Celebrations
come as a guest. leave as family.
Join an Indian family’s wedding: days of colour, music and ritual. We make sure you belong in every moment of it.
What an Indian wedding is
not one day. a festival of days.
In India, a wedding is not an event; it is a gathering of two families, often hundreds strong, over four or five days. Each day has its own ritual, its own clothes and its own music. There are ceremonies at dawn and dancing past midnight, feasts that go on for hours and traditions that go back thousands of years.
Every region and community celebrates in its own way. A Punjabi wedding, a Rajasthani wedding and a South Indian wedding can feel like different worlds. That is part of the wonder, and part of why it helps to have someone beside you who knows.
A family that welcomes you
you won’t arrive as a stranger.
We know families across India who open their celebrations to a few guests from abroad, usually two to six. We choose each family with care and agree everything with them before you arrive, so you are expected, and wanted.
- Matched with care: a wedding chosen for your dates, the region and the kind of celebration you would love to see
- Prepared before you arrive: a video call with our team before you travel, to talk you through the wedding, the family and what to expect
- Welcomed as one of their own: join the ceremonies, the meals and the dancing, as a guest of the family rather than an audience
- Respectful always: the family’s wishes come first, including when photographs are welcome
- A gift for the couple: every guest brings one, and your host helps you choose
Most weddings take place in the cooler months, on dates the family chooses as auspicious, so we plan your journey around the wedding.
Already invited to a wedding by friends or colleagues? We plan your journey around it in exactly the same way.
The days of a wedding
a typical celebration might include.
Haldi
Turmeric paste is applied to the couple for blessing and glow, and usually to everyone nearby. Wear something you don’t mind turning yellow.
Mehendi
An afternoon of henna, when intricate designs are painted on the hands of the bride and her guests, yours included.
Sangeet
A night of music and dance, where both families perform. You may be asked to join in, so we can help you learn the steps.
Baraat
The groom’s joyful procession, often on horseback, with drums and dancing in the street.
The wedding
The couple take their vows around a sacred fire, as their families have for generations.
Vidaai and reception
The bride’s emotional farewell to her family, followed by a final celebration.
Ceremonies differ between communities; your host explains the ones you will attend.
Part of the family
we take care of everything, so you can simply be there.
What to wear: an outfit chosen for each day, from lehengas and saris to sherwanis and kurtas, fitted for you, with help draping a sari before each ceremony.
Hair, makeup and jewellery: done for you before every celebration, so you arrive ready, the way the family does.
Where you stay: with the wedding guests, in the same hotel or palace, so you are part of every moment, not visiting it.
Your host: a dedicated host who stays with you through every ceremony, translating, sharing the stories behind each ritual and guiding you through what to do and when.
The small things: what to gift the couple, how to greet the elders, what to eat and when, and a few dance steps for the sangeet.
Your Saint at the wedding
someone who knows the way, beside you.
Your host is part interpreter, part storyteller and part friend. They explain why the bride wears red, why the families exchange garlands and what the seven vows mean. When the music starts, they make sure you are not standing at the edge.
Stay a little longer
after the wedding, india.
The wedding is usually four or five days. Many guests stay on to explore, and we plan that as part of the same journey.
- Jaipur: forts, palaces and the bazaars of the Pink City, part of our Rajput journey
- Agra: the Taj Mahal at first light, part of our Mughal journey
- Udaipur: lakes and palaces in the hills of Rajasthan
- Goa: churches, old mansions and the sea, part of our Portuguese journey
and to restore you: wellness.
India gave the world yoga and Ayurveda. Our Wellness journeys offer days of practice, treatment and quiet, and can close any journey you take with us.
Made for you
every celebration is different. so is every journey.
- Tell us when you would like to travel: your dates, who you are travelling with, and the kind of celebration you would love.
- Meet your family: we match you with a host family's wedding, and a video call with our team prepares you before you travel.
- Your wardrobe: a style consultation before you leave home, and fittings when you arrive.
- Celebrate: your host is with you from the first ceremony to the last.
- Stay on: extend your journey to the places you have always wanted to see.
Questions guests ask
what guests ask us.
Is it a real wedding?
Yes. Every wedding is a real family celebration. Nothing is staged for guests.
How are families chosen?
We know each family personally and agree everything with them in advance, including how many guests they welcome and what they would like guests to know.
Do families receive anything for hosting?
Each family is thanked in a way agreed with them in advance. Ask us and we will explain how it works for your celebration.
What if the wedding date changes?
Families set their dates months ahead and rarely change them. If a date does move, we will offer you another family’s wedding or a journey of equal value.
What should I wear?
Everything is chosen and fitted for you, and your host explains what each day calls for.
How should I behave as a guest?
As a respectful guest of the family. Your host guides you through every ritual, greeting and meal.
Can I take photographs?
When the family welcomes it. Your host will let you know.
a family is waiting to welcome you.
We will find the celebration, and take care of everything else.