At A Glance
Key Timings
Reception Hall Setup
Previous afternoon or evening
Venue Fully Ready
At least 30 mins before the reception
Groom’s Car Decoration
Arrives at the residence after 9 AM
Arrival at Church
At least 30 mins before the service
Bride & Groom Seated
At least 5 mins before the service
Items Handed to the Sexton
At least 5 mins before the procession
Church Formalities & Photos
About 30 to 45 mins after the service
Reception
As per the invitation / programme
Manthrakodi Dress Change
During the guests’ meal
Stage Photography
After the couple returns
Departure for Kacha Ceremony
After the reception
The Day Before
Reception Venue Setup
Our team will reach the reception venue in the afternoon or evening before the wedding, depending on when the venue opens up, other activities taking place there, and the setup required.
- Stage décor and other arrangements begin as soon as venue access is available.
- Flowers, lighting, and final details are completed towards the end of the setup.
- The entire venue will be ready at least 30 minutes before the reception begins.
Wedding Morning
Car Décor & Things to Keep Ready
The wedding car, a Mercedes S Class, will arrive at the residence after 9 AM with the fresh-flower decoration already fixed on the bonnet of the vehicle.
Before leaving for church, please keep these items together and ready:
- Manthrakodi
- Minnu
- Wedding Rings
- Vaazhthumaala (gold chain)
Helpful Tip for the Manthrakodi & Minnu
To stop the Manthrakodi from unfolding during the ceremony, tie its four corners lightly with a small thread. Traditionally, the Minnu is prepared using threads taken from the Manthrakodi, bonded with cooked rice. Many families now prefer a glue stick, which is cleaner and easier.
Timing
Arrive Early, Stay Relaxed
We recommend that the bride and groom reach the church at least 30 minutes before the service. This gives the photographers enough time for:
- Arrival photographs
- Wedding-car photographs
- Couple portraits
- Family photographs
- A few relaxed moments before the service
No Need to Rush Inside
There is no need to walk into the church immediately after arriving. Allow time for photographs and family coordination, and let the procession begin at a comfortable pace. It helps if the bride’s family follows a similar timeline, so that both the bride and groom are seated at least 5 minutes before the service begins.
Preparing for the Procession
Handing Over the Wedding Items
Once you reach the church, please make sure the following are ready:
Basket
Manthrakodi Basket
- Manthrakodi
- Minnu
- Vaazhthumaala
Box
Ring Bearer Box
- Bride’s wedding ring
- Groom’s wedding ring
The items may be carried by one person or shared between two people.
- Please hand over the Manthrakodi basket and ring box to the sexton at least 5 minutes before the procession begins.
- The sexton will place the items on the designated table near the altar.
- Once the items are placed, our team will collect the basket and ring box and coordinate them for the procession.
Family Tradition
Traditionally, the Manthrakodi is carried to the altar by a close female relative of the groom, such as a sister, cousin, or aunt.
Walking In
The Procession
The exact order can vary slightly from church to church. A typical MarThoma procession follows this order:
Groom’s Side
1. Groom’s Party
- Manthrakodi and wedding rings
- Groom with parents and family
- Groomsmen, if any
Bride’s Side
2. Bride’s Party
- Flower girls, if any
- Bride with parents
- Family members
- Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids and groomsmen may enter individually or in pairs, depending on your preference and the church’s practice.
Please Confirm With the Vicar
Some priests prefer the bride to enter before the groom. It is always a good idea to confirm the preferred order with Achen in advance.
The Service
The Wedding Ceremony
The wedding service will proceed according to the church’s customs and schedule.
Formalities
Signing the Register & Church Photographs
The service is usually followed by a few formalities:
- Signing the register
- Offertory
- Photographs with the bishop and priests
Please allow approximately 30 to 45 minutes for these formalities.
At the Church Entrance
Garland & Bouquet Presentation
Once the church formalities are done, you will head to the church entrance for the welcome. The couple will receive:
- 2 garlands
- 2 greeting bouquets
Please Assign Four People in Advance
Two people to present the garlands and two to present the bouquets. You may choose younger family members or anyone close to the couple.
