What happens at a Sikh wedding ceremony?
Sikh · also called Sikh wedding, blissful union, laavan
Anand Karaj means 'blissful union'. The couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib four times while four hymns, the laavan, are sung — each circuit marking a stage in the journey from worldly attachment to union with the divine. It takes place in a gurdwara, in the morning, with everyone seated on the floor.
The four laavan
Each of the four hymns is read, then sung while the couple walks clockwise around the Guru Granth Sahib, the bride following the groom and holding one end of a scarf he carries. The first laav speaks of duty, the second of longing, the third of detachment, the fourth of union and harmony. The marriage is complete at the end of the fourth.
There are no vows spoken by the couple. The commitment is made by walking the circuits in the presence of the scripture, which serves as the witness - a structure with a clear parallel to the fire in a Hindu ceremony.
What guests should expect
Heads covered for everyone, shoes removed, and seating on the floor - men and women often on separate sides. No alcohol, tobacco or meat in the gurdwara. Guests should arrive before the ceremony begins and not walk in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.
The ceremony usually runs an hour to ninety minutes and is followed by langar, the free communal meal served to everyone present regardless of faith, eaten sitting on the floor together.
Planning it properly
A tradition only goes well if the people running your day know it is coming. These are the things to say out loud, and who to say them to.
- Confirm the gurdwara's own rules first
- Photography restrictions, dress requirements and timing are set by the gurdwara, not by you. Ask before booking any vendor.
- Tell your photographer about floor seating and head covering
- They will be working from the floor, covered, and often restricted in where they may stand. This changes lens choice and position.
- Plan the day around a morning ceremony
- Anand Karaj is traditionally held in the morning, which shifts the entire timeline earlier than most weddings.
- Coordinate langar with any separate reception catering
- Langar is served at the gurdwara. An evening reception is a separate meal and a separate caterer.
Common questions
What are the four laavan?
The four hymns sung during a Sikh wedding while the couple circles the Guru Granth Sahib. They describe duty, longing, detachment and finally union and harmony. The marriage is complete at the end of the fourth circuit.
Do Sikh couples say vows?
Not spoken vows. The commitment is made by walking the four circuits in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib, which acts as the witness to the marriage.
What should guests wear to a Sikh wedding?
Modest dress with heads covered - scarves are usually provided at the gurdwara - and shoes removed. Seating is on the floor, and guests should avoid walking in front of the Guru Granth Sahib.
The vendors who make this work
Anand Karaj depends on people who have done it before. Every review on Lazo comes from a couple who actually got married with that vendor, and rankings can't be bought.
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