135 Unique Indian Wedding Ideas to Wow Your Guests
Introduction
Weddings in India, are more like festivals wherein the entire family gathers and enjoys. There is laughter, joy, love, warmth, intimacy, but also, melancholy. Indian weddings are a full-fledged package of emotions and amusement, from Sangeet to Vidaai. However, with amusement comes responsibility. Nowadays, guests like different varieties of fun activities in all the functions.
But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with 135 Unique Indian Wedding Ideas to Wow Your Guests for all the events at your wedding. Listed below are 23 fantastic sangeet ideas, 28 tipsy cocktail party ideas, 20 incredible Mehndi function ideas, 21 mesmerising haldi function ideas, 20 cool reception ideas and 23 amazing ideas to light up your wedding ceremony.
23 Ideas for Indian Wedding Sangeet
1. Titles and awards: You think that uncle and aunty were the best dancers, or, the bride’s niece is everyone’s favourite? Tell them. Make your sangeet memorable by giving titles and awards to individuals as well as couples.
2.Dance off: Let the girl’s side and the boy’s side show their dancing skills one by one in a classic Hollywood-style dance off. Make sure you keep an unbiased judge!
3. Bring the ring: Enthral your guests with this upgraded form of hand ring toss. The board will act as a hilarious photo booth as well!
4. Virtual Paparazzi: Do you wish to make your guests feel like they are all celebrities? Get the virtual paparazzi setup and send a colossal shoutout their way as they enter the dance floor.
5. Antakshari: This game will never get old. Play antakshari among the family and you’ll find hidden bathroom singers.
6. Magazine Cover Booth: How would your guests feel if you tell them that they have been featured on the Forbes magazine cover? Interesting, right! Gift your guests a picture of themselves on a magazine with the Magazine cover booth.
7. Coordinated dance performances: No pre-wedding party can end without a dance performance of the groom and the bride. A professionally well-choreographed dance can be a cherry on the cake. Additionally, different team-ups, such as the bridesmaid squad, the mothers-in-law duet, etc. can also be organized to ensure everyone shares in on the fun.
8. Qawaali treat: Organize a melifluous Qawaali performance to give something to those who are dance floor shy and to keep the elders of the family entertained.
9. Paper dance competition: Yes, the good old paper dance from our school birthday parties and college freshers. Inject some nostalgia and hilarity into the occasion with this one.
10. Fashion show: Nobody is unaware of the fact that girls of all ages just love fashion shows. Give them a chance to flaunt their expensive outfits!
11. Anti Gravity Booth: Have you ever imagined your life without gravity? Get the anti-gravity photo booth and take your guests on a trip to space.
12. Dancing charades: Put the crowd to test on their Bollywood knowledge by dancing iconic steps to famous songs- on mute- and see who sets the highest score!
13. Flash mob: Never heard of a flash mob? It is basically a planned yet sudden arrival of a group of people who come out of nowhere and steal the show with their coordinated dance moves. Your relatives won’t see this coming. So do a Dil-Dosti-Dance style flash mob to make yours the wedding of the decade!
14. Funky photobooth: Set up a funky photo booth with different vehicles and props. You can also consider large, framed photo booths.
15. Glambot: Yes, every wedding is red-carpet worthy! so why not have your own Glmabot Photobooth too to cruise to the music and record stunning shots that’ll go crazy on Instagram?
16. Statue dance: If you’re looking for a zero-budget game for your sangeet ceremony, this is the one. You just have to dance and freeze when the music stops.
17. Romantic slow dance at the end: Irrespective of how old they are, couples love slow dances. End your sangeet celebration with a beautiful couple-dance on a romantic song. Don’t forget to dim the lights!
18. Musical chairs: Musical chair is among the favourite party games of this century. Make sure all your guests, from kids to the oldies, participate.
19. GIF/ boomerang photo booth: In this era of influence, who doesn’t love boomerangs? Arrange for the GIF/boomerang photo booth for all your Instagrammer friends.
