Notes from the Carriage Trade
Indian Wedding Baraat Services
Last week on our blog we talked about having a royal Baraat wedding so we thought it fitting to keep that topic going. What are the Hindu wedding traditions and what is a Baraat? According to tradition, an Indian Hindu wedding is not only the merging of a man and woman but two families.
photo credit: flickr/Brian
Weddings in the Hindu tradition is a binding contract made for life so they spare no detail when it comes to planning such an event. The wedding consists of several parties thrown over the period of two or three days.  On the first night, a priest will often perform the ganesh pooja, a ceremony that usually happens at home with only the couple, the bridal party, and close relatives in attendance.
One of our favorite parts of an Indian Hindu wedding is the Baraat. The Baraat is a large gathering of family and friends and starts with the arrival of the soon to be groom on a decorative horse. He arrives the wedding venue arrayed in bright colors along with a large group of people called the “Baraatis” dancing behind him. We love being a part of traditional Indian Hindu weddings and our horses adorned in the traditional garb look amazing.
We would love to be a part of your Indian Hindu wedding and have been privileged to provide the horses in many. If you’re looking for horses in Northern California  for your wedding then we’re the place to call.
Have a Royal Entrance on Your Baraat Horse
It’s getting late and the groom has not arrived at his wedding yet. The bride’s parents are getting upset and the groom’s parents have no idea why he’s not answering the phone. As the bride’s father is about to lose his patience, the groom arrives on a royal horse with his friends dancing to the Punjabi tunes.
If that’s not a great way to make an entry, then I don’t know what is. Desi weddings are becoming popular around other parts of the world than South Asia. They bring a charm that is only reminiscent to the South Asian way of life. If you are getting married soon, you should seriously consider hiring a horse for your baraat.
Striking Impression
To be honest, in our wedding traditions, the groom waits for the bride while she walks down the aisle with her father or guardian. In this case, having a horse carriage becomes redundant doesn’t it? But what we can do is hire one to leave the wedding hall in style, or arrive at the reception like no one ever has. It’s a great idea when you consider you’re sharing a royal horse carriage life with your now wedded partner just like it used to be in the 1800s!
Trained and Tamed
Services that provide horses and carriages have very well trained horses. In other words, they won’t get frightened from all the dancing and music, and the crowd watching them with glee. Horses are even available to ride solo rather than carrying a carriage. They can be prepared to match the suit, sherwani, and other traditional groom dresses. Imagine your procession towards the wedding hall while your other half’s eyes are transfixed on you. That’s a moment you would want to repeat again and again. All in all, riding a horse to your wedding just doesn’t sound cool, it looks cool as well!
Arranging your Wedding Day Seating
Your wedding will require a lot of logistic planning, none of which is as challenging as arranging your seating. For both ceremony and reception, your guests will need to have direction on where they should sit.
 
For wedding ceremony seating, you can stick to the tradition of having a bride’s side and a groom’s side but if you have many friends in common, this can get confusing, so have an usher on hand to seat these guests in a way that fills out the seats evenly.
Another approach is to allow guests to sit wherever they like. In this case, keep the first row of seating reserved for the wedding party, parents, and other VIPs.
When it comes to reception seating, you have a lot of choices to make. You can allow guests to choose their own seat, but this can lead to some confusion. When you assign seats, you have to decide how to split guests into tables. You can keep people who already know each other together, or use it as a way of encouraging mingling among your guests.
However you choose to arrange the seating during your ceremony, we’ll be sure to get you and your special guests there in the first place. Let us arrange the perfect entrance to your perfect day and hire a horse drawn carriage. It will knock everyone’s socks off.
Photo: Flickr/Jack Zhang
5 Wedding Essentials for Any Theme
Theme weddings are very popular in Northern California. Whether you’re going vintage, rustic, fairytale, or glamor, there are five things you’ll definitely need.
- A great dress. Whatever your theme, you gave to look the part. This can mean different things for each style, but having a stand-out dress is always a must.
- Excellent food and drink. This is something that your guests are sure to remember. Give them a delicious meal and great drinks. Themed drinks are always a hit, too!
- A fantastic venue. Every wedding needs a venue that matches its style. Don’t be afraid to go with someplace unusual if it fits your wedding’s style.
- A meaningful ceremony. The ceremony is the biggest moment of any wedding, so take your time planning it. Carefully consider your vows, music, and officiant to get the wedding ceremony that will truly reflect the love you have for each other.
- Fabuous transportation. Getting from point A to point B shouldn’t be a chore on your wedding day. You’ll want something that really stands out as you go to your venue, and something that will feel very special as you and your new spouse leave the ceremony. A carriage can work with any theme and will certainly have the wow factor you want.
We can help you check transportation off your list. Get in touch today to find out how you can use a carriage for your Northern California wedding.
Photo: Flickr/Anna Maria Liljestrand