In today’s world, where religion is often a topic of debate, Meher Mumtaz and Neil Bhatt took their relationship to the next level by entering into an inter-religious wedding.
Meher is a young Muslim woman, and Neil is a Hindu man. They first met in 2017 and recently decided to get married. They began with a civil ceremony in San Francisco. However, they wanted to celebrate their union in a memorable way, so they chose Malibu as the destination for their wedding.
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The main wedding events took place at three different venues. The first event was the Haldi ceremony, a traditional ritual where the bride and groom are adorned with turmeric paste to ‘cleanse and purify’ them. This ceremony took place at the scenic Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards, surrounded by majestic mountains. The second event was the Sunset Nikah, a Muslim wedding ceremony conducted according to Islamic traditions. The couple exchanged vows at The Grand View Malibu, a resort with a breathtaking view of the ocean. Lastly, a casual party was hosted at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, nestled in the Santa Susana Mountains.
Meher and Neil wanted to have a personalized experience for their wedding guests, so they created booklets that explained the significance of each event. These booklets helped guests understand and appreciate the customs and traditions involved in each ceremony.
They also noticed similarities between Hindu and Muslim wedding ceremonies and incorporated these shared elements. For example, they used the same flower confetti and played the same songs during the Bidai, which is when the bride leaves her parent’s house. Additionally, the fathers of the couple recited prayers before each ceremony, with Neil’s father choosing Hindu prayers and Meher’s father reciting Muslim prayers.
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