Draped in a Saree, Drenched in Joy

First Indian wedding and loving it 💃🏻❤️—that was my Instagram post, but honestly, that doesn’t even come close to capturing what happened that night. I don’t even know where to begin because it was a whole rollercoaster of emotions, fashion disasters, cultural appreciation, and one big tragic love story with food.

This wasn’t just any Indian wedding. It was Sree’s wedding, my best friend from work, which meant I had to go all out. I wasn’t just attending—I was fully committing. No simple dress, no half-hearted effort. If I was going to do this, I was doing it right. And that’s how I ended up in the middle of KL, panicking over sarees and drowning in accessories.

I thought buying a saree would be easy. Walk into a shop, pick a pretty one, done. Ha. I was so naive. Turns out, saree shopping is a test of patience, decision-making, and emotional stability. Every single one I saw was stunning. The colors? Gorgeous. The fabrics? Luxurious. The embroidery? Insane. How was I supposed to choose just one? I went from “I want something simple” to “I need to look like I belong in a Bollywood movie” in under five minutes.

And then, after what felt like a lifetime of indecisiveness, I finally found the one. It was beautiful, elegant, and absolutely terrifying because I had zero idea how to wear it. YouTube tutorials? Tried. Failed. Tried again. Failed harder. After several failed attempts that left me wrapped up like a burrito instead of a graceful wedding guest, I admitted defeat and went straight to an Indian dresser shop for help.

Best. Decision. Ever.

Walking into that shop was like stepping into a whole new world. I watched in awe as women were transformed—sarees draped perfectly in under five minutes, makeup flawlessly applied, jewelry shimmering in every direction. And then there was me, completely overwhelmed by accessories.

Nobody told me Indian wedding accessories are next-level. Bangles, earrings, necklaces, hairpieces—I wanted everything. My brain short-circuited from all the sparkle, and I may have gone a little overboard with my choices, but can you blame me? If I was going to do this, I was doing it right.

By the time they were done with me, I barely recognized myself. The saree was draped perfectly, my hair was styled, the makeup was on point, and for a brief, glorious moment, I felt like I had stepped out of an Indian movie.

Then, in classic Teha fashion, I arrived late to the wedding. But honestly? Worth it. Because the moment I stepped inside, I forgot everything else.

The decorations were stunning. The colors, the lights, the intricate floral arrangements—it was breathtaking. And then, I saw Sree.

I almost teared up. My best friend looked absolutely gorgeous in her bridal attire. She was glowing, covered in gold jewelry, her saree shimmering under the lights, and she had this smile that just radiated happiness. Seeing her standing there, surrounded by family, going through the wedding rituals, I felt this overwhelming sense of awe.

I had never been this close to an Indian wedding before. Sure, I’d seen snippets in movies, heard about the traditions, but experiencing it up close? It was something else entirely. The rituals, the prayers, the way family and friends came together—it was so beautiful, so full of meaning.

And in that moment, I felt so proud to be Malaysian.

We live in a country with so many cultures, and nights like this remind me just how lucky we are. I wasn’t just attending a wedding—I was getting a front-row seat to a culture that I had never been a part of before. And it made me so grateful to have friends from different backgrounds, to experience things I wouldn’t have otherwise, to celebrate these moments together.

Of course, no wedding is complete without a photo session. Enter Li Ying, who looked so pretty that we had no choice but to take a hundred pictures together. Different angles, different poses, checking the lighting, making sure everything was perfect—we were on a mission. If we didn’t document how amazing we looked, did we even attend the wedding?

And then came the food.

Ah, the food. The most tragic love story of the night.

I was so excited for the food. I had been waiting for this. But here’s the problem: I was too busy being pretty. Between admiring the decorations, taking pictures, and just soaking in the moment, I barely ate anything.

Do you know how painful that is? To be surrounded by delicious food and not fully indulge? My biggest regret of the night. Everything smelled amazing, the flavors were incredible, but my plate remained half-empty because I was too distracted.

Lesson learned. Next Indian wedding, I’m showing up with an empty stomach and zero distractions.

By the time the night ended, I was physically exhausted but emotionally overflowing. My heart was so full—full of happiness for Sree, full of gratitude for the experience, full of appreciation for the people I was with.

Walking out of that wedding, I couldn’t stop smiling.

Everything—the saree struggle, the makeover, the accessories madness, the culture, the friendship, the food (or lack thereof)—was completely worth it.

I felt so happy for Sree. Weddings mark the start of a new chapter, and I could see in her eyes that she was stepping into hers with so much love and joy.

God bless Sree, and here’s to more incredible moments like this.

Also, next time? I’m eating first.