How to Plan a Multi-Day Indian Wedding

Start by mapping every event

Traditions vary between regions, communities and families, so there's no single template. Before booking anything, sit down with both families and list every event you're planning, with its rough guest count and where it will happen. A typical celebration might include some of these:

Once it's written down, you can see the real scale of the project: how many venues, how many guests in total, which suppliers are needed on which days, and where the pressure points are.

Build one timeline and one budget

The most common mistake is planning each event separately. Costs creep, suppliers are double-booked or missing, and families find themselves organising the next day's event at midnight. Instead:

• One budget across every event, so you can see the true total and decide where to spend
• One master timeline showing every event, setup, breakdown and travel window
• One supplier list showing who is needed on which days, so bookings can be combined where possible
• One decision-maker per family for quick sign-offs, so suppliers aren't getting different instructions

Choosing venues

Large Indian weddings narrow the venue list quickly. When viewing venues in London and the Home Counties, check:

• Capacity for your largest event, seated, with a dance floor and stage
• Catering rules. Many venues require their in-house caterer or an approved list. If you want a specific caterer, confirm they're allowed before booking. See finding a venue that allows outside caterers
• Rules on open flames for any fire ceremony, and on smoke, confetti and fireworks
• Access and setup time for mandap, stage and décor installation
• Finish times and noise limits for the reception and sangeet
• Parking and transport links for several hundred guests
• Accommodation nearby for family travelling in

Estates in Hertfordshire and Essex often suit large receptions, while London hotels are convenient for guests travelling in. Many families hold the smaller pre-wedding events at home.

Suppliers who understand the traditions

Your suppliers need to understand not just what happens, but why and when. Brief each one on the rituals that affect them, and book people who have done this before:

• Décor and mandap: installation and changeover times between events
• Photography and video: the rituals and family moments that must not be missed
• Music and entertainment: DJ, dhol and live performers, and sangeet performances
• Catering: separate menus for each event, vegetarian and Jain options, and timing around the ceremony. Our chefs cater Indian weddings if you'd like them, but any caterer works
• Henna artists, hair and make-up: multiple looks across several days

Guest logistics

With hundreds of guests across several days, small details add up:

• Separate invitations or an itinerary showing which guests are invited to which events
• Clear timings, addresses, parking and dress codes for each event
• Transport for elderly relatives and guests without cars, especially between ceremony and reception
• Hotel blocks for family travelling from abroad
• Seating plans for the reception that respect family dynamics

Running each day

Every event needs its own running order and someone in charge who isn't a member of the family. Their job is to keep rituals on time, cue entrances and speeches, manage suppliers' arrivals and changeovers, and keep both families informed, so the people who matter most can be present for each moment.

That's what Nelle does. She plans Indian and multicultural weddings as one plan across every event, from Mayian ceremonies at home to receptions for 400 guests, with whichever caterer your family chooses.