20. Whistles to cheer: As we all know, whistling and hooting totally boost up the energy in the air. Arrange the seats with whistles on the sides for the non-dancers to cheer. Alternately, you can arrange for DIY tambourines, adorned with lace and ghunghroo to set the vibe.
21. Dancing slippers: This can be a saviour for the high heel ladies. Arrange pairs of slippers of different sizes and let the women dance with comfort.
22. Shoot or shot: Challenge the guests to aim and score, at the other end of which they have to take a shot if they fail!
23. Limbo: Ladies with a long dupatta, just go limbo! The dupatta gets lower and lower, and the boys have to dance and pass through without touching it.
28 Classy Cocktail Party Ideas
1. 360 spin booth: We all know, a 360-degree shot makes up the perfect Instagram post. But, you don’t have to hang your camera to the ceiling fan if that’s what you’re thinking. The 360 spin booth has got you covered to bring your best from all sides for a cinematic reel.
2. Make it a pool party: Instead of hosting a typical cocktail party, you should host one by the pool for your guests to lounge and sunbathe around. Imagine a day of relaxation with drinks served on floaties, with sunglasses on and luxuriating under desi-bedecked canopies.
3. Pop champagne to begin: A champagne fountain screams fancy celebration like no other. So pop it off with this dazzling centerpiece and set the tone for the rest of the night.
4. DJ request box: Direct the DJ to play the songs that your guests wish to move their feet on. Set up a little blackboard or a box for song requests and rid yourself of the hassle to come up with perfect music all the time.
5. Bar truck/ van: Why stay simple when you can be exotic? Turn your cocktail counter into a traditional bar truck or a royal bar van and transform the venue into a fiery fair.
6. Cocktail pani puri shots: This is the perfect shot for the panipuri lovers. Serve these with vodka and see your guests go tipsy!
7. Alcoholic chuskis: Oh you don’t like panipuri? Try our vodka chuskis. But we’re not responsible if your kid grabs one of these.
8. Giant polaroid photo booth: Get a fun polaroid photo booth to attract all the attention. This is a unique and affordable way to beautify the venue.
9. Green Screen Booth: I’m sure all your guests wouldn’t be the same kind of people. Instead of setting up a backdrop, set up the green screen photo booth, and your guests can choose the background that they are fond of.
10. Papri chaat in martini glasses: To keep the feel of the cocktail party alive, serve food in such a way that it reminds the guests to have another drink.
11. Tropical decor: Bring out those loud printed table covers and tents and serve up pina coladas and acai bowls out of coconut shells and watermelon skins. Tropical is magical when it comes to a cocktail party!
12. Beer pong: There’s no cocktail party without beer pong. The game is nothing but pinball with beer. It is definitely a show-stealer.
13. Set up a bowling alley: Bowling is fun for everybody, whether they’re pro at the game or trying it out for the first time. This is a game that’ll keep the kids and the adults entertained for hours.
14. Customised wine: Order customised labels for wine bottles so that it seems that the wine is actually custom-made. You can label the wine bottles with funny names, they’d act like a prop for pictures, also on budget.
15. Tasty mocktails: Keep a check on your non-alcoholic friends as well. Arrange yummy mocktails for them to enjoy your cocktail party without any FOMO.
16. Tasting bar: Create a set up of a bar for tasting different types of alcohol. This will avoid wastage and your guests will know exactly what to drink.
17. VR Games: Are you bored of the regular wedding games? Rent the virtual reality games and make it a totally different experience. Beware! Your guests might drop their jaw on seeing this.
18. Light up with a booth: Light up the night with every capture- the Light Painting Photobooth creates stunning photos out of moving tubes of light to ensure every picture turns out with its unique shade and pattern.
19. Personalised cocktail glasses: Personalise the cocktail glasses of your guests to make them feel special. You can even get them packed as a gift after the party. Like a mug-printing booth at exhibitions and fests, this can be a fun activity booth where guests can even try some DIYing.
