Indian attire is NOT required for the Indian Ceremony, but if you would like to wear traditional clothing, you are more than welcome to! If this is your first time purchasing a sari, lehanga, or salwar kamiz, here are some websites to consider. Keep in mind that these aren't made for dancing so you might want to consider bringing an additional outfit for the Western Ceremony/ dance floor! https://www.shopethnos.co/collections/saree https://www.perniaspopupshop.com/saree-studio?utm_source=Homepage&utm_medium=Nav-Bar&utm_campaign=Saree https://suta.in/collections/saree Thanks to Maya and Ian (our cousins on Aashish's side) for doing the research that answered this question!

Maharastrian rituals are simple yet beautifully reflect the rich and colorful culture of India. On our wedding day, you will see several important traditions of the Maharastrian wedding. It includes: Ganpati Puja: A Ganpati puja marks the beginning of all auspicious occasions in Maharashtrian culture to ensure the success of every endeavour without any obstacles. The wedding day begins by first invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesha for the couple’s future happiness. Seemanpujan: The groom arrives at the venue with his family, and is received by the bride’s family who washes his feet, applies a blessing on his forehead, performs a prayer and welcomes him inside. Antarpat (entrance to the ceremony): The groom arrives at the mandap, wears the ‘mundavalya’ (holy ornamental thread tied around the heads of the bride and groom) and sits on his seat. He is hidden by a cloth curtain called the ‘antarpat,’ to prevent him from seeing the bride. Sankalp: As the priest recites holy wedding chants, the bride is led to the mandap by her family. The cloth cover is removed and the couple lay eyes on each other for the first time, which makes for quite an emotional moment. They exchange garlands and are showered with ‘akshatas’ (unbroken yellow colored rice and flowers). Kanyadaan: In a ritual common to all weddings in India, the father of the bride gives his daughter to her groom with blessings for their new life. The grooms accepts her and pledges to love and respect her for a lifetime. Lajahoma: The bride offers grains to the holy fire, or, havan as she chants three mantras, which the groom repeats. She then chants the fourth mantra alone, silently. The bride’s family then worship the couple as reincarnations of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, after which the bride and groom tie holy threads on each other’s hands. Finally, the groom puts a blessing (sindoor) on his bride’s head and ties the mangalsutra around her neck. Saptapadi: The couple then perform the ‘saptapadi’ which involves walking around the holy fire seven times while reciting their seven wedding vows aloud. Kama Samapti: The wedding rituals come to an end with the ‘kama samapti’ ritual, where the couple perform Laxmi Puja (a prayer) till the fire goes out, after which the groom gives his bride a new last name (normally a first name, but we're progressive and all...). Usually, marriages among the Maharashtrians take place in the morning, because the auspicious time (muhurat) chosen for the wedding generally falls in the day time.

Aashish and Sarah plan to exchange intimate vows to each other, in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. They hope to share a bit about the story of their relationship before exchanging rings with one another!

That you are going to have the best weekend of your lives!! Seriously though- we do suggest that our guests know you are traveling to 7,500 feet above sea level, so you may feel a little...different. Luckily, Denver (which has one of the best International Airports in the world), is just an hour drive away from the venue. Other than that, visit our "Travel" and "Things to Do" page to learn a bit more about what is available to you in Estes.

Lots of them (and if you only read one question, read this one). Elevation climbs can have a big impact on your body, so we would HIGHLY suggest taking it nice and slow, particularly on your first day or two. If you haven't traveled to higher elevations before, know that you may feel a little out of breath at times (or in the first few hours, have headaches). The best way to combat this is to drink lots of water and at least on your first night, avoid alcohol (seriously, we REALLY mean that). Know that alcohol will hit you MUCH quicker at altitude, and, that you are closer to the sun (so wear sunblock).

It sure is!

Of course!