To keep to the schedule, we recommend limiting photographs at the church to:
- Clergy
- Immediate family
- Those presenting the garlands and bouquets at the church entrance
Everyone else can join you for photographs at the reception venue.
Before You Arrive
Keep the Hall Doors Open
As guests begin arriving, we strongly recommend keeping the hall doors open so they can walk in, find their seats, and settle in without waiting outside.
Some caterers prefer to keep the doors closed until the couple arrives. Based on our experience, keeping them open makes for a more comfortable experience for guests. The final decision is, of course, entirely yours.
Getting In
Welcoming the Couple & Stage Entry
When you arrive at the venue, these family members may gather near the entrance to welcome you:
- Parents
- Siblings
- Bridesmaids and groomsmen
- Cousins and other close family members
Our anchor will welcome the newlyweds and invite them onto the stage.
Our Anchor Will Coordinate With the Priest
Our anchor will speak with the priest beforehand to agree on whether the prayer and blessing will take place at the beginning or at the end of the stage programme, so everything flows smoothly on the day.
Stage Flow
The Stage Programme
The order of proceedings may be adjusted according to the priest’s preference. A typical order:
- 1. Prayer & Blessing: The reception generally begins with a prayer and blessing for the newlyweds.
- 2. Welcome Drink: The mothers of the bride and groom receive the glasses first and then present the drinks to the groom and bride. Fizzy apple juice is commonly used.
- 3. Candle-Lighting: Two common traditions. Option 1: the couple lights all three candles together. Option 2: the parents light the two outer candles and the couple lights the centre candle.
- 4. Cake Cutting: A three-tier wedding cake is placed on the cake stand for the cake-cutting ceremony.
- 5. Introduction: Our anchor will introduce the newlyweds, their parents, and their families.
The order of candle lighting and cake cutting may be changed according to the priest’s preference.
Our hostesses will be on stage throughout to assist with the drinks, lighter, and cake knife, and to guide everyone smoothly through each of these moments.
During the Meal
Manthrakodi Dress Change
While guests are having their meal, the dress change into the Manthrakodi will take place in the green room of the hall. Please:
- Keep the outfit easily accessible.
- Make sure the saree drapist is at the hall at the scheduled time.
- Allow enough time to return without delaying photography.
Stage Photography
Photographs With Family & Guests
Once you are back from the dress change, stage photography begins.
Our hostess will guide guests to come up on one side of the stage and exit through the other end. Once stage photography is complete, you can finally sit down, relax, and enjoy a meal together with your close family.
Departure
Leaving for the Kacha Ceremony
At the end of the reception, the newlyweds will leave for the groom’s home for the traditional Kacha ceremony.
A Little Note on Gifts & Blessings
On your big day, so many loved ones will come up to the stage to bless you, bringing gifts, envelopes, jewellery, ornaments, and bouquets with all their love.
Our team will be right beside you, taking care of the stage and keeping everything flowing beautifully. We do ask for your understanding that we are unable to take charge of gifts, valuables, or personal belongings, so that we can give our full attention to your programme.
What we gently suggest: ask someone you trust from the family to stand beside the stage and:
- Collect gifts and envelopes as they come.
- Receive jewellery and other valuables.
- Keep a simple note of what has been received.
- Hand everything safely over to the family once the function is done.
If needed, items can be kept for a short while behind the sofa or in another spot near the stage, at the family’s own risk. Ivory Events cannot be held responsible for the loss, damage, or misplacement of gifts, valuables, envelopes, jewellery, ornaments, bouquets, or other belongings before, during, or after the event.
We’re here to help you enjoy every minute
A wedding day can feel busy, but it does not have to be stressful. A little preparation in advance, especially around timings, wedding items, the family members involved in ceremonies, photography, and transportation, helps everything run smoothly.
Our team will coordinate the arrangements and guide you through the day wherever needed. Your only job is to enjoy the day, spend time with your family and friends, and celebrate this beautiful beginning together.
Wishing Sajan & Athulya a beautiful, joyful, and memorable wedding day!