A Hindu wedding is rarely a single day. It is a series of celebrations, each with its own mood, guest list and meaning, spread over a long weekend or more. That is what makes it joyful, and what makes it a lot to plan.
This guide walks through the events couples in the UK usually include, a sensible running order, how far ahead to start, and how to budget when there are several celebrations rather than one. You can plan every part of it, free, in We Do.
Not every wedding includes every event, and regional and family traditions vary. These are the celebrations couples most often plan for:
Most couples cluster the celebrations across a Friday to Sunday, building towards the Mandap ceremony as the anchor day. A common shape looks like this:
The baraat is the groom's procession to the venue, with dhol, dancing and family, where he is welcomed by the bride's side. It flows straight into the ceremony, so in We Do we plan the baraat as part of the ceremony day rather than a separate event.
The Mandap ceremony itself takes place beneath the mandap and includes the key rites, from the exchange of garlands to the pheras around the sacred fire. Timings run long, so build in generous slots and share a running order with your families.
With several celebrations to arrange, the venues and the suppliers who cover multi-day weddings get booked up early. A rough timeline:
The trick with a multi-event wedding is to budget per event, then let those add up to your total, rather than guessing one big number. A mehndi at home and a 250-guest reception sit at very different price points, and planning them separately keeps the surprises out.
In We Do, each event carries its own budget grounded in real UK costs, and your planner rolls them into one figure so you always know where you stand.
None of this is fixed. Blend traditions for a fusion wedding, drop the events that are not for you, or add your own. The point is a celebration that looks like yours, with the admin quietly handled in the background.
How many events are in a Hindu wedding?
It varies by family and region, but couples in the UK often plan around six to eight: Roka, Ganesh Puja, Mehndi, Haldi, Sangeet, the Mandap ceremony (with the baraat), Vidaai and a reception. You can include as many or as few as you like.
What is the baraat?
The baraat is the groom's procession to the wedding venue, with music and dancing, where he is welcomed by the bride's family. It leads straight into the Mandap ceremony, so it is best planned as part of the ceremony day.
How long does a Hindu wedding last?
The celebrations usually span a long weekend, from a Friday mehndi to a Sunday vidaai, though smaller events like the Roka may happen weeks earlier.
How much does a Hindu wedding cost in the UK?
It depends heavily on guest numbers and how many events you host. Budgeting per event, rather than as one lump sum, is the clearest way to stay in control. We Do gives each event its own budget grounded in UK costs.
From We Do, a wedding planner for every kind of wedding. The couple who sent you this is planning theirs at saidwedo.com, and this guide lives at saidwedo.com/guides/how-to-plan-a-hindu-wedding-uk if you would rather read it on a screen.