Let me start by saying, i’m Punjabi, and nothings better than seeing unconditional love with close family and friends that come together to celebrate Punjabi couples in the ultra festive way that only our weddings can. These days the bar is always being set higher, the production is getting bigger and everyone wants an epic Party! But who’s doing all the work to make this happen? Wait, work? What work? Weddings are just all fun right? Challo, Farlo Ladoo!
I am an Indian DJ in Houston Texas and being in the wedding industry for 20+ Years, out of all the South Asian wedding events I do with my group DBI, we see the least amount of wedding coordinators hired or booked for Punjabi Weddings. #Facts
Maybe Punjabi folks don’t need a coordinator. Does it make sense? Maybe it does!
Maybe Punjabi folks just want to get straight to the dancing, drinking, and eating, and don’t care about that minor stuff beforehand (the program). I mean it makes sense. You don’t need to hire a coordinator to have crown n cokes lined up at the bar. The butter chicken will still be devoured and the dance floor will still be packed with hormonal teens who look like they are auditioning for the local bhangra team complete with coordinating moves from their last performance together. #ChakdePhattey
A typical Punjabi Wedding consists of the Sangeet or Jago night (which can be the night before the wedding ceremony or 2 days before to prevent babbu from showing up hungover to the baraat). You have the Sikh ceremony that typically takes place in a Gurudwara, the Reception Party, and a Haldi ceremony and up to but not limited to 12 other ceremonies thrown in the span of 2-3 days depending on how traditional or crazy your family is. Link to more Punjabi Wedding Rituals: https://www.culturalindia.net/weddings/regional-weddings/punjabi-wedding.html
So for all these events who is doing all the booking, arranging, and coordinating? Typically the bride or groom and their most trustworthy family and friends. At one moment it can be a collaboration of effortless beauty and at the next, mass chaos and endless blame (typically when the open bar is in full swing).
We’ve seen it so many times. One of the vendors may be running late or have an issue, but the only person that has their contact number is the groom. In the middle of making sure his pagh isn’t tooo tedi during the couple’s photoshoot the grooms focus has to shift to resolving the situation. This will happen at least 20 more times during the events because there was never a program or written itinerary made in the first place. Everything will be on the fly. #NiUdaleh (Shameless Plug).
Somewhere in all the madness maybe there is a sense of purpose for everyone. Like “I’m helping because the groom is my mama or the bride is my bhabi and I mean of course “Ghar di Gal ah”. #FarloLadoo again!
But at the reception when the dj announces the family entrances who is gonna get Gurpreet and all cousins from the bar while they are cheer-zing and singing the latest Sidhu Moosewala track. Probably Dollar or So High. #TheShowMustGoOn
I had an event that had 0 speeches or announcements so I asked the father of the bride if there would be anyone speaking last minute so I could be prepared. He asked me if he should make a speech and of course I told him if he wanted to he sure could. He then proceeded to ask me to tell him what exactly to say and if I could write his speech for him. Since it was 8:30pm and appetizers had just ran out I politely declined and he decided he’s not comfortable speaking in front of so many people anyway. No big deal, but the question remains. Now who’s gonna thank Baljinder Mami and her family who made the trek all the way from Australia to be there. Well of course they asked me to do it, but I don’t know Baljinder Mami like that, much less the other 20 relatives from only the grooms side who would be given recognition. #BrideSidewouldabeenPissed
Whats the value to hire a coordinator to help do all the behind the scenes stuff and manage the vendors?
Are Punjabi folks too set in their ways to even listen to a coordinator? Do we just like doing Seva so much that we want to do everything for our own wedding as well? Maybe it’s a perfectionist issue where you have to do everything yourself? Bottom Line : Everyone’s different.
People don’t know what to expect until they’ve been through an event and understand what all will / can happen.
So it comes down to this:
A: Do you have a tight group of family and friends that you trust to carry out your vision, and more importantly is Sukhjit and Mandeep going to get banned from all future family events if they don’t drop off the daru to the reception hall on time?!
B: If you are the type of person that wants to relax and enjoy your festivities while being able to focus on spending quality time with your friends and family: hire a professional.
Contact the DBI team by emailing: Info@DholBeatInternational.com to find a wedding coordinator for your event. We have had the pleasure of working with several amazing coordinators all around the world.
Time is Money and your time and sanity is precious. Every family is different. Many times a coordinator can actually save you money on vendors and venues #Value.
Do what’s right for you and your once in a lifetime event. #SanuKi
**Disclaimer: These thoughts are just my light hearted opinions and hopefully no one was offended by this perspective. All names mentioned are fictional characters. Please excuse any typo’s or grammar issues.
For bookings or feedback : Contact the DBI team: Info@DholBeatInternational.com C: 281-808-3328