Muhurtham in a Tamil wedding: how to choose the date and time of the ceremony?

In many Tamil Hindu weddings, the date and time of the ceremony are not chosen solely based on venue or vendor availability.

Families may also take the Muhurtham into account, a period considered auspicious for celebrating certain important moments of the wedding.

This time can have a direct influence on the entire organization of the day: preparation of the couple, arrival of guests, religious ceremony, photographer, caterer or decoration.

Practices can, however, vary depending on families, traditions and the priest's guidance.

What is the Muhurtham?

The Muhurtham denotes a period considered propitious or favorable for performing an important event.

In the context of a Tamil Hindu wedding, this period can be used to determine when certain essential rituals should take place.

The Muhurtham therefore does not simply correspond to "the start time of the wedding".

It can rather refer to a specific time window around which an important part of the ceremony is organized.

Why is the Muhurtham important?

In families that follow this tradition, the Muhurtham provides a precise reference point for the ceremony.

Certain rituals are then scheduled to take place at the intended moment.

This means the entire wedding schedule must be built by working backwards from that time.

For example, if an important moment of the ceremony must take place at 10 h 30, you must allow enough time beforehand for:

• the bride's preparation;
• the groom's preparation;
• arrivals;
• preceding rituals;
• photos;
• seating of the families;
• any steps such as the Maalai or the Oonjal.

Who determines the Muhurtham?

Depending on families, the Muhurtham can be determined with the help of a priest or according to the religious and astrological practices followed by relatives.

The methods used can vary.

It is therefore preferable not to rely solely on information found on the Internet to choose this time.

The future spouses should ideally discuss directly with their family and the priest who will officiate the ceremony.

Should the Muhurtham be determined before booking the venue?

When the family wishes to respect a specific Muhurtham, it is best to know this information as early as possible.

It can have an impact on the choice of venue.

For example, some venues only open from a certain hour or impose specific time slots.

Before signing a contract, therefore check:

• ☐ Venue access time
• ☐ Possible ceremony start time
• ☐ Time required to set up the decor
• ☐ Caterer arrival time
• ☐ Priest availability
• ☐ Photographers and videographers availability

A venue perfectly suited to an evening reception may not be suitable for a religious ceremony held early in the morning.

How to build the schedule around the Muhurtham?

Once the time is known, build your schedule from that moment.

For an hour-by-hour example: Planning of a Tamil wedding: example schedule for the big day

Step 1: note the main moment

Start by clearly writing the Muhurtham time in your schedule.

For example: Muhurtham at 10 h 30.

Step 2: add the preceding rituals

Ask the priest how much time is needed before this moment to perform the different stages of the ceremony.

He will in particular be able to specify the order of the rituals.

Step 3: allow time for the couple to arrive/be ready

The couple must be ready sufficiently early.

Avoid building a schedule in which the bride finishes her preparation just minutes before an important ritual.

Always allow a buffer.

Step 4: inform all vendors

The final schedule should then be communicated to the professionals present on the wedding day.

Which vendors need to know the Muhurtham time?

Practically all main vendors.

The photographer and the videographer

They need to know the timings so they can be ready before the essential moments of the ceremony.

Some stages last only a few minutes and cannot be recreated just for photos.

The decorator

The decor must be completely finished before the arrival of the couple and the families.

The caterer

The Muhurtham can impact the time of the meal.

A morning ceremony may, for example, require lunch earlier than a classic wedding held in the afternoon.

The makeup artist and the hairstylist

They must know the time by which the bride must be completely ready.

You must then calculate the start time of the preparation based on the time needed for makeup, hair, the sari and the jewelry.

To organize this preparation: Makeup and hair for a Tamil bride: how to prepare properly for the big day?

The musicians

If traditional musicians are present, their schedule must also match the flow of the ceremony.

The Muhurtham and the Thali ceremony

In many Tamil Hindu ceremonies, the moment of the Thali is closely linked to the time determined for the ceremony.

It is one of the moments that families, the priest, the photographer and the videographer must particularly anticipate.

To learn more: The Thali in a Tamil wedding: meaning and tradition

Beware of delays on the wedding day

A very precise schedule can become difficult to respect if each step runs late.

A few simple tips:

• ask vendors to arrive early;
• allow a buffer for the couple's preparation;
• prepare clothes and jewelry the day before;
• organize the religious accessories in advance;
• designate one person in charge of coordinating the family;
• send the schedule to all vendors;
• avoid scheduling too many activities just before the ceremony.

On the wedding day, the couple should be able to enjoy the moment without having to manage each delay themselves.

Simple sample schedule

Here is a purely indicative example.

The actual schedule must always be adapted to the ceremony planned by the family and the priest.

• 06 h 00 : bride's preparation begins
• 07 h 30 : photographer and videographer arrive
• 08 h 00 : final venue setup
• 08 h 30 : arrival of first relatives
• 09 h 00 : groom's arrival
• 09 h 30 : start of the first rituals
• 10 h 00 : Maalai / Oonjal depending on tradition
• 10 h 30 : main moment around the Muhurtham
• 11 h 00 : continuation of the rituals
• 12 h 00 : family photos
• 12 h 30 : meal

This example is intended only to show how to organize the day around a central time.

Muhurtham checklist

Before the wedding, check:

• ☐ Muhurtham confirmed
• ☐ Time confirmed with the priest
• ☐ Venue accessible early enough
• ☐ Ceremony schedule completed
• ☐ Bride informed of the time she must be ready
• ☐ Groom informed of his arrival time
• ☐ Makeup artist and hairstylist informed
• ☐ Photographer informed
• ☐ Videographer informed
• ☐ Decorator informed
• ☐ Caterer informed
• ☐ Musicians informed
• ☐ Families informed
• ☐ A buffer planned in case of delays

Preparing the entire ceremony

The Muhurtham is only one element of the déroulement of a Tamil Hindu wedding.

Other steps may be scheduled according to the traditions followed: Oonjal, exchange of the Maalai, Thali ceremony, prayers and other religious rituals.

To go further:

• Tamil Hindu wedding: traditions and ceremony flow
• Oonjal in a Tamil wedding: meaning and flow
• Preparing a Tamil wedding: the checklist to not forget anything

Finding vendors for your Tamil wedding

Once the date and times are defined, it becomes easier to book the professionals needed for your event.

On DreamWeds, search for venues, caterers, photographers, videographers, decorators, makeup artists and other vendors to prepare your wedding.