Mandap: a wedding guide

Your wishlist

Answer these before you meet anyone.

• What style of mandap are you picturing?

  The four-pillar canopy is the North Indian and Gujarati form; a Tamil, Telugu, Kannada or Malayali muhurtham is often held on a dressed stage in a hall — the kalyana mandapam — and the maker builds for that.

• How would you like the mandap florals handled?

• How much do you want the mandap team to carry?

What to ask each one

• What style of mandap?

• Who does the mandap florals?

How it’s usually priced

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Mandap florals, Delivery & build crew, Strike & removal.

What you settle once booked

• The sacred fire under the mandap

  Agni, the fire that stands witness, is the most venue-sensitive element of a Hindu ceremony. The pandit sets the havan kund; the rounds around it are three, four or seven by family custom. Some Jain weddings have no fire sacrifice.

• Footprint and ceiling height

• Who brings the ritual items?

  The heirloom kalash, the jaimala garlands, the mangalsutra or the thali travel with the family, not the vendor.

• When does the mandap come down?

What to look over

Correct these details as needed.

• Who is seated under the mandap?

  Both sets of parents traditionally join the couple and the pandit — the count drives the footprint. Add whoever your custom seats there too: the groom's sister beside him at a South Indian muhurtham, the maternal uncle who walks a Marathi bride up.

The day-of sheet

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Across the whole day

Choose which moments to include.

• Mandap build
• Mandap ready
• Mandap strike