Last week, I was privy to the pretty incredible experience of attending an Indian wedding reception! In India, the weddings last multiple days, over which different ceremonies take place. The reception is the last of the events and involves visiting with the bride and groom, giving one's blessings and eating and eating and eating. Seriously, when walking in I was handed a small pamphlet that turned out to be the multiple page buffet menu- definitely my kind of event!
Our invitation was a bit last minute and rather random: a friend of a classmate heard that he had 20 foreign friends here in Bhubaneswar and I guess he couldn't pass up the opportunity to have some random white people in his wedding photos! Once our attendance was confirmed, there was only one thing to do... Saree Shopping!! Every foreign girls dream, or at least mine, was to experience being draped in the luxuriously opulent fabrics and gems that I associate with Indian couture. And trying, buying and wearing my first Saree was quite the experience!
Myself and a few of my fellow 3CMGM girls went to a local Saree bazaar on the Sunday before the wedding in search of our garb. The walls of the shop were lined with floor to ceiling shelving, with every single inch of space stacked with folded fabrics in every single color and varying shade you could imagine. The chaos began when we started to point towards the colors we fancied, after which the salesman would then grab each choice and dramatically throw open the fabric out in front of us, on long tables, for inspection. After about 30 gorgeous lengths were tossed out in front of my eyes, my head began to spin! Although I prefer black formal wear, I figured that when in India, the bolder the better and so I went with a rich blue and golden silk saree. I thought my work was over once my choice was made, however I didn't realize that the top worn under the Saree needed to be custom made out of the fabric I selected! So on to the tailor we went, had our measurements taken and prayed that they would be ready in 2 days... and fit! Big gold bangles, earrings and bindis were subsequently purchased to complete the look. Finally Wednesday arrived and it was show time! We asked a few of the Indian girls living in our building to help us dress, which was a life saver! The art of the Saree is all in the proper wrapping and decorative draping of the fabric, which varies on the fabric and regional style chosen.
Weddings in India supply a sensory overload in all the best ways. We arrived and entered through a long hallway that deposited us at the base of the stage where the Bride and Groom sat overlooking the entire reception. We were ushered on stage and positioned around the couple for photos and then our "duty" was done. Afterwards, I roamed through the massive venue that was lined wall to wall with buffet stations and sampled all sorts of kebabs and curries. This was a one of a kind experience... Now I just have to figure out when I can wear my Saree again!
Our invitation was a bit last minute and rather random: a friend of a classmate heard that he had 20 foreign friends here in Bhubaneswar and I guess he couldn't pass up the opportunity to have some random white people in his wedding photos! Once our attendance was confirmed, there was only one thing to do... Saree Shopping!! Every foreign girls dream, or at least mine, was to experience being draped in the luxuriously opulent fabrics and gems that I associate with Indian couture. And trying, buying and wearing my first Saree was quite the experience!
Myself and a few of my fellow 3CMGM girls went to a local Saree bazaar on the Sunday before the wedding in search of our garb. The walls of the shop were lined with floor to ceiling shelving, with every single inch of space stacked with folded fabrics in every single color and varying shade you could imagine. The chaos began when we started to point towards the colors we fancied, after which the salesman would then grab each choice and dramatically throw open the fabric out in front of us, on long tables, for inspection. After about 30 gorgeous lengths were tossed out in front of my eyes, my head began to spin! Although I prefer black formal wear, I figured that when in India, the bolder the better and so I went with a rich blue and golden silk saree. I thought my work was over once my choice was made, however I didn't realize that the top worn under the Saree needed to be custom made out of the fabric I selected! So on to the tailor we went, had our measurements taken and prayed that they would be ready in 2 days... and fit! Big gold bangles, earrings and bindis were subsequently purchased to complete the look. Finally Wednesday arrived and it was show time! We asked a few of the Indian girls living in our building to help us dress, which was a life saver! The art of the Saree is all in the proper wrapping and decorative draping of the fabric, which varies on the fabric and regional style chosen.
Weddings in India supply a sensory overload in all the best ways. We arrived and entered through a long hallway that deposited us at the base of the stage where the Bride and Groom sat overlooking the entire reception. We were ushered on stage and positioned around the couple for photos and then our "duty" was done. Afterwards, I roamed through the massive venue that was lined wall to wall with buffet stations and sampled all sorts of kebabs and curries. This was a one of a kind experience... Now I just have to figure out when I can wear my Saree again!