Avoid red faces at an Asian wedding

Mar 12 2007

By Evening Gazette

If you are attending a South Asian ceremony for the first time, read the following etiquette guide to ensure you don't make a faux pas. * Dress sense: You don't have to wear a sari or an ethnic dress but modest dress is the order of the day; avoid bare shoulders, plunging necklines and short skirts. * Colours of joy: Generally pure white and black are avoided at the religious ceremony. Try not to wear bright red as this is traditionally reserved for the bride and you wouldn't want to outshine her on her special day. * Carry a scarf/stole: Several ceremonies, such as a Sikh wedding, will require you to cover your head when you are in the temple. * Removing shoes: Most religious places will require you to take off your shoes and place them in the designated space before you enter the sanctified area. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT * Find your side: Some places of worship require women and men to sit separately on different sides of the room. * Taking pictures: Check before you get clicking during a ceremony. * Entering a sacred space: Most religious disciplines require some form of 'cleansing' before entering the blessed space, which mostly means taking a bath and not consuming non-vegetarian foods or alcohol on the day. * Gifts: If there is no gift list mentioned, it is fine to give a monetary gift to the couple. Usually this is done by placing money or vouchers with a card or a note into a pretty envelope or embroidered bag, along with best wishes to the couple. Numbers that end with numerical one are considered lucky, for instance, £11, £21, £51, £101. * Food: If the ceremony is at a Hindu or Sikh temple, you will be served vegetarian, sometimes vegan, food. At muslim weddings, you can expect the meat to be halal, but there are sure to be vegetarian options as well. * Kissing the bride: It is not generally a custom for male guests to kiss or dance with the bride. Even the most liberated bride will follow the custom of being demure on her wedding day. * www.confettieast.co.uk

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