Welcome
You are warmly invited to join us in Udaipur, a city of lakes, palaces, and centuries of royal heritage.
Over several days, our families and friends will gather for ceremonies, celebrations, and a shared wander through this beautiful city.
Take it all in at your own pace. This little adventure is yours to enjoy.
Venues
Our celebrations unfold across three palaces on Lake Pichola, each with its own character and its own moment in the journey ahead.
Jag Mandir
Set on an island in the middle of the lake, Jag Mandir has welcomed royalty for centuries. Surrounded by stone elephants, garden courtyards, and candlelight, we will gather here for the opening act: the baraat, varmala, pheras, and dinner.
Lake Palace
The white marble of the Taj Lake Palace appears to float on the water's surface. We will meet here for an intimate lunch, a quiet and beautiful beginning to our life.
Fateh Prakash Palace
Looking out across Lake Pichola from the City Palace complex, Fateh Prakash offers commanding views over the water and grand halls. Many of our festivities will unfold here, from mehendi in the afternoon to music and late-night bollywood dancing.
Your Schedule
Accommodation
Where you'll stay
Your stay is looked after. Think of it as one less thing to plan so you can simply enjoy the days ahead.
We'll send your hotel details and check-in information a little closer to the day.
Travel
Getting to Udaipur
We recommend flying into Udaipur Airport (UDR), also known as Maharana Pratap Airport. There are direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
We will arrange transfers from the airport to your accommodation. Please share your flight details with us once booked.
Indian Visa
Most international visitors will need a visa to enter India. We recommend applying for an e-Visa online, which is the quickest and easiest option for tourist visits.
You can apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in . It usually takes a few days to be approved, so it’s best to apply in advance.
Most of the questions are straightforward, but please reach out if you need help. For the type of visa, choose an e-Tourist Visa, with the purpose "Meeting Friends/Relatives" (or "Recreation/Sight-seeing", which is also acceptable).
For contact name, address and phone in India, please use:
- Name: Chandini Agarwal Jain
- Address: B-293, 10B Scheme, Gopalpura Bypass, Jaipur - 302018, Rajasthan, India
- Phone: +91 90828 05243
Weather & Packing
February is one of the best times to visit Udaipur. Expect pleasant, dry weather with daytime temperatures around 25-28°C and cooler evenings around 12-15°C.
Most evenings have a dress code, do check your schedule. In addition, pack light layers for the evenings, comfortable shoes for exploring, and sunglasses. A light shawl or pashmina is useful for cooler nights and for covering shoulders at ceremonies.
Ceremonies
Our events bring together a series of traditional Hindu rituals, each with its own mood and meaning in the journey. Some moments are quiet, some wonderfully chaotic, and some may offer small surprises along the way.
Mehendi
A joyful pre-wedding gathering where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride's hands and feet. Guests are encouraged to join in or simply enjoy the music, colour, and conversation flowing around the courtyard.
Haldi
A cheerful ritual where family applies a paste of turmeric, sandalwood, and rosewater to the bride and groom for good luck and radiance. It is vibrant, messy, and one of the happiest ceremonies of the wedding.
Bhaat
A traditional ceremony where the bride's maternal family blesses the couple and presents gifts.
Sangeet
An evening of music, dance, and celebration. Families perform, friends surprise one another, and the dance floor often lasts long into the night.
Sehera Bandi & Ghudchadi
The groom's turban and sehera are tied by family members and the groom mounts his wedding horse. There is laughter, advice, and the occasional helpful hand, sometimes even from a guest invited to try their hand at a fold or to help steady the groom for the ride ahead.
Baraat
The groom's grand procession, filled with dancing, drums, and celebration as he arrives for the wedding. For the groom's wedding party, participation is not optional. It is your happy duty to dance along and add to the energy of the moment.
Sajjan Ghot
A ceremonial feast where the groom's wedding party is welcomed and served by the bride's family before the rituals begin, a gesture of warmth and respect between the two families.
Varmala
The bride and groom exchange floral garlands. Usually playful and often competitive, with each side's wedding party lifting them to avoid being garlanded easily.
Pheras
The heart of the ceremony. The couple takes seven sacred rounds around the fire, each one representing a vow for their life together. The wedding party often translates the ritualistic Sanskrit for everyone else.
Sindoor & Mangalsutra
A symbolic moment where the groom applies vermillion powder along the bride's hair parting and ties a sacred necklace around her neck.
Vidai
A tender moment as the bride leaves her family's side with the groom. A quiet and deeply moving part of the celebration.
Jua Jui Ka Khel
A playful post-wedding game where the bride and groom search for a hidden ring in a bowl of milk or water. Whoever finds it first "wins" both the game and, as tradition jokes, the future right to make decisions.
What to Wear
Each event in your schedule includes a suggested dress code. For a full guide to outfits by day, see our attire page.
Registry
Having you travel all the way to India to celebrate with us already means the world to us. Your love, effort, and presence are the best gifts we could ask for.
That said, if you'd like to do something extra, we both love experiences over things. We're always up for new adventures, curious detours, and trying things we've never done before (with the understanding that Ben avoids extreme adrenaline, and Chandini avoids meat).
Instead of gifts or cash, send us on an experience of your choosing that you love: your favorite (veg friendly) restaurant, an artist you can't miss live, a hobby you think we should try, a game we should watch, or a place that holds a special meaning to you.
Think of it as passing along a memory you've enjoyed. We can't wait to turn your favourite experiences into our newest memories.
How?
Please feel free to gift us the experience directly. Tickets, vouchers, or a booking you love. If that's not easy, we've set up an Experiences Fund where you can contribute and leave a note telling us what adventure it's for. All of this is entirely optional and completely up to you. Reach us via email at benjamin.duffield@gmail.com or chandinijain206@gmail.com.
We're not big photo people, but we promise to take at least one photo wherever you send us.
FAQ
Help, I'm lost!
Contact the planning team and we'll help you out. Details will be shared closer to the event.
Styling, hair, makeup?
Salon services: If you need hair or makeup services, we can help arrange this. Let us know in advance.
Sari draping: If you need help with sari draping or getting into Indian clothes, we'll have people on hand to assist.
Ironing: If you need clothes pressed, the hotel can arrange this.
Room service, minibar, etc?
That's on you.