# Guides

Source: https://kalyanco.com/guides

Publisher: Kalyan Co (https://kalyanco.com)
Updated: 2026-10-02

- [Getting married in India as a foreigner: the legal options, explained](https://kalyanco.com/guides/getting-married-in-india-as-a-foreigner): Can foreigners legally marry in India? The Special Marriage Act, the 30-day rules, documents, and why most couples marry at home and celebrate in India.
- [Fusion weddings in India: how to blend two cultures beautifully](https://kalyanco.com/guides/fusion-weddings-in-india): How couples from abroad combine Western and Indian wedding traditions in India: what to borrow, what to keep, and how to do it respectfully.
- [Planning a wedding in India from abroad: a 12-month timeline](https://kalyanco.com/guides/planning-a-wedding-in-india-from-abroad): A month-by-month plan for couples abroad planning a destination wedding in India: venue, save-the-dates, visas, guests, and the week itself.
- [How much does a destination wedding in India cost?](https://kalyanco.com/guides/destination-wedding-cost-in-india): Real budget ranges for destination weddings in India by guest count and destination, what drives the cost, and how to spend less without it showing.
- [The best time for a wedding in India, region by region](https://kalyanco.com/guides/best-time-for-a-wedding-in-india): When to get married in India: the wedding season by destination, what the monsoon means for your plans, and the months that cost less.
- [First time at an Indian wedding? A guide for guests from abroad](https://kalyanco.com/guides/indian-wedding-guest-guide): What to wear, what to expect and how to join in at an Indian wedding: a friendly guide for guests travelling to India for the first time.
- [What is a sadya? Kerala’s wedding feast on a banana leaf](https://kalyanco.com/guides/what-is-a-sadya): The Kerala sadya explained: the dishes, the order they are served in, how to eat it, and how to include one in a wedding for guests from abroad.
- [The Kerala Hindu wedding: rituals, timing and what to expect](https://kalyanco.com/guides/kerala-hindu-wedding): A clear guide to the Kerala Hindu wedding: the muhurtham, thalikettu, pudavakoda, the lamp and the sadya, and how the day is usually run.
- [The Kerala Christian wedding: minnu, manthrakodi and the church](https://kalyanco.com/guides/kerala-christian-wedding): How a Kerala Christian wedding works: the manasammatham, madhuram vekkal, the church ceremony with the minnu and manthrakodi, and the reception.
- [The Kerala Muslim wedding: nikah, mylanchi and the Malabar feast](https://kalyanco.com/guides/kerala-muslim-wedding): A guide to Kerala Muslim weddings: the mylanchi henna night and oppana, the nikah and mahr, and the famous Malabar wedding feast.
- [How a wedding muhurtham is chosen: tithi, nakshatra and the calendar](https://kalyanco.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-muhurtham): How Hindu families choose an auspicious wedding date and time: the panchangam, favourable nakshatras, tithis to avoid, and the months skipped in Kerala and North India.

## Kerala Hindu, Christian and Muslim weddings compared

| | Hindu | Christian | Muslim |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **The ceremony** | The groom ties the thali around the bride’s neck at the muhurtham, the auspicious time | Vows in church, then the groom ties the minnu and drapes the manthrakodi over the bride | The nikah: a marriage contract agreed before an officiant and witnesses, with the mahr gift to the bride |
| **Where** | A temple, kalyana mandapam, family home or resort | A church, with the reception at a hall or resort | A mosque or family venue, with the reception after |
| **Before the day** | No days of rituals in most communities | Manasammatham (betrothal in church) and madhuram vekkal (sweets) | Mylanchi, the henna night, often with oppana songs |
| **The feast** | A vegetarian sadya on banana leaves | Often meat and fish, such as appam with stew, or biriyani | Malabar biriyani; the groom’s family hosts the walima |
| **Usually avoided** | The month of Karkidakam, in many families | Lent, in most churches | Ramadan |

Customs vary between communities and families. Kalyan Co also plans [interfaith and fusion weddings](https://kalyanco.com/guides/fusion-weddings-in-india) and [civil weddings under the Special Marriage Act](https://kalyanco.com/guides/getting-married-in-india-as-a-foreigner).