All abuzz for the wedding

A team to set up the tent and the dais for the wedding ceremony. 

Work done! 

The event organisers are in.

More hands on deck - the menfolk  are assembling the door gifts to contain the specially made fruit cake by the groom's mum.

Lovely Thank You  door gifts 

Rice grains and rose petals to  fill up the sachets for the 'moment' during the thali tying.

All packed  in delicate chiffon packets  - to be distributed to guests . Ready to shower the bride and groom. 

The groom's uncle up on the ladder to decorate the main entrance to the house. - a traditional welcome in a South Indian wedding.

Adding more colour and beauty  at another doorway to the main wedding  area.

A lady specialist in henna painting from Byron Bay  painting motifs a day before the wedding.

The bride's choice

Getting the kumkuma - mixture of tumeric and saffron  ready - a Hindu ritual 'aarti'  to greet and bless the bride when she enters the groom's house. 

More colour and grandeur for the wedding house  lounge  -  the groom's mum was up early at the Ballina farmers' market for flowers etc.

Sarees, salwars, sherwanis,dhoti, kurta etc  - all having a quick steaming to iron out the creases.

Giving special attention to the flower girl's gorgeous salwar.

The local hairdresser from Lennox Head  certainly had a busy time !

Niece of the groom getting ready for her flower girl  role.

Pretty ladies in a row - taking turns  to be dressed in their sarees in the hands of the expert.

A small white rose for my hair, with a little help from the hairstylist.

 Time to light up  the  kuthivalika ( brass oil lamp) adorned with fresh jasmine.

Lighting up for the auspicious day

The wedding reception team of  pretty nieces  and cousins  - rose water, kumkuma , programe to explain a simplified Indian wedding ceremony , sachets of tumeric rice