Q: My bride and I are looking for advice on how to conduct our Hindu marriage ceremony. We are looking for a priest who can conduct the ceremony in traditional language whilst also being able to interpret this in English as well as someone who can gain commitment from the the invitees, who can balance the need to focus the attention on the ceremony.

A: Rest assured, there are lots of ways in which you can ensure you have a beautiful, meaningful and informative religious ceremony where the value of the ceremony is well balanced so all your guests are as much captivated with the ceremony as you are. It's just about getting the right balance.

Not everyone that attends a religious ceremony understands the real meaning behind the ceremony. Translation cards/scrolls are a good way to involve your guests and keep them in tune with what is actually happening and why. Depending on your budget, you may wish to place one on every seat/alternate seats or even on a reception desk as your guests are entering the Suite. To translate the whole ceremony in English would take up some time but certainly the main aspects can be easily translated into English. Your priest should be fine with this request.

How long are you thinking of having the actual ceremony? Bear in mind the longer the ceremony, the more likely guests will start to get restless. What time are you thinking of having the ceremony? Ensure it is not lunchtime as you will hear stomach's rumbling throughout the ceremony. All these factors will help you achieve a more structured and well thought out day where the focus truly is 100% on the bride and groom getting married.

Most priests these days do have a very good balance of tradition and modern methods when conducting the ceremonies. You should be able to gauge that when you meet with them and when discussing what kind of ceremony you would like. Remember it is your day, communicate to your priest what and how you would like the ceremony conducted. You might be pleasantly surprised how flexible they are.

As long as your priest is confident, experienced, speaks the traditional languages as well as English and has a lapel microphone they should be able to conduct a beautiful ceremony and keep your guests committed and focused leaving you to enjoy the most important ceremony of your life.


Q: I've just got engaged. I am seeking to have a civil ceremony at a country home/stately home in West Yorskhire with a capacity for 160 guests. It is an Indian/English wedding I want some 'fusion' food' and need a venue where I can do this - what do you suggest?

There are some specific wedding agents that do venue sourcing however, be careful of suppliers that claim they can do everything for you. Ask lots of questions and ensure you are dealing with a reputable company and they too know what your specific requirements are. Some companies provide venue sourcing as an all in one service as part and parcel of their packages and some companies offer this as a one off service. The internet is a great starting point but can be quite time consuming as most of the questions you will have will not be answered on their websites or even in their brochures and you will need to call up the individual venues to check what is/isn't allowed.

You may find it beneficial to contact Asian wedding planners and you can get a list of them in the Your Dream Shaadi Wedding Directory. Some wedding agents, mandap companies and even caterers might be able to advise you if you are really struggling. Asian wedding planners are specialists within the industry and should be able to offer some practical solutions with some attractive locations and rates or even point you in the right direction. They have first hand knowledge of what the industry demands and should have a big black book of useful contacts.


Q: I am getting married next year and my husband to be really wants us to have the Hindu ceremony at Bhaktivedanta Manor. I checked on a site which stated that the fees could be up to £2000 - way out of our budget! What can you advise as a solution.

Bhaktivedanta Manor do allow Hindu ceremonies and there are two options available. Hindu ceremonies can be hosted inside the complex for approximately £2,600 inclusive of VAT or in a marquee for approximately £3,350. You will need to contact the temple directly to ascertain 2009 rates, availability and what is/isn't included within the packages. The packages are quite comprehensive where the mandap, garlands are included and food and drink beverages can be supplied depending on what your needs are for the day. Do bear in mind they do not allow Hindu ceremonies on a Sunday inside the complex, you may need to ask if Sunday in the marquee is an option.

The venue is beautiful, lovely gardens and with the added symbolic value it is easily a preferred venue of choice. If you have your heart set on this venue and budget is an issue, you may get a more favorable rate if you choose to host your wedding outside of prime time wedding season. Speak to the wedding coordinator Mr Yogesh Dubey at the Manor and see what can be arranged.

Venue rates do vary immensely nationwide. Check out a few other venues locally to see if you are getting the best possible rate for what is/isn't included in the package. It should assist with the decision making process. Alternatively, you may want to consider community halls or schools for the setting for the Hindu ceremony as they are always quite competitive within the marketplace.


For a professional wedding planning service that is unparalelled and unsurpassed, contact Tania-Tapel on 0116 247 1115 or visit www.tania-tapel.com