20. Bonfire theme: Imagine an outdoor cocktail party with a sparkling bonfire. Your guests won’t forget such a party and you can thank us later!
21. Cocktail playlist: Create a proper cocktail playlist before the party. Hand it over to the DJ and you can have fun for the entire night.
22. Live band: Hire a band to perform live at your cocktail party. The rocking concert will rock on your celebration.
23. Slowmo video booth: Slow motion videos have always been a charm for social media users. If you want that charm in your party, the slow-mo video booth cannot be a no go!
24. Fusion chaat stall: Bring some desi tadka to your bite-sized delicacies counter by serving up dahi bhalle or tacos in martini glasses, the goold old bhel or sev mixes out of carts in paper rolls, or laying out a whole buffet of toppings for guests to help themselves with.
25. Embrace retro: Go for a gilded Hollywood era, or a vintage Bollywood theme to glam up your cocktail party. And if films aren’t quite your style, explore the pop art mania to colour the occasion something psychedelic.
26. Lanterns for everybody: You may also choose to bid adieu to the night with paper lanterns released into the world, each laden with best wishes for the couple.
27. Kaleidoscope Booth: Have fun with dizzying patterns and gorgeous reflections with the Kaleidscpe Photobooth, which makes every picture a masterful close-up shot.
28. Fortune cookies: The best way to end your cocktail party is a sweet giveaway for the guests. Who says no to cookies though?
20 Fun Activities and Ideas at the Mehndi Function
1. Karaoke: Karaoke might sound a little common. But, it is the heartthrob of a good, cultured party even today. A classic karaoke setup with cheering props and hats and fur scarves for performers will steal hearts anytime.
2. Bobbleheads: A little off-track from traditional photobooths, a mini bobblehead station provides a great opportunity for gets to get clicked and create adorable little noddlers of themselves to take home as party favours.
3. Celebrity impersonator: Hire a celebrity impersonator to entertain the guests for the night. I’m sure kids would never know.
4. Bangle-making station: India is a country of rich traditions and handicrafts culture, among which different kinds of bangle-making also find a place. Support local artisans and invite a team of them to create personalized bangles on the spot. This way, guests can get custom jewelry to match their outfits, while the session is also a stunning display of skill that’ll keep the children and adults engrossed alike.
5. Bring the fair to mehendi town: Organize traditional mela-like festivities to complement your mehendi ceremony. With shooting balloon games, tambola, multicoloured drinks, puppet shows and cotton candy stalls, the party’s sure to have everyone going gaga.
6. Nail salon, tuning in: What’s better than having the women’s beautiful hands adorned with henna? Treating them to a complementary manicure session! From simple French tips to rhinestone inlays, pamper your guests to a brought-in nail salon at the event.
7. AR Mindreader: Here’s an interactive display that makes for hassle-free entertainment and can even be used to gamify the event. The AR Mindreader by GoKapture is a show-stealer which, besides reading minds about which guests are hungry and which can’t wait to bust a move, can also be used to play Antakshari with the lyrics hovering over people’s heads or even Truth or Dare.
8. Tiara making: Put the crown to your mehendi garden party with hand-crafted tiaras, adorned with love. Whether it’s a simple gajra or a delicate mesh of orchids and baby breath, this is an activity anyone can enjoy.
9. Tattoo corner: Elaborate mehendi designs are not for everybody, so cater to people with a henna tattoo parlour, one where the kids, men and anyone else can also enjoy with little non-invasive tattoos, initials and simple patterns anywhere they desire.
10. Custom kite flying: For an outdoor mehendi function, you can go for a field day or picnic theme, and distribute kites for people to enjoy. Guests can doodle and write messages on them, and kite-flying is equally fun for kids and grown-ups.
11. A crate-full of cares: Make it a day of relaxing and rejuvenating, for the bride and the household bombarded with preparation worries, as well as the guests travelling from afar. Pack up sheet masks, organic juices, wellness shots and other goodies for the attendees to help themselves to. Additionally, you can treat them to a foot massage session or a magical hair oil champi and get them psyched and ready for the festivities to follow.
