• Wedding games help a couple and their familes get to know each other.wedding rings image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Games were a very important part in Indian weddings, as traditionally marriages were arranged and the bride and groom had never met. The games' purpose was to introduce the couple and their families. These games encourage contact and openness between the couple and their families so that they might better gain intimacy and cooperation.
  
  

Pillow Talk

• In this game the couple sit back to back with a pillow between them. They face questions from their relatives, new and old, and they may only answer by nodding or shaking their heads. This way, they don't know each other's answers and the relatives can make decisions and predictions about their relationship from their answers. The questions are not taxing and should be lighthearted--for instance, "Will you kiss your partner now?" or "Will you pamper like a child when your partner is angry?" There are also likes and dislikes so that the audience can then rate the couple's answers. There are two possible outcomes for the newlyweds: they will be either an "I want to know you better couple" or a "two hearts yet one soul couple."
  
  

Hide the Wedding Shoes

• The bridesmaids are key in this game. The bride and groom must remove their shoes before entering the mandap, a temporary structure erected for the wedding ceremony. The bridesmaids then steal the couple's shoes and hide them. Once the wedding ceremony is finished they demand a ransom for the return of the shoes. The groom must pay the ransom, traditionally jewelry for his new in-laws and sisters.
  
  

The Kissing Game

• The groom holds the betel leaf, a vital part of a Hindu wedding that represents freshness and prosperity, between his lips. The bride must bite off half the leaf in front of the entire wedding party. It can be a difficult moment for a shy couple but it is a very effective icebreaker.
  
  

Search for the Name

• The groom's name is hennaed on the bride's hand. The name is intertwined in the bride's mehndi, a henna tattoo. The groom must find his name amongst the intricate pattern. This gives the couple the opportunity to hold hands and study each other closely.