Last Wednesday, Heather and I attended the annual wedding trends National Association of Catering Executive (NACE) meeting. The venue was the new Houston House of Blues, and the theme was “Experience the Mystique of India: Highlighting Trends in Indian Weddings.”
As soon as we walked in, it had been as though we were transported to the other side of the world! The first thing that caught our attention was the dancer. In gorgeous traditional garb, the woman danced with careful, deliberate moves that immediately mesmerized us! We couldn’t look away. From her gestures and her facial expressions, it was clear that the dance was extremely meaningful, perhaps telling a story.
When the dance ended, we moved into another lounge, in which people were beginning to gather in clusters around one corner. Curious to see what the excitement was about, we were delighted to see that a real henna artist was painting guests hands! We watched in awe for a few minutes, then hurried back to the first lounge to see the next commotion: three new dancers had taken the stage, and performed a different kind of dance, with upbeat, faster music, lots of jumps and smiles. It was surely a dance of joy and celebration. Afterwards, the three dancers were kind enough to chat and take some pictures in the photo booth with us!
An announcement was made asking us to move into the ballroom and find our seat. I don’t know that describing the decor would do it very much justice, so I will try to attach some pictures as well. The highly-regarded and fabulous designer Darryl Murchis0n transformed the room into an amazing space of drama and mystique. Jewel toned fabrics, elaborate centerpieces, and crystal accents adorned each table in a unique way.
As the delicious luncheon was served, our dear friend Radhika Day, publisher and owner of Weddings in Houston magazine and website, introduced herself as “Indian by birth, American by choice.” her presentation on Indian weddings was fascinating and informative, and illuminated some of the mystery of Indian weddings for the lay person. Indian weddings vary by religion, but all are steeped in symbolism, rituals, traditions, and, of course, celebration. No detail or expense seem to be spared when it comes to an Indian wedding.