12. Custom bracelets for everybody: Here’s another little DIY session that’ll be appreciated by everyone, from the kids to the crafty grandmas. Make sure to stock up on a variety of supplies, from simple lettered beads to crochet kits and give your mehendi ceremony the Taylor Swift concert treatment.
14. Finger foods: As the guests will have their hands busy, make sure to stock up on plenty of bite-sized goodies they can just pop in their mouths, such as sushi, mini pizzas, etc. and provide funky straws for the drinks.
15. Katputli dance: Infuse some awesome Rajasthani flavour into the celebration with a katputli show by expert artists and make it a time to remember.
16. Umbrella dance: Have your squad perform a coordinated dance with embellished umbrellas- yes, the tasseled, mirror work-encrusted chhatris that make heads turn everywhere.
17. Homey cocktails: Invite guests to whip up their magic with custom drinks, or you may even sign them up to a live mixology lesson which they can gather tips from. Setting up pretty drinks is an activity that’ll find more fans than you probably imagine.
18. Install a floral swing set: Live your desi-filmy dreams with a marigold-laden jhoola or two. Set up separate rides for the kids to enjoy in a designated area.
19. Message basket: Pass around a basket or even a decorated trunk to be filled with hand-written scrolls. Guests can recall fond memories with the bride and groom, wish them well for the future and make their version of a celebratory toast through these.
20. A plant for each smile: Substitute conventional party favours for herb saplings or succulents, with the pots carrying the couple’s initials and wedding date.
21 Haldi Function Ideas for Wedding
1. Tug of war: For an outdoor celebration, what’s better than a tug of war between the girl’s and the boy’s side? Tell the elderly to be ready to relive their childhood.
2. Live ludo: Nobody would’ve thought that even ludo can be fun when you are your own token. Roll the dice and start jumping in this life-sized ludo game.
3. Floral holi: There’s nothing like too many flowers at an Indian wedding, so play on with a floral shower not only for the bride and groom but everyone in attendance. This is a version of Holi safe for all seasons and places.
4. Tie the knot: No, we’re not being hasty. This is a little saree-tying competition you can organize where guests can show their skills with different drapes or novices can see how well they can follow maa’s instructions to tackle the six yards.
5. Step up to the challenge: Set up a Stepper Activity with a custom animated display, showcasing the couple’s initials and the wedding date to keep the guests entertained with a mini race.
6. The canvas of couple outfits: Haldi outfits are usually kept simple, to be sacrificed to the frolicking of the occasion. But these blank canvases can also be turned into touching mementos, upon which family and friends can scribble their blessings and wishes, to be preserved.
7. Ice shower: Make cleaning up fun for the bride and the groom by involving everyone in an ice bath or shower. Perfect for a tropical-themed wedding or a summer day out.
8. Rangoli rendevouz: Invite volunteers to participate in a rangoli-making event to begin the festivities with and let them dazzle with their artistic skill as the venue blooms in colour.
9. Catch the Baton: Here’s another simple way to gamify the haldi ceremony- install the Catch the Baton game that tests reflexes.
10. Find the bride: Oh yes, you’re allowed to play Hide & Seek for your wedding festivities. If the venue permits, you can play this game with the entire party. Alternately, in a joint haldi ceremony for the two families, the groom can also be challenged to find his bride among a team of women dressed similarly in shades of yellow.
11. Fortune teller’s stall: Go all out with the town fair feels with this. Invite a fortune teller, or a fate-telling parrot or a tarot card reader to engross your guests in an interesting activity.
12. Variety to the traditional haldi: Complement the traditional water-based haldi paste with rose powder and other herbal mixes that are good for skin. Yogurt and milk may also be used as base, and you can set up a whole counter of these mixture potlis for guests to choose from.
13. Custom badges: Make custom badges with the wedding date, pictures of the bride and groom and some quirky captions for guests to pin up on their clothes.
