After a conveniently quick drive to the hotel where the wedding was happening, we handed our bags to the staff, and after about 30 minutes (quite long 😴) they directed us to our room with… one double bed. We asked for an extra bed for Z and I took the window seat and used it as a bed substitute. At least it had curtains to prevent others looking inside, like the one or two hundred staff constantly walking by with meals, decor and even a sack of onions so big it had to be carried on a trolley! (Yes, it was pointed out to M🧅😄.)

For the first part of the day, from 12:30 or so, we were requested to wear yellow, green or floral. There were so many people wearing things from home, I think we could have toned it down a bit. It was Haldi first, but there were a few activities before that. In Haldi we put (or close relatives and friends) turmeric on the bride and groom (feet, knees, shoulders, face and head I think) and they were also poured a whole sack of turmeric **flower petals*** on the groom. They also had games between “Team Groom”and “Team Bride”: including a push up competition, dance off, and a tug of war -that had to be done twice as one team had more people so there was a bit of controversy – not that it got competitive at all… 😂. Also there we other activities such as Mehendi, live bracelet making (like can be seen here) and kite flying had started, so I, N and Z did Mehendi, while others (maybe 1/3) stayed and watched (many also ate at the lunch area.)

I was a bit disappointed with the Mehendi, I thought it would be henna instead of black paint, but it was still very pretty and we got henna done later that day! (thanks to the bride) Then there the was kite flying that we took a look at, but we only tried flying someone else’s because it’s a LOT harder than it looks!🪁

For the Sangeet/dinner, M and N changed into their day 1 afternoon outfits while I and Z stayed the same ☹. We did put on some other things though! It was by the pool, and there was a big buffet with so much food! After maybe half an hour they made a big entrance but N, I and Z were going to the toilet for maybe five minutes.

It was pretty cool, but we left only a bit later after a picture or two with the bride and groom in their glamorous second outfits. It had been a long day, but it was all worth it!