We love djing Gujarati weddings. It's no wonder that we end up at most of the Gujarati weddings that happen in the Dallas metroplex along with many destination weddings. We know the culture, what music to play for each event during the weekend and the right equipment that is needed throughout the weekend. 

The main purpose of this blog is to share with couples a guideline to a smooth wedding weekend. If you want new music lists on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube or want some Non-Stop Mixes, fill out the form on this page. 

Gujarati Wedding Guide

A Gujarati wedding is celebrated over the course of multiple days. These days consist of the Pithi, Grahashanti, Satak, Garba, Baraat, Wedding Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception. For a Gujarati couple dreaming of a fun wedding weekend, this guide on what other couples are doing will help you. 

Day 1 and 2: Pithi, Grahashanti, Satak, and Garba

The Pithi, Grahashanti, Satak, and Garba can be done in any order before the third day of the wedding festivities. 

1. The pithi ceremony is where the bride sits on a low stool and the aunt of the bride makes a paste out of sandalwood, herbs, and rosewater which is then blessed by the priest in order to apply it to the bride’s skin. 
2. The Grahashanti and Satak is a morning prayer to seek the blessings of the nine worlds. This used to take place at home but many couple are doing it at their wedding venue. It is an invitation to Lord Ganesh to come and remove all obstacles from the bride and groom’s path and provide them with immense happiness. 
3. The Garba in the Gujarati culture is a fun evening celebrating the union of the two families. Everyone dresses in Indian clothes and has a great time enjoying dinner, drinking, mingling and dancing to traditional Gujarati music. 

1. Most couple do not make formal entrances on this day. Everyone is already in the ballroom and having a good time with each other and so is the bride and groom.
2. The speeches will happen early on so everyone can be ready to dance night away after the dinner. 
3. Dinner is usually chaat stations that are setup around the room and open for most of the night. 
4. After the dinner is complete, there is usually a few friends and family dance performances.
5. Right after the performances, the DJ Riz Entertainment team will open up the dance floor with garba (two and three clap songs). After that the family supplies dandias for everyone to play raas.
6. Depending on the crowd, there are some other fun Gujarati songs we can play like sanedo. 

Day 3 Part 1: Baraat

An early morning start on this day is filled with the baraat and ceremony followed by the cocktail hour and the reception.

1. The Bride and Groom have their first look in the morning before the baraat begins. The smiles in the pictures really show the love between the couple.
2. After the first look, the groom heads outside for his baraat. The DJ Riz Entertainment team provides a mobile baraat that way everyone can enjoy the music while dancing in the streets. 
3. The groom has a choice between an animal or a vehicle to be in his baraat. In a traditional setting we have seen the two most popular animals to have is a horse or an elephant. For a groom that loves the modern touch to his baraat, he would choose between a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, or any other exotic sports car.
4. The groom’s side brings the energy early in the morning as they dance their way into the wedding ceremony.

Day 3 Part 2: Wedding

The wedding ceremony is a beautiful celebration joining the bride and groom to become one in the Gujarati tradition. 

1. The priest will be waiting on stage while the groom enters with his groomsmen and family to an upbeat song that signifies the groom has arrived. After a few minutes into the ceremony the priest will then announce the bride to enter. The order of this procession is the flower girls first, followed by bridesmaids, then the bride with her mama (maternal uncle) or her parents. 
2. During the ceremony we will play music softly in the background to compliment the wedding atmosphere.
3. As the ceremony goes on the four rounds the bride and groom walk around the fire represents righteousness, success, love, and liberation which we play music for. After the four rounds, the bride is asked to sit on the left side of the groom to signify that she is closer to his heart now. 
4. The vidai ceremony is the acknowledgment of the bride going into her new home. This becomes emotional for the families but makes the love stronger. 
5. Some couples come back into the wedding area to take pictures with their immediate family members while the rest of the guests are informed to proceed to the lunch area. 

Day 3 Part 3: Cocktail 

The cocktail hour is the refreshing time after the wedding ceremony.

1. People go home or back to the hotel to change into their luxurious reception Indian outfits during the time in between the wedding ceremony and the cocktail hour.
2. This is a time where guests mingle with others and enjoy various appetizers and cocktails while we play music. 
3. While the guests are in the foyer the bride and groom, bridal party, and immediate family are inside the ballroom taking pictures before the reception begins.

Day 3 Part 4: Reception 

The biggest event of the weekend is finally here, the reception! Dress to impress and with your most luxurious outfits. Tons of pictures will be taken, make sure those smiles are up and get ready for the time of your lives!

1. Let's begin with the entrances. Parents and siblings are up first entering to their favorite songs. The bridesmaids and groomsmen can enter together in pairs, altogether, or in separate groups. They will use the most hype songs of that year or an anthem they used to jam to with the bride and groom. And now the main entrance, the Bride and Groom are welcomed in with an abundance of cheers to their favorite song.
2. After the entrances are complete the couple will go into their first dance. Sometimes a couple will do a traditional first dance with a slow waltz or in other cases the bride groom planned a choreographed dance where they begin with a slow dance and the music cuts into an upbeat song to get the crowd excited. 
3. Now comes the cake cutting ceremony, a simple and sweet love song is played for the couple as they cut their cake and feed each other.
4. It’s time to have the Father/Daughter and Mother/Son dance. A heartwarming moment to witness. We suggest having a song that describes the relationship between the parent and the bride or groom. 
5. Here comes the part where you get to know the couple on a more personal level, the speeches. Speeches are usually given by a few members of the bridal party, and parents. Talk about secrets coming out! 
6. Gujarati weddings also have performances on the reception day. An epic love story captured through the eyes of the bridesmaids and groomsmen is reenacted to show all the guests how the bride and groom came to know each other.  
7. Dinner is now served. We can create a soft change in the uplights to set a mood people will love. Also during this time the bride and groom love to show a slideshow of their pictures and videos of their childhood. Another video that is normally played is the same day edit from your videographer. 
8. Now it’s time to dance! The reception will be a mix of top Bollywood songs and your favorite hip hop/top 40 tracks. Everyone from young to old will have a great time.

The DJ Riz Entertainment team takes pride in being a part of Gujarati weddings. Our team will help make your dream wedding come true and give you an unforgettable experience. Hiring an entertainment team that knows the cultures and traditions is very important, this will help you have a smooth wedding weekend. Every year hundreds of couples trust our professional wedding entertainment team and we are able to deliver a service they remember for a lifetime. We would love to be a part of your celebrations and make it memorable for you and your family. If you would like to talk about your wedding, please contact us here. If you want new music lists on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube or want some Non-Stop Mixes, fill out the form on this page. 

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