14. A game of tag: Following from the above, there can be separate badges for the bride’s side as well as the groom’s, using which you can play a game of tag where the goal is to colour as many people of the opposite team with the haldi paste as possible.
15. A drinks’ thela: Serve up mocktails, cocktails and chuskis on a traditional cart with the fanfare of a mela.
16. Pass around bhaji boxes: A primary responsibility during the wedding festivities is to keep the guests well fed. Make sure no one’s left out by pre-arranging snack boxes with sweet and savoury items.
17. Rain dance: Yes, turn the post-haldi clean-up into a coordinated dance performance, or impromptu, like the Bollywood films have had us believing.
18. DIY floral basket decor: This is another creative task that guests can participate in, lending a personalized touch to the entire affair with these love-made decorations. Get straw baskets that can be the basis of colourful flower arrangements.
19. Origami tales: Alternately, the attendees may enjoy a paper-folding session, and their origami creations may be displayed around the venue as table centerpieces, tree decorations, etc.
20. Duplicate Booth: Pair the fun with the Judwa Photobooth that makes for some awesome pictures!
21. Haldi recovery kits: Wrap up the day by sending off guests with little recovery packages filled with eye masks, herbal teas, stain removal tools, etc.
20 Unique Wedding Reception Ideas
1. Phonebooth: Also commonly known as an audio guestbook, this is a great out-of-the-box installation to have at your wedding reception. Variations are available so that your guests can record their audio messages or even a little video, and at the end, a compilation of all those little wishes and blessings is made into a beautiful memory book for you to cherish.
2. A piece of everybody: As wedding receptions tend to be more intimate functions, you can ask your guests to decorate quilt patches or colour sketchbook pages, which can be assembled into keepsakes.
3. Invite a string quartet: Take a break from the loud music of the usual wedding festivities by hiring a string quartet and enjoying a soothing rendition of a favourite classic.
4. First dance: A slow first dance of the newlyweds is a great way to make the day memorable.
5. Photo Mosaic: Create your wedding portrait with a smiley snapshot of every guest. The Photo Mosaic Wall by GoKapture is a marvelous centerpiece that you can install at your venue to be compiled in real time to reveal the big picture.
6. Vintage wishes: Opt for a typewriter guestbook!
7. Memory table: Set up a table with pictures from the wedding, family portraits, date night memories and a picture of the parents’ weddings.
8. Make your song: No, this isn’t a mere high school dream. Take help from friends and professionals, ask for lyric contributions and weave a song just for you and your partner.
9. Photo strips: Rent a classic Photo Strip Booth to send off guests with personalized photo strips and even make a wedding scrapbook
10. Whimsical wishing tree: Set up an artificial willow tree with swooping branches that guests can write and tie up their wishes to.
11. Anniversary notes: Ditch the typical guestbook by requesting attendees to write specific messages that you can open up at your first wedding anniversary, five years later, and so on.
12. Sufi performance: This is another classy option to liven up the evening.
13. Dandiya dance: Dandiya nights are unbounded fun, so why restrict them to a few days of the year?
14. Relationship timeline: Howsoever the two souls have come together, there are bound to be anecdotes and special moments for each to recall. Put them on a blackboard or paint them on the carpet for your walk down the aisle.
15. Sketch Photobooth: Swap a regular selfie booth for a Sketchbot or a Sketch Photobooth that creates instant sketches of the guests, packed with love to be sent home with everyone.
16. Special sweetness: Customize your dessert selection with a piece of the personalities of the bride and groom, as well as close family- a zingy tart, buttery chocolate sauce and colourful donuts.
17. Bring your culture to the table: If the partners hail from different regional or cultural backgrounds, inculcate bits of those through the celebration. Cookies in the shape of the state you’re from and quirky captions in regional languages are some ways to make it unique.
18. Custom event wall: Install a personalized interactive display wall that guests can attest their presence to- either a Digital Slingshot to shoot pictures and messages onto the screen or a Digital Lantern for beautifully animated messages in people’s own handwriting.
19. Poster entry: Commission a giant poster of the couple to be made, which can be displayed on the stage right before the newlyweds storm through it in their full resplendence.
