A Blend of Wedding Traditions: Andreas and Shreeya’s Swiss + Indian Wedding
Okay, if a fear for your wedding day is not being able to make a really cool fusion of different ideas, different cultures, and different wedding traditions into one day… Andreas and Shreeya’s wedding is here to take allll that worry away. Because these two? They blended a Swiss wedding and an Indian wedding in a way that worked SO well, and I’m still dreaming about it!! As a California wedding photographer, I’m all for you including wedding traditions that feel like you, and this wedding did it in the best way.
Should You Include Wedding Traditions in Your Big Day?
I’m all here for wedding traditions IF they feel true to who you are. If they don’t, toss ‘em.
Seriously, though, I know that we’re in an era of nontraditional weddings, and I’m SO here for it. Know, though, that if being traditional feels like you… There’s a way you can do it that still feels modern and fresh!!
I like to tell my couples to really hone in on what they want their day to feel like. As a California wedding photographer, I want your big focus to be on what you want, NOT what you’re doing just because you feel like you have to. Does a first dance with everyone watching you make your skin crawl a little? Skip it! Want to do your bouquet toss but not a garter toss? Do it. And, honestly… Thank you in advance.
Popular American Wedding Traditions
Here’s a list of a few popular American wedding traditions that you can choose to keep or to get rid of, depending on your wedding day energy:
Wearing white
Wearing a veil
Matching bridesmaid dresses
Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue
Special dances with your parents
Toasts
Cutting your cake together
Bouquet/garter tosses
The bride’s father walking her down the aisle
If I’m honest, there are many more where that came from, but these are the main ones that I’m used to seeing all the time as a California wedding photographer.
Mixing Wedding Traditions From Two Different Cultures
Now, if you and your partner come from two different cultures and want to honor that… I’m already obsessed. Creating a fusion of the two of them is something that’s both unique and really sentimental, and it’s already tugging on my heartstrings a little.
There’s a way to do this and do it well, but my #1 piece of advice is to make sure that you’re both hearing each other and each getting what you want out of your day. Remember that this is for the two of you, so be sure to honor that!!
Andreas and Shreeya? They made a blend that was so special, so fun, and SO full of love. They combined elements from Andreas’s Swiss culture and Shreeya’s Indian culture to make a day that was totally representative of who they are, and that’s the kind of stuff that gets me EVERY time.
Wedding Traditions From Indian Weddings
There are a few major Indian wedding traditions that Andreas and Shreeya honored, and you already know I was living for it. Here are a few traditions from Indian weddings that are super important for the culture:
A Mehndi & Haldi Ceremony – a Mehndi ceremony is where the brides and her female friends and family get henna, and a Haldi ceremony is where guests put turmeric on the couple for cleansing and blessing. Shreeya’s family hosted these at the same time, and it was SUCH a fun, vibrant time!!
Mandap – a mandap is the Hindu ceremony site, typically consisting of four posts to represent the four elements, the four stages of life, or the couple’s parents.
Garland Exchange – as a unity ceremony, Indian weddings typically do a garland exchange, and I’m obsessed with what it adds to the ceremony!
Ritual Fire – during the ceremony, a couple will have a fire in the mandap and walk around it as an Indian wedding tradition.
Saris & Italian Wedding Attire – Indian wedding attire is vibrant, intricate, and always gorgeous!! Brides will traditionally wear a sari, and grooms will wear a veshti or dhoti.
Wedding Traditions From Swiss Weddings
On Andreas’s side of things, the couple brought in some Swiss wedding traditions that made things a ton of fun and even more unique:
The Apéritif – after the ceremony, guests will eat, drink, and socialize before heading into the reception. This brings in a level of connection and gets all your fave people hanging out with each other, and it’s something I always love!
Games – lots of Swiss weddings include games between the couple and guests, and anything that adds a little bit of fun, joy, and laughter is always a yes from me.
Live Swiss Instruments – alphorns are super common to see at Swiss weddings, and Andreas and Shreeya’s had them! It added such a fun Swiss element to their day.
Andreas and Shreeya’s California Wedding Day at Thomas Fogarty Winery
The fusion of their cultures wasn’t the only thing that was good about Andreas and Shreeya’s wedding day. I mean, their laughter? Literally contagious. The fact that they couldn’t stop smiling all weekend? Adorable. The fun we all had? I’m still dreaming about it to this day. 10/10 recommend the two of you bringing your whole personalities to your wedding day!!
After the Hindu ceremony traditions and the western ceremony traditions, I got to spend the rest of the day with these two, who had the party of a lifetime and got to feel completely present in their day, all the way down to sunset photos in the vineyards. And that? That’s my love language.
These vendors did a truly fantastic job of bringing Andreas and Shreeya’s wedding vision to life, so if you’re dreaming of a wedding like this… Don’t skip checking out this team:
Venue: Thomas Fogarty Winery
Planner: MVW Events
Decor: Shaan Decor
Henna: Henna by Krishna
Makeup: Makeup by Abhilasha Singh
And if you’re still looking for the venue that fits your wedding perfectly, check out these Palm Springs wedding venues and these Malibu wedding venues!!
Cambria Shelley | California Wedding Photographer
Ready to plan a day just like this? I’m so here for it. If you’re looking for a California photographer who’s, like, a fun friend that also takes insane photos vibes… Inquire about booking me right here!! I can’t wait to meet you and tell your WHOLE story.
