City Beat: A crash course on Indian weddings

Knowledge of white dresses and waltzes may be enough in some places. In the Southern California wedding business, it will get you only so far.

For my latest City Beat, I attended "Indian Weddings 101," a seminar to help planners expand their business into new communities.

It was hosted by Wedding Store 24, a bridal clearinghouse in Artesia's Little India, and held in the old L.A. grandeur of the Ebell of Los Angeles, a women's club.

Musicians played tabla and Indian slide guitar. Bollywood dancers swirled and twirled. And a series of speakers gave the lowdown on the basics of Hindu and Muslim wedding ceremonies, Indian wedding etiquette, henna art and Bollywood.

Read my latest City Beat on Indian weddings Southern California-style:

And keep reading to check out the photos and videos I sent out on Twitter:

View the story "Indian weddings 101 -- a crash course for wedding planners" on StorifyIndian weddings 101 -- a crash course for wedding plannersIn some places, white dresses and waltzes may be enough. The Southern California wedding planner needs to be versed in much more. On a recent night, a Little India wedding clearinghouse called Wedding Store 24, held a seminar to give them the basics on Indian weddings. Storified by LA Times City Beat� Sun, Mar 10 2013 12:23:17For my latest City Beat, I go to "Indian Weddings 101," a class to help wedding planners go beyond white dresses & waltzes.LA Times City BeatI'll send you my photos and videos from the "Indian Weddings 101" seminar now.LA Times City BeatThe Indian weddings seminar was held at the historic Ebell Club. Live tabla and Indian slide guitar: http://pic.twitter.com/vVEkuGzdf0LA Times City BeatVases of bangles served as centerpieces for an Indian buffet: http://pic.twitter.com/exBpSBwdNYLA Times City BeatSome wedding planners who came were unfamiliar with things Indian. The food was labeled to help: http://pic.twitter.com/W47YoTIsZDLA Times City BeatThere was quite a feast: http://pic.twitter.com/Do2tTSkfbfLA Times City BeatBollywood dancers were there to entertain. Check out their moves in this VIDEO:Bollywood dancers at "Indian Weddings 101"latimescitybeatBecause it's so fun to watch, more Bollywood dancing here:More Bollywood dancinglatimescitybeatA series of speakers described the basics of Hindu and Muslim weddings: http://pic.twitter.com/O8HJy43TwrLA Times City BeatThey broke down the different elements of Indian wedding ceremonies: http://pic.twitter.com/bHg6jWMa6HLA Times City BeatIndian weddings, they said, can be very large. They go on for days: http://pic.twitter.com/D3yMA5K6RbLA Times City BeatIn a bridal fashion show, a gorgeous red sari: http://pic.twitter.com/YWpzgvQ3k1LA Times City BeatAll the little details matched the seminar's theme. Here a sign on a chair: http://pic.twitter.com/iYKGyynOVLLA Times City BeatOne speaker made acronyms for the many relatives involved in planning -- UOB for uncle of the bride: http://pic.twitter.com/IrTLiwfzcZLA Times City BeatAjay Manaktala of Special Occasions DJ & Lighting gave a very funny primer on Bollywood:A primer on BollywoodlatimescitybeatVendors brought treats to attract business. This is Jell-O with hand-carved Jell-O flowers: http://pic.twitter.com/q4DcoHsErBLA Times City BeatHenna artists were on hand : http://pic.twitter.com/z3lxZNgP2XLA Times City BeatYour @latimescitybeat's arm: http://pic.twitter.com/2jfLM81UCsLA Times City BeatThe Indian weddings experts described all the traditions. But they said modern brides often want modern things.LA Times City BeatRead my latest City Beat about Indian wedding traditions old and new here: http://lat.ms/16jPYNdLA Times City Beat

-- Nita Lelyveld

Follow City Beat on Twitter at @latimescitybeat and on Facebook. Send ideas for City Beat dispatches to nita.lelyveld@latimes.com.

Photo: Omni Patel models a traditional Indian zardosi sari during a fashion show at an Indian Weddings 101 exhibition at the Ebell of Los Angeles club. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

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