, but it is the color of mud and dries like it. After an hour or so, it dries and falls off on it own. The stain left is the henna tattoo. 
We had yummy Indian food again, buffet style, and there was also Western salad/soup/sandwich choices as well. Both Brian and I are fans of Indian food, now that we live in England. So it was fun trying different types of Indian cuisine. For some reason, I was expecting the lunch to be a more intimate, ladylike affair, but it ended up being another big party in the middle of the afternoon! Guys were also there, but mainly the ladies got up and dancing again. While Sonja was getting her henna put on, Sanjay had to stay by her side and made sure she had food and drink (by feeding it to her!). Pretty fun Indian customs- Sonja was definitely pampered all weekend! Oh, and I should mention that the entire color scheme and flowers had changed again for the Mehendi!
Friday night was downtime again, which was welcomed by all. :) Bri and I met up with good friends Ands and Ruairi. Andrea is a good friend of ours from Gustavus, and she met Ruairi when she moved to Chi-town. Ruairi's fam is from Ireland, and you might have remembered I blogged about visting them in Ireland last summer. Anyhow, we met up at Rock Bottom Brewery to chat at catch up. They have an adorable little girl and we got to see some pics and hear if they are getting any sleep!
Saturday morning was the actual wedding ceremony. I was a bridesmaid and got to wear my Salwar Kameez outfit, which I absolutely loved! Good friend Sarah picked it out for me along with Sonja, and they did perfect! I got to wear my fave - bright yellow! I met the bride in her room, as she was getting ready - wow, it was an absolutely incredible outfit she was wearing. The bride wears red - it was a two piece red/embroidered outfit, with a long head covering - and REAL ruby/diamond necklace - OMG, gorgeous! Putting the bangle bracelets on Sonja proofed the most difficult, but it all worked out. :) 
The bridesmaids road over to the house together in the van, while Sonja was in the car. In the meantime at the house, the tent has been transformed again (the tables/chairs/buffets/bars/music stage was all turned into a ceremony room). There was a new stage in front of the house, and Sanjay and his groomsmen were wearing their Indian outfits and turbans and dancing around to the beat of the Indian drums. The bridesmaids were on the other side of the stage, standing in front of Sonja's car, so she is "hidden and protected". 
They Sanjay rides up the driveway to the stage on the decorated white horse, with his friends and family still dancing around. Then on the stage, the families exchange garlands, to signify the joining of the families. First the sisters, then the brothers, then the parents and finally it's Sonja's time to come out of the car. 
The bridesmaids walk her up to the stage, and then Sonja and Sanjay exchange their flower garlands and dance around! Everyone of course is watching, and taking lots of pics. Then the announcement comes for everyone to head to the tent, where they have to remove their shoes, put a scarf on their heads, and ladies sit on the left, men on the right. Oh, and they have to sit on the floor (of course there are nice hard floors put in for all of this). There were chairs in the back, for John Boy and those who cannot sit on the floor. While everyone is getting settled, the wedding party is in the house getting pictures taken and such.
The groom then goes in to sit in front of the Indian priest and the holy book. Next, the bridesmaids walk Sonja down the aisle, and sit alongside in the front. The ceremony is called the Anand Karaj (ceremony of bliss) and it was all done in Punjabi (the Sikh language), so we didn't really know much of what was going on. But it was really great. There was a guru there playing his Indian music, saying prayers and leading the ceremony. The priest would also say prayers out of the holy book, and wave a white feather over the book (not sure what this was for, but guessing to ward off the evil spirits or something). Sonja's dad at one point, had to tie around the wedding knot around S & S to symbolize that he is giving his daughter's hand away. This is called the Pallae di Rasam. Then the final Chaar Laavan is done (known as the 4 circles). This is when S&S stand up and Sanjay leads Sonja walking around in a circle. They do this four times - and after that they were married! She kept asking when she got to kiss, but I guess that part isn't in the official ceremony script. They kissed anyway! Lastly, served was something called the Pasad, which was a mixture of flour, sugar and butter and it was steamed. It was scooped from the pot into our hands, and was quite tasty, if a little weird looking. Not sure what it was for, but another fun part of the experience.
Everyone was then asked to visit the pool room for drinks, while the tent was transformed again! Lunch was being served there, both Indian and Western this time, but vegetarian only. More dancing and singing and party ensued! Mid-afternoon, everyone headed back to the hotel to relax/take naps/shop/whatever. Because we had to get ready for one more big bash! The wedding reception was being held in the Westin hotel where we were staying. The bridesmaids were getting their hair done in Sonja's room. And Sonja was getting all done up again for the ceremony. She literally reshowered, and had her hair and makeup completely done from scratch again - in the same day!
I decided not to wear a Sari, the Indian wrap outfit as most of the Indian women and bridesmaids were doing, but I wanted to wear something bright in color and British! As you know, the Brits like to wear hats to weddings here. They also wear what I decided to wear - a hair fastenator. It basically was a fun froofy feather thing on a hair comb. Lots of the American ladies thought I was going the Sarah Jessica Parker route in Sex in the City, but really I was just making my British friends proud! 
The reception started off with cocktails and seafood canapes (oysters, crab legs, shrimp cocktail, etc) in the huge cocktail lounge room. Wow. Then we moved into the actual reception room with dinner tables and the dance floor. Holy moly. It was pretty much like we were in Vegas at like Pure or Ghost Bar or some super chic club - amazing! And the flowers alone were unbelievable . . . Each table had a completely different centerpiece with flowers, crystal and custom made S&S table clothes from India. . . did I say it was completely amazing yet??!
The wedding party was introduced coming out down the catwalk stage - I walked (actually danced) down the stage with Sonja's bro Corby, who I know from growing up. We had a good boogie down the stage. Then Brian and I were lucky enough to sit at the Head table. It was just S&S, me and Bri, and bridesmaids/high school friends, Sarah and hubby Mike and Erica and honey Chris. It was great to be at an intimate table with my great friends, amongst such a huge celebrate. We had surf & turf for dinner (Bri went with the Indian cuisine and said it was fab) and lots of great wine. I think the part that really made me pinch myself and wondering if I was in Vegas/Hollywood/Bollywood was when the wait staff did a Champagne Parade. I've never seen one, but basically they all come out down the runway, holding up a bottle, and circle around the room. Then they come to our table and in complete synchronization, pour our champagne. F'ing amazing! (Excuse my french!)
Of course, the night was not complete without lots of dancing -especially with the awesome tunes pumped out by the DJ flown in from NYC and a visit to the third lounge/cocktail/bar room, which was the dessert room with the flower tree. Have I said how amazing this all was yet??! :)
It was absolutely a ball, Sonja & Sanjay looked fantastic, were having a great time and I know they were utterly exhausted, as they had been doing this for over a week now. They were being great hosts to their friends and family, and especially the aunties and family members from India. They Scandinavian Iowans were definitely outnumbered, but we all sure had a great time learning and celebrating S&S's marriage in his family's culture.Way to go Sonja & Sanjay and I hope that you get to put your feet up, order take out and watch a lot of TV for the next month! Love you two so much!
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