Get to Know Indian Wedding Ceremony Traditions at Moon Palace Resort

From grooms atop of gold-adorned white horses to stolen shoes, read on for five of the most interesting South Asian wedding traditions you are likely to see at an Indian Wedding at Moon Palace Resorts that’ll leave you starry-eyed and possibly considering a move to Mumbai.

Blessings and Body Art

Probably the most-recognized tradition when it comes to Hindu weddings ceremony is Mehndi (or Henna) parties. Imagine the ultimate girls’ night in, but instead of manicures or DIY facials, the bride and her closest girl gang have their hands and feet adorned with intricately drawn on henna designs, which signify the blessing of the bond between the bride and her future husband.

Moon Palace Resorts offers Mehndi artists as part of its Indian Wedding packages, so prepare to have your extremities made into works of art.

You Won't Miss the Groom

Westerners are no strangers to making grand entrances at their weddings, but nothing is quite as impressive as the groom’s arrival at a Hindu wedding.

In the baraat (or groom's procession) the husband-to-be arrives to greet his future bride on an ornately-decorated white horse (yes, he literally rides in on a white horse). After his unforgettable entrance, he’s then welcomed by guests dancing around him to the beat of a drum, followed by the bride and her family who greet him with floral garlands.

At Moon Palace Resorts, a team of wedding specialists are there to assist with a tailor-made wedding that fulfills the intricate planning of the baraat, including flowers, décor, and even the horse itself!

Unlike other resorts in Mexico, Palace Resorts offers an in-house wedding planner with extensive experience in planning South Asian weddings and ceremonies. This provides a unique advantage compared to competitors, given that the resort is fully equipped to present an authentic event.

Palace Resorts can also accommodate more than 300 guests, and offers Barat horses, mehendi and henna artists, live music, and customizable wedding stage decor to fit a family's desires.

Even better, the resort serves up traditional Indian cuisine, thanks to an in-house Indian chef. A sample of the chef’s most-popular items includes samosas and vegetable kabobs, chicken tikka masala, cauliflower with turmeric, lemon rice and jeera rice, and colorful marzipan made with almond, walnut, and saffron.

“Having an in-house Indian chef drastically reduces the destination wedding price point and provides a competitive advantage over other all-inclusive resorts,” Varghese says.

To simplify the process, Palace offers an South Asian wedding package, which includes the ceremony and festivities, food, a honeymoon package, and other unique complements, from flowers to breakfast in bed the morning after the ceremony. The resort also provides a preview option, where couples can enjoy a free two-night stay at a Moon Palace Cancun in Mexico to see exactly how their dreamy beach weddings would come to life.