August 16, 2026
Kindly respond by July 26, 2026
Having trouble? Email us at chadandanusha@gmail.com
The Haldi Ceremony or Mangalasnanam is a joyful pre-wedding celebration with flowers, music, and a little friendly family competition.
Our wedding ceremony is a traditional Telugu Hindu ceremony led by a priest with ancient rituals and playful moments woven in. Below is a guide to explain each part of our special celebration.
These are the 14 ceremonial moments woven through our Telugu Hindu wedding, from the groom's arrival to the final blessings.
The groom and his family parade to the wedding venue with dancing, dhol music, and other traditional instruments.
The groom and his family arrive and are warmly greeted by the bride's family.
The groom performs the Ganesh pooja first, asking for blessings and for obstacles to be removed before the ceremony begins.
The bride arrives with her family. The bride and groom are not meant to see each other yet, so a screen is placed between them.
The bride's parents give away their daughter by placing her right hand into the groom's right hand, offering their blessing for the marriage.
The bride and groom apply a paste of cumin seeds and jaggery to each other's heads. The mixture symbolizes staying together through both bitter and sweet moments.
The groom ties the mangalsutra around the bride's neck with three knots to represent the strength of their union: physical, mental, and spiritual.
The couple take turns pouring rice over each other's heads in a joyful ritual, often sparking a playful competition to see who wins.
The bride and groom place floral garlands on one another to formally acknowledge and accept each other.
The bride places her foot on a stone as a symbol of strength in good and bad times, and she is then given silver toe rings.
The couple take seven steps together to represent the beginning of their life as partners. With each step, they make a vow to support one another:
Married women from the bride and groom's families whisper good wishes in the bride's ear and bless her with an unbroken wedded life.
The priest leads the couple outside and points out the stars Arundhati and Vasistha, an ideal couple who symbolize marital fulfillment and loyalty.
The priest declares the bride and groom husband and wife, blesses them with a happy and prosperous life, and family and friends give their blessings as the ceremony concludes.
The reception is our festive evening celebration with Bollywood, dancing, South Asian cuisine, and welcoming toasts that blend American and Indian traditions seamlessly.
Indian celebrations traditionally place great importance on attire as a reflection of culture and festivity. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and enjoy yourself — please try your best within the guidelines, but don't stress. We're just excited to celebrate with you!
An intimate, joyous pre-wedding shower where turmeric and water are applied in a fun and messy ritual with games to signify purification. Yellow is considered auspicious — a color that brings happiness and positive energy, marking a fresh beginning for the couple.
Traditional Indian attire like a lehenga, sharara, chudidhar, or saree also works beautifully, and a summer semi-formal long dress is welcome too.
Semi-formal cotton or linen shirts with trousers work well, and a kurta is a great fit for the celebration.
Traditionally Indian weddings have multiple outfit changes. We will be changing outfits from wedding to reception, and everyone is encouraged and welcome to do the same. We as the couple will be wearing white and gold. We’re excited to see everyone else in festive colors!
Traditional Indian attire or formal floor-length gowns are both perfect for the ceremony and reception.
Formal suits or sherwanis are both a great fit for the wedding and reception.
A curated list of places to shop for wedding weekend looks.
Custom made outfits take 4-8 weeks; ready made usually arrives in 1-3 weeks.
Unstitched means fabric only, semi-stitched still needs adjustments, and fully stitched is ready to wear.
Double-check fabric details, shade differences, and return policies before ordering.
The Reddy’s Mechanicsburg Residence
62 Cumberland Estates Dr, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Stevens School Ballroom
355 W Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Trust46
46 E King St, Lancaster, PA 17602
These are all convenient options for the weekend, with some walkable downtown stays and some easy short-drive options:
Nearest Airports:
Harrisburg Intl (MDT) — ~40 mi
Philadelphia Intl (PHL) — ~80 mi
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) — ~90 mi
Festive colors and Indian attire are warmly welcomed, and western formalwear is also perfect. See Attire for full details.
Yes. Downtown Lancaster has several easy parking options near both venues. See Travel & Stay for the closest garages.
The reception venue is about a 3-minute drive from the wedding venue. You can find both addresses and directions in Travel & Stay.
Please keep phones away during the ceremony, but feel free to take photos during Haldi, cocktail hour, and the reception. We will share a professional gallery afterward.
Your presence is the best gift, but if you would like to contribute, details are in Celebration Gifts.
Yes. There will be vegetarian options, and you can share any dietary needs when you RSVP.
