TRADITIONAL

The traditional place for a Hindu wedding is within the Lagna Mandap which would probably equate to the sanctuary area in a Catholic church. This is where the offerings are made and the ceremonial events take place. Everyone who enters the Lagna Mandap must first remove their shoes. One of the fun Indian traditions is Joota Chupai.  The bride's sisters try to steal the groom's shoes once he removes them to enter the Mandap. His cousins and groomsmen must try to protect his shoes. If the sisters steal and hide the shoes the groom must ransom them back after the ceremony.
While there are religious backgrounds to most of the Indian wedding customs, much of the reason and most of the result is a fun filled blending and mingling of the two families and their guests.