Wedding at home · Gate
The Wedding Welcome Gate: Flowers, Lights, Drapes, the Maharaja Gate and the Light Tunnel, and Which Gate Suits Your Space and Function (Swagat Gate Design)
Guests see the pandal, food and stage later; the first thing they notice is the welcome gate. When the baraat arrives, the milni happens here, and most wedding photos are of the gate and the stage. So even on a small decoration budget, one good gate changes the look of the whole function. This guide covers the kinds of gates and which suits your space and function. Bharat Tent & Light House, Khorra puts up fancy gates, maharaja gates and welcome arches with flowers and lights.
1. Kinds of gates
| Gate | What it looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fancy gate | A handsome gate of cloth, drapes and decoration | Almost any function, in front of the house or lane |
| Maharaja gate | Large, royal, grand | Weddings and the baraat, where a royal look is wanted |
| Flower gate | Fresh or artificial flowers, marigold strings | Weddings, bhaat, griha pravesh, puja |
| Light gate | Lit with LEDs, jhalar and light strings | Evening and night functions, the baraat |
| Drape gate | An entrance and path made of coloured drapes | Haldi-mehndi, daytime functions |
| Light tunnel | A path covered in lights from the gate inwards | Big pandals with a long approach |
A decorative Ganesh ji idol is also placed on top of or in the middle of the gate, considered auspicious. A mango-leaf bandanwar looks good on the gate too.
2. Gates by space
- Mouth of the lane: the baraat turns in here, so a big lit or maharaja gate looks best here. Leave enough open space in front for the milni
- House door or courtyard: if space is short, a small flower or drape gate at the door with jhalar above
- Plot or field: with open ground, a big gate and a long decorated path or light tunnel to the pandal
- Keep the gate passable: if a ghodi or baggi has to pass along with the crowd, have the gate made wide enough; tell us beforehand about overhead power lines
More ideas for tight spaces are in tents on a roof, lane or small courtyard.
3. Gates by function
- Wedding and baraat: a big lit gate at the mouth of the lane, milni space in front, and a lit path to the house; full details in welcoming the baraat and the janwasa
- Bhaat: a flower or drape gate at the door, so the bhaati are welcomed well
- Haldi-mehndi: a gate of yellow and pink drapes and hangings that glows in daytime photos
- Jagran or mata ki chowki: a lit gate with flowers, as the programme runs all night
- Shop or showroom inauguration: gate and ribbon decoration for the ribbon cutting
- Griha pravesh: a flower gate at the door with a mango-leaf bandanwar
- Birthday: a gate of balloons and colourful decoration
4. The path from gate to pandal
A gate looks complete with its path:
- Red carpet: the welcome path from the gate to the stage
- Pathway lights: along both edges, so guests can see their way at night
- Draped path: drapes on both sides, part of the gate decoration
- Covered walkway: a roofed path from the gate to the pandal, so guests stay dry in sun or rain
5. Day function or night
- By day colours show: flowers and drapes look best
- At night light shows: a lit gate, jhalar and focus lights; arrange a generator too, see what size generator
- For a function running from evening into night, use drapes and lights both, so the gate looks good at both times
6. Budget and safety
- Rather than several small gates, one good main gate, with the path and stage in the same colours
- In windy weather have the gate tied firmly; keep wires high, and diyas and candles away from drapes; more in tent safety
You can see photos of gates we've put up in the gallery, and visit Khorra to see the gate and decoration items yourself. WhatsApp a photo of your space to 99918 64283; we'll tell you which gate will suit it within your budget.
FAQ
Where should the welcome gate go at a wedding?
Where guests and the baraat arrive first, usually the mouth of the lane. Leave open space in front for the milni, and a lit path from there to the house.
What's the difference between a maharaja gate and a fancy gate?
A maharaja gate is large and royal-looking, for weddings and the baraat. A fancy gate is decorated with cloth and drapes, and suits almost any function and smaller spaces too.
Which gate is best for a night function?
A lit gate with jhalar and focus lights. For a big pandal, a light tunnel from the gate inwards looks beautiful. Arrange a generator for power.
Can a gate go up in a narrow lane?
Yes: a small flower or drape gate at the door with jhalar above. Just keep enough passage for the crowd and the ghodi or baggi.
Can I see gate designs beforehand?
Yes. There are photos in our gallery, and you can visit Khorra (Bhaloth Pana) to see the gate and decoration items. Call Bharat Tent & Light House on 99918 64283 before you come.