Indian Weddings

“Indian weddings are family focused events that are extremely elaborate compared to American weddings,” says Toni DeLisi, owner of Memorable Events in Ramsey (201-934-9979; www.memorableevents.com.) DeLisi has coordinated a number of Indian weddings, including one for 650 guests that took place on a boat launched in Weehawken.

“There are many different religions in India, and the various states (there are 28 in all) have diverse languages, dress, and cultural heritages, with each family embracing certain elements of the old traditions,” says Rashi Shyam, founder of Haseen Events, an Indian wedding planning firm based in Cherry Hill (201-240-8689). One major Punjabi wedding tradition (that has permeated other regions and sects) is the Baraat—where the groom arrives at the ceremony on horseback, with several people dancing in front of him, along with his family and friends.

According to Shyam, the wedding festivities can begin on a Thursday night with a big party called a garba, where the women get mehndi (henna) applied to their hands and feet. On Friday there is another larger party, the sangeet (which used to be a rather raucous gathering for the more experienced women to sing explicit songs about married life) takes place. Today the sangeet is more akin to an engagement party, complete with invigorating music, food, and lots of dancing for a mixed crowd of men and women. For logistical reasons, the sangeet sometimes takes place the week before the wedding.

By the time Saturday rolls around, the dulhan (bride), the groom, and both sets of parents are ready with multiple changes of clothes for up to two different wedding ceremonies: one in traditional garb (a designer sari for the bride and a sherwani for the groom) and one in a modern wedding gown and a tux.

“The traditional Indian wedding is performed under a mandat, a four-to-six pole structure decorated with fabric and flowers,” says Howard Kramer, owner of Anderson Flowers, a floral design shop in Iselin (908-699-3732; www.andersonflowers.com) that has been creating festive floral decorations for Indian weddings in New Jersey and the metro New York area for more than 25 years. According to Kramer, traditional colors abound in the floral and fabric decorations for the ceremony, typically red and white or burgundy, gold, and ivory. Other traditions for the sangeet or garba parties include a huge floral pattern surrounding a tall statue in the middle of the room. “In” colors are hot pink, orange, and peacock blue, which are reflected in the floral decorations and fabric draped around the head table area. Because Indian weddings are typically for 250 or more people, the table decorations and wedding favors are generally low-key (western-style flower centerpieces and lottery tickets or small vases).

Lata Patel, owner of Mandat, an Indian decorating firm in Fairfield (973-610-5706; www.mandatusa.com) provides many decorative elements that enrich the experience of an Indian wedding, reflecting individual native traditions, from brass, fiberglass, or fabric mandats to elephant guards (“Ganesh”) at the entrance of the reception hall and eight-foot pillars made of crystal, to fabric-draped statues.

And then there’s the food. Indian weddings abound with rich, sweet, fried, and spicy dishes that include chaat (fried chick-pea chips dipped in an intricately spiced yogurt sauce); pakora (different vegetables dipped in chick pea flour and deep-fried); tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt sauce with hearty spices; warm naan bread (similar to pita); paneer, which is a vegetarian dish on par with ricotta cheese; and galabjamun (a sweet selection that is like a fried donut).

So if you are planning a special Indian wedding, whether it’s a small affair or a multiple-day celebration, you can find all the resources you need in or around New Jersey, along with experts that can help you create your dream wedding—one that is steeped in rich cultural traditions, with a modern flair, along with some pretty serious dancing and great eating.

Popular Reception Halls for Indian Weddings:

Royal Albert Palace
1050 King George Post Road, Fords
732-661-1070

The Palace at Somerset Park
333 Davidson Avenue, Somerset
1-877-PALACE4
www.palacesomersetpark.com

Pleasantdale Chateau
757 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange
973-731-5600
www.pleasantdale.com

Puck Building, Pier 61, Manhattan
295 Lafayette Street
212-964-1645

Popular Indian Caterers:

Mohgul Catering, Edison
732-549-7976
www.moghulcatering.com

Aashirwad Palace
169 South Salem Street, Randolph
973-366-9949
www.ashirwadpalace.com

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Italian Weddings

By Linda DiProperzio

Even the most modern couples enjoy incorporating culture into their big day. And when it comes to planning an Italian-inspired wedding, there are plenty of traditions to choose from. Here’s a rundown to get you started on planning your event:

The Date: Choosing the time and date is the first step in planning your big day. In Italy, the festivities usually begin in the morning—preferably on a Sunday, which is considered the luckiest day of the week. The month of May is typically avoided because it’s reserved for the veneration of the Virgin Mary, while August is thought to bring bad luck and sickness.

