What is Vedic wedding?
Hindus are the heirs of Aryans. They followed whatever rules which became a tradition. The marriage conducted under the prescribed vedas and sutras is known as Vedic wedding. It is also called vivaha. The bride and the bridegroom represent different paternal lineages. Hindus know it as Gotras. The pair gives birth to bundle of talents in the child. He/she continues the paternal linage.
For solemnizing it, the community follows codified outlines. These outlines are termed as paddhatis in Hindi terminology. These paddhatis differ from place to place.

Three stages of Vedic marriage:
• Vagdana: The engagement ceremony is known as vagdana. Betrothal or engagement initializes the impending wedding ceremony of the couple.
• Kanyavarana: Through this tradition, the maiden’s hand is laid in the hands of the bridegroom. It’s the final deciding of the marriage.
• Vivaha: It’s the final tantrum of the wedding.

How Hindus prepare wedding venue for bride and bridegroom?

As the horn of wedding blows, the families stay busy in shopping, decoration and other arrangements. And when the day comes, the marriage venue is decorated no less than a bride.
• Mandapa: The very place where knot is to tie is decided for erecting mandapa. Festoons of flowers and mango leaves are fasted around its territory. The couple takes pledge for accompanying each other during ups and downs of the life here. It also takes oath for dedicating their lives to the Grihasth ashram completely.
• Kautukagara: The south pavilion of the venue is Kautukagara. This place is reserved for the family members of the maiden and bridegroom.
• Decoration: Marriage is an auspicious occasion. It requires clean and pious vicinity around the mandapa. So, the wedding venue is decorated with various flowers. This is so because flowers are synonymous to piousness. And these are also offered to god. So, they are picked for enticing.

How wedding occurs?
• Hosting: The bride’s father hosts the procession by welcoming. He revers god and the ancestors while uttering his paternal lineage, the geographical location, the lunar year and date.
• Chanting verses: The priest takes charge on host’s behalf and chants verses from four Vedas. In India, the priest is booked in advance. But finding and booking priest in Melbourne (for example) is tough. So, they do so in advance.
• Invoking deities: The priest’s chanting invokes deities. Further, he worships different deities through kalasapuja, Raksavidhanam,and Matrkapuja etc..
• Vistara offering: Meanwhile, the host or the father offers vistara to the bridegroom. He welcomes him by handing over a bundle of 25 kusa grass’ shoots. Groom’s acceptance honours yajmanas (host).
• Padyam and Acamanam: Subsequently, the host caters groom the water for washing feet (which is known as Padyam) and rituals like sipping holy water (which is known as acamanam).
• Honouring groom: Then, a kalasha (copper pot) is filled with honey, curd, and ghee. The groom takes in during rituals after appeasing gods and cows.
• Gauri worshipping: Then comes the turn of the bride. She worships goddess Gauri and appeases her.
• Gargpadhhati: It is a ritual in which the maternal uncle of the bride accompanies to the mandapa. He drops a curtain between the bride and the groom on an auspicious occasion.
The above said Vedic rituals may vary from place to place and people to people.