In South Asian tradition, there are a few different events that take place in the weeks and days leading up to the main event. The dholki‍ is named after the small drum which plays a central role in the singing and dancing that happens at this celebratory event. Think — dance performances in honor of the couple, singing songs together about being in love, giggling, snacks, desserts, and games — all celebrating our love, our cultural heritages, and the passing on of traditions.

At our Drag Dholki, there will be performances graciously put on by our wedding party! We also might teach you a dance or two, so that you can bust them out with us at the reception the next day! We are encouraging folks to dress in drag & gender-bend at the dholki because a) it’s fun! and b) drag is a cultural heirloom we both share as queer people, a tradition which honors creative self-expression and liberation! We hope you’ll join us :)

The question EVERYONE has been asking - what should I wear?!

Short answer, whatever makes you feel like your best, most attractive, confident self. We mean it.

Long answer…

For the WEDDING (Saturday): Funky Formal Cocktail Attire or Cultural Formal Wear. Bright colors, patterns, embroidery, sparkle, anything a little flashier than you might usually wear is strongly encouraged. Take a chance - we would love to see you there and think, “wow, they look better than us!”

Some things to take into consideration…

• As the couple being wedded, we’ll be wearing red and white - the traditional colors worn in each of our cultures, so try out some colors that aren’t those :)

• As long as the weather allows, the wedding ceremony and dinner will take place outdoors in an unpaved, grassy, wooded area. We encourage you to think about your shoes.

• This is the Catskills, so average highs are in the low 80s and lows are in the 60s.

For the DRAG DHOLKI (Friday): Drag or gender bending is encouraged! This is a more informal night. As always, we want everyone to feel comfortable and confident in what they are wearing and that is the priority. Butttt have you ever wanted to gender-swap and dress up like Shah Rukh Khan, Dolly Parton, Rekha, or Johny Cash? Have you had a vision of a girlypop femmeor butch‍ himbo version of yourself that you want to let out? This is your chance. We’ll have some makeup and fake mustaches on hand for you to try. There will be performances and dances by our wedding party so the most important thing is to bring good vibes!

Check out our travel page!

As long as weather permits, the wedding ceremony and seated dinner will be outside in unpaved, grassy, woodsy areas. Think twice about your shoes :)! Thin high heels may not be ideal. The DJ and dancing will be indoors. In the event of rain, all events will be indoors.

Yes! This is an outdoor wedding on a beautiful property that has prioritized ecological balance and native plants and pollinators. Taylor and Azaadi have always dreamed of getting married in the great outdoors. Thank you for making our dreams come true!

TICK CHECKS: Unfortunately, as climate change has worsened, the tick population has expanded. We recommend doing a tick check each morning and remove ticks when you have them. Read a guide on how to do tick checks here.

BUG SPRAYS: We’ll have some on hand, but it’s good to come prepared! Bug sprays that include DEET can be helpful in keeping ticks away from you. Treating your shoes and outer clothing with 0.5% permethrin can kill or repel ticks on contact. However, we ask everyone to mindful where they are spraying it as it can be very detrimental to the non-parasitic plants and animals around. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) is a plant-based, Environmental Protection Act-approved extract from the lemon eucalyptus tree, widely recognized for its ability to repel mosquitoes and ticks which you can also put directly on your skin, as long as you’re above the age of 3!

If you are worried or have questions, reach out to Taylor.

Yes! On August 22nd, our ceremony will have Islamic, Christian, religious and non-religious components.

Yes! There will be parking on site at the venue. On August 22nd, there will also be a golf cart to help transport anyone with accessibility needs (i.e. anyone who experiences difficulty walking uphill/downhill) from the parking lot to the ceremony location, which is about a 5 minute walk on a moderate incline. There will not be a golf cart available on Friday night, but let us know if you have accessibility needs when you RSVP and we will support you in making sure you can join us!

There will also be a shuttle provided from nearby towns for your convenience. For more information, check out our travel page. You’ll also find out how to get to the venue and info on where to stay nearby.

We’re SO excited to announce that Lil Deb’s Oasis will be catering our dinner on our wedding day! Halal and vegetarian options will be available.

Not only is their food amazing but many of our community members have worked at, dined in, danced at, or hosted benefits at Lil Deb’s. They are incredibly thoughtful about accommodating community needs, in food and beyond. Eating well and feeding our loved ones is really important to us! Please let us know your dietary needs when you RSVP so that we can pass on that info to Lil Deb’s and try to make sure you’re well fed!

Dinner on Friday will likely be more casual - pizza, sandwhiches, salad, etc..

BYOD! We are doing a potluck style dessert table on August 22nd! Wedding cakes are so often so mediocre and so many of our loved ones are such talented dessert makers/taste makers. If baking brings you joy or if you have a favorite pie shop you don't mind stopping by on your way, we'd love to try it.

Please bring a list of allergens for whatever you bring. If you’re coming to the Dholki on Friday, feel free to bring your dessert and we can store it for you. If you bring the dessert on Saturday, just ask an usher where you can store it!

For the wedding on August 22nd, there will be a full, open bar beginning at 3 PM which will be open until around 8:30 PM.

For the Dholki on Friday, August 21st, due to venue policy and NY State law we are not allowed to serve alcohol. We also cannot openly drink alcohol. Do what you will with that information! Taylor may or may not be hosting a secret, hush-hush “Best Stealth Flask” competition. Find Taylor on Friday night to enter. :)

Due to limitations at the venue, we ask that only people named on the wedding invitation attend. If you have any questions or feel that there was an oversight, please reach out to Taylor or Azaadi.