The Attire: Thinking about ditching the veil? Ancient Romans thought it protected the bride from evil spirits—and don’t worry if your veil rips on your big day, since that’s considered good luck. And forget the bouquet of roses: Italian brides also carry bunches of herbs down the aisle to symbolize fidelity and fertility.

The Ceremony: Most Italian couples forgo the limo and walk to the ceremony location so that well-wishers can get a sneak peek. But unless you’re both within walking distance, this might not be a possibility (who wants to break a sweat before the I Dos?). Instead, opt for one or both of these traditions: after the ceremony, couples shatter a glass or vase, with each broken piece symbolizing the number of years they’ll be happily married; and some couples release two white doves to represent their love and happiness.

The Music: Ask your band or deejay to play the tarantella, a traditional wedding circle dance. Legend has it that a woman once bitten by a deadly tarantella cured herself by dancing!

The Food: Italians love to mangia, so food is always the center of any Italian gathering. Mary Chris Rospond, owner of Exquisite Entertaining in Millburn, loves to create an authentic Italian menu for weddings. Upon arrival, guests are served Bellinis, a special wedding cocktail made of champagne and Italian white peaches. “We also like to set up a wine bar with the finest Italian whites and reds,” says Rospond. Appetizers range from Tuscan focaccia crab cakes, zucchini, spinach, and ricotta rollatini, and a seafood antipasto station. The main course always starts off with a pasta dish (Exquisite serves wild mushroom heart-shaped ravioli with a light vodka sauce), followed by a choice of entrée. Many traditional Italian weddings feature roasted pig or lamb with wanda, bow ties of fried dough dipped in powdered sugar. To give your reception a more modern menu, Rospond suggests Florentine veal chops, osso bucco with polenta, grilled filet mignon with porcini mushrooms, or seared salmon or sea bass with Italian truffle oil.

Of course, no wedding would be complete without the traditional tiered cake, accompanied by a selection of Italian pastries, espresso, and cappuccino. Exquisite also sets up a gelato and sorbetto bar for guests.

The Departure: Before leaving, brides and grooms pass out five Jordan almonds wrapped in tulle called bomboniere to each of their guests. The five almonds represent five wishes for the couple: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. And forget about tying tin cans to the back of the getaway car. Instead, the front grill is decorated with flowers, paving the way for a road to a happy marriage.

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Mexican Weddings

By Patricia Koch

A Mexican wedding is a colorful, exuberant celebration that can last until the wee hours of the morning and, after a brief siesta, start up again with a tornaboda, or party after the party. The church ceremony is rooted in Spanish Catholic tradition. A bride wears flowers in her hair and two matching bouquets: one to hold and another to give the Virgin Mary. The ceremony is rich with symbols: rings signifying love, a lasso binding the couple, a rosary showing their faith, and 13 gold coins symbolizing wealth.

Guests are welcomed to the reception with shots of tequila, as a mariachi band gaily plays. Adults sip sangria and tequila, while children drink fruit beverages called aquas frescas.

But the real excitement comes from the hearty, flavorful food. An authentic south-of-the-border wedding menu includes a classic mole dish like Turkey with Poblano Mole Sauce, served with rice, tortillas, and hot sauces. The original seventeenth-century mole, or chile sauce, included chocolate and 100 other ingredients. Chiles Rellenos, or Chiles Stuffed with Seasoned Meat,is another festive main dish. Dinner is served—never an American-style buffet—then people dance all night long.

The following day’s party typically features the national dish pozole, or Corn and Pork Soup, served with lime wedges. Pozole was invented in the 1700s in Guerrero. Instead of grinding maize for tortillas, a cook simmered the maize with chicken and herbs and olé! A delicious soup.

North-of-the-border brides searching for a caterer who offers authentic, festive Mexican fare can start with Rosa Mexicano, an award-winning New York restaurant and caterer. (1063 First Avenue at 58th Street, 212-753-7407, and 61 Columbus Avenue at 62nd Street, 212-977-7700; www.rosamexicano.com.)