There are several marriage customs followed in India. Whatever may be the region or caste; the marriage customs are still followed. Some of them are mentioned below -
 Solah Shringar for bride on the wedding day is one of the most exciting aspects of her life. She dreams of looking like a princess on this day and weave many expectations. Most of the girls in our country have lots of dreams for this day since it symbolizes the beginning of their journey into womanhood. Everybody wants to look best on this day. Different kinds of beauty sacraments are associated with this day as her female friends and relatives spend the entire day preparing her for the occasion. The full adornment consists of sixteen parts from head to toe and is thus called Solah Shringar. On this very special day of her life she wants to look the best in her lifetime. She typifies beauty on this special day. The bride`s solah shringar starts from the top with her hair and ends at her toe.
In the practice of Swayamvara, the girl`s father decides to conduct the Swayambara of the daughter at an auspicious time and venue, and broadcasts the news of this to the outside world. Kings used to send messengers to outside lands whereas commoners arranged to spread the news within the local community. On the appointed day and venue, a number of suitors arrive at the girl`s home and ask for her hand. The girl and her family get to choose among the suitors, sometimes through evaluating the completion of various tasks assigned. When the girl selects the husband of her choice, she garlands him and a marriage ceremony is held immediately.
Dowry System in Indian Marriages can be called the commercial aspect of the marriage. The practice of giving dowry was very common among all people of all nations. A girl gets all the domestic utensils that are necessary to set up a family. Dowry system in India was prevalent since the Vedic period. In Epic period gifts from parents, brothers and relatives and relatives were recognized as woman`s property - stridhan.
The baarat is the rejoicing ritual of the Indian wedding when, the groom arrives at the bride`s house. In earlier days, the groom used to come on a horse but nowadays it is often a well-decorated, lavish car. Procession of the bridal pair along the main streets of the village is one of the customs that are peculiar to the Hindus. The husband and the wife who are newly joined in wedlock are carried round the village in a palanquin or a car or on elephant`s backs in howdahs or on horsebacks. The brahmacharis and girls who have attained puberty are also to follow this timeworn custom.
The sacred symbol of wedlock, Mangalsutra is an inevitable part in Indian weddings, more specifically, in Hindu marriages. According to a Hindu custom, marriage not only represents a bonding of two individuals but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love and spiritual growth between them. Marriage is not all celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, dedication, companionship, and yielding from both the partners. Each and every ritual and custom involved in marriage impersonates the real essence of wedding. There are five signs of marital status of women according to Hindu culture- mangalsutra, toe rings, kumkum, bangles and a nose ring. Mangalsutra, thus is considered as one such symbol of marriage.
 Child marriage usually refers to two separate social phenomena. These kinds of marriages are practiced in some societies. The first and more prevalent practice is that of marrying a young child (usually defined as below the age of fifteen) to an adult. In practice, it is always that a young girl marries a man.
According to the Indian wedding customs, the seating position has been the groom on the right and bride on the left. Since ages this has been the practice in all India marriages. Sikh Marriage Ceremonies and Christian Marriage Ceremonies follow this practice rigidly. It is believed to be auspicious if the bride sits to the left of the groom. However, with passing days many ceremonial regulations are altered.
The conduct of the married couple decides the peaceful future of the family. The husband and wife both follow the rules in a pattern, which brings happiness and prosperity to the family. After the customary marriage ritual, the husband is bound to perform all his necessary duties.
Marriage with trees, plants and inanimate objects are quite common instances in the ancient Hindu society. Tulsi and Pipal tree are the most common bridegrooms in Hindu culture. Hindus do not believe the marriage ceremony to be merely a nuptial tie between men and women. In earlier days, it was not often carried out, considering the trees, plants and many inanimate objects, this ritual was particularly carried out among the Vaisnuites. Tulsi or holy basil with the botanical name as Ocymum sanctum is not just holy to Vishnu or to his companion Laksmi, but it is passed through by the spirit of these deities and itself worshipped as a deity of Sita, wife of Rama or Vishnu`s incarnation.
Although with passing eras, there have been vast changes in the Indian marriage scenario, but the core ethics and traditions still hold the same position. The Indian marriage customs are some of the richest collections of social rituals in the whole world.
There are many references of widow marriage in ancient Indian literature. In the Vedic age, widow marriages were not prohibited. According to Narad Purana, there are three types of widow marriages
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