Jeff, Nate, Madelyn and Prakash got to learn and play Carrom with my family.
My sister had told me that the only thing we needed to do was get to the beauty parlour by 3:30 p.m. since the wedding was at 7 p.m. However, that morning, the priest called my mom to say that it was very inauspicious after 7:15 that day so the wedding had to be done at 6 p.m. Mom started calling all the friends and family members who were invited to the wedding ceremony. I really don't remember much of the morning except that my sister and I left to get beautified around 3 and we did not get done till almost 6. Oh, before we left, my sister stole Jeff's shoes, which is traditionally done at the wedding. She then negotiated with him the price of getting them back. I believe she was satisfied with the iPod Shuffle she received in the bargain.
My dad picked us up and we went to the hotel where everyone was waiting with Jeff. He had on a traditional achkan and pajama, just like the night before. But, he also had a pagri (turban) and a sehra this time. The very first thing we did was exchange garlands. Then, we were escorted to the wedding mandap, where the priest married us off.
Very modern priest; he answered his cell phone as he was performing the ceremony. It was a little nerve wracking because even I didn't understand what he was saying half the time. Jeff did wonderfully! I had to ask for 4 things and Jeff only had 1 thing where he accepted my vows! A little inequality there. I only remember 2 of the tings I asked form my groom: if there's anything bad to be said about my family, please say it alone, not in the middle of people and to share his earnings with me.
After the ceremony, we sat on a little stage for what seemed like hours and took photos with guests. Suddenly, the videographer turned his lights out and my sister asked everybody to direct their attention at a big screen up in one corner of the hall. She played a slide presentation with photos from our childhood and then at the end, she'd added a photo of Jeff from his childhood that I had just given her the day before, not knowing what was being done with it. She made both of us cry!
Then, we had a wedding cake and champagne. My sister had even asked for a first dance for us. Madelyn and I got to repeat our dances from Michigan to Dhol Baje and Mahi Ve. Then, lots of dancing and mingling till about 12:15 a.m. when we got to eat dinner with my parents, my sister, mamaji and mamiji. My parents had booked a huge suite in the same hotel for me and Jeff where we basically crashed that night.
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