Indian wedding glossary · After the wedding
What is Reception?
Also written: Wedding reception, preetibhoj, प्रीतिभोज
A reception is the party, usually hosted by the groom's family after the wedding, where the newly married couple meet guests, receive blessings and gifts, and everyone shares a meal.
- Who keeps it
- Families of every community across India.
- When
- A day or a few days after the wedding; sometimes the evening of the wedding itself.
About Reception
What should you know about Reception?
The couple stand or sit on a stage while guests come up to greet them, take photographs and hand over shagun. There is dinner, often music, and sometimes a first dance.
Some families hold the reception before the wedding or combine both families' receptions into one. Hindi cards often call it preetibhoj or swagat samaroh.
In the order of functions
Where does Reception come in an Indian wedding?
A day or a few days after the wedding; sometimes the evening of the wedding itself.
- Before the weddingFixing the match, the engagement, the date and the card.
- The functionsPujas, haldi, mehndi, sangeet and the family days before the wedding.
- Wedding day ritualsFrom the baraat to the pheras, nikah and anand karaj.
- After the weddingVidaai, the new home, the reception and the first visits.
Planning your own days? The free wedding function order planner puts your functions in a sensible order with dates.
On the card
What do families write on the invitation for Reception?
We request the pleasure of your company at the reception of Riya and Arjun, Monday, 16 February, 7:30 pm onwards.
Related words
Words that go with Reception
- Walima
Walima is the wedding feast hosted by the groom's family after the nikah, to celebrate the marriage with relatives, friends and the community.
- Bou bhaat
Bou bhaat is the Bengali reception at the groom's home, the day the new bride serves rice to his family for the first time and the groom promises to provide for her.
- Cocktail
A cocktail is a modern evening party in the wedding days, with drinks, music and dancing, usually hosted for friends and the younger family.
- Shagun
Shagun is an auspicious gift, most often cash in an envelope ending in one, such as ₹101, ₹501 or ₹1,100, given at the roka, engagement, wedding and other family occasions.
- Mooh dikhai
Mooh dikhai, meaning showing the face, is the custom where the women of the groom's family and neighbourhood meet the new bride, see her face and give her gifts or money.
Questions
Reception, answered
What is Reception?
A reception is the party, usually hosted by the groom's family after the wedding, where the newly married couple meet guests, receive blessings and gifts, and everyone shares a meal.
Which families celebrate Reception?
Families of every community across India.
When does Reception happen in the order of wedding functions?
A day or a few days after the wedding; sometimes the evening of the wedding itself.
What do families write on the invitation for Reception?
We request the pleasure of your company at the reception of Riya and Arjun, Monday, 16 February, 7:30 pm onwards.
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