20. Zorbing ball dance: Let the fun begin by rolling inside a zorbing ball for the couple’s first dance.
23 Modern Indian Wedding Ideas
1. Welcome bag: Put in a detailed wedding itinerary so that guests know what to expect and how to dress, as well as custom luggage tags, bells to be rung at the wedding ceremony and other offerings wishing them a comfortable and joyful experience.
2. Wedding monogram: Get a wedding monogram designed to feature through the decor. With designer spotlights, stamped ice cubes in drinks, napkins, etc., you can use this to customize the wedding decoration and lend it a cohesive touch.
3. Wedding hashtag: A rising trend at Indian weddings is a custom wedding hashtag that guests can use to post on social media for a readymade archive. Also make it a part of the decor with floaters for a pool party, an acrylic hashtag display for the photobooth, etc. Rent a hashtag printer to capture the fun.
4. Groom entry shenanigans: Why should brides have all the fun? Plan a showstopper groom entry with smoke sticks or smoke guns, or riding a vintage scooter or car, with shehnai and dhol announcing the arrival.
5. Schedule a break: With one ceremony after the other, things can get a little hectic. Try inserting a day of relaxation that you and the guests can take at their pace, such as a spa or a boat ride.
6. Bridal entry with a bang: Hop on a rickshaw or a peppy scooter for your bridal entry, or walk in with your furry best friend.
7. Caricature booth: Spice up a traditional photobooth with a Digital Caricature booth that creates gorgeous caricatures in seconds
8. Serving food in style: Enlist the professionals! From a Turkish ice cream artist to traditional jhalmuri vendors, snacks are served best with a bit of drama and culture on the side.
9. Live cooking: If you can’t go for an entirely open-air kitchen, opt for a live pasta or grill counter. You may have a star item in the menu, such as a specific type of biryani, and call in food artisans to enamour the attendees with the process.
10. Ring pop pinata: Smash through custom wedding pinatas to obtain your engagement or wedding rings before the exchange.
11. Cool props: Think confetti capsules, ribbon wands and smoke sticks, alongside the usual flower shower
12. Dress up bars: Make pre-wedding celebrations full of activities that everyone will be actively involved in. And what’s better than some quirky glam up? Set up a glitter counter, a hair beading or braiding counter and gajra stalls that will add to the ambiance and also make for a beautiful cultural showcase.
13. Live painting: Enlist a skilled painter to paint your wedding through the hours and capture the celebration’s unique colour
14. Honour family heirlooms: Display precious, adored items passed down over generations and liven up the day with dozens of stories to narrate.
15. A bow tie bar for the lads: Create a funky bow tie or boutonniere rack for your guests to take their pick.
16. Vows with vigour: Write your vows on the dupatta or display them on the photo wall. Promises, irrespective of cultural differences, can be made a part of any wedding celebration.
17. Spin the wheel: Set up a fun wheel game for the guests at the dance floor to make for interesting dance challenges.
18. Custom stickers: Print out some custom wedding stickers to add to party favours, stick around on sweet boxes and balloons, etc.
19. Coffee table book: Design a custom coffee table book- your wedding edition, and lay the copies around the venue for your guests to flip through. It can contain snapshots of your pre-wedding shoot, your story, wedding vows, etc.
20. Munchies for phere: From a popcorn cart to waffle stations, make sure the guests are fed to stay up late into the night to watch the nuptials to culmination.
21. Who knows the couple best: This is a game suited to any pre-wedding function, but particularly bridal showers and bachelorettes, where a ‘Who knows the bride best?’ trivia can be rewarded with a beautiful goodies bag.
22. Couple’s trivia: For a joint sangeet or haldi celebration, the couple themselves may be put on the hot seat to see how well they know the little things about each other and if they can recall the moments they’ve created so far.
23. Gratitude signboard: So that the guests leaving early or when the bride and groom are occupied also receive a gesture of acknowledgment for adding to the day with their presence.