Garlands & Flowers Guide
The meaning behind the maalai, the flowers that carry centuries of tradition, and how we handcraft every garland fresh — from our own nursery to your wedding day.
In every Indian wedding, it is the garland — the maalai — that carries the deepest symbolism. When the bride and groom exchange garlands, they are making a public declaration of mutual acceptance, respect, and love. It is not just a beautiful floral arrangement; it is the very act that begins the marriage.
Yet for many couples planning their wedding in Singapore, garlands are often an afterthought — something ordered at the last minute from the nearest florist. This guide explains why your Indian wedding garlands deserve far more attention, what each flower symbolises, how they're traditionally made, and how Alangkaar handcrafts every garland fresh from our own nursery for your special day.
The maalai maatral is one of the most joyful and significant rituals in a Hindu wedding. The bride and groom exchange flower garlands three times, symbolising their mutual willingness to accept each other as life partners. It represents equality — neither is above the other; both choose freely. Traditionally, friends and family lift the couple higher and higher with each exchange, creating a playful competition that fills the hall with laughter. It is invariably one of the most photographed and cherished moments of the entire wedding.
Separate from the exchange garlands, the thali garland (or mangalsutra garland) is placed around the bride's neck during the sacred tying of the thali. This garland stays on the bride throughout the ceremony and is considered sacred — it is often made from jasmine and turmeric-soaked thread, representing purity and auspiciousness.
Each flower carries its own meaning, fragrance, and visual impact. Here are the six main garland types we create for Indian weddings in Singapore:
Alangkaar provides every floral element you need for a complete Indian wedding — from the main exchange garlands to the jasmine for the bride's hair, the thali tray flowers, and the loose petals for the walkway. Here's our transparent 2026 garland pricelist:
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Wedding Set | Main garlands, exchange garlands, parents' garlands, jasmine ball, bouquets, loose flowers, petals | $690 |
| Wedding Garlands Only | 1 pair of custom garlands (any flower, any colour) | $290 |
| Main Garland (pair) | 2x custom garlands for exchange ceremony | $290 |
| Parents' Jasmine Garland | Basic jasmine string garland (each) | $25 |
| Jasmine Flower Ball | Traditional round ball for bridal hair | $45 |
| Hand Bouquet | Fresh flower bouquet (bridal or toss) | $65 |
| Corsage / Boutonniere | Wrist corsage or lapel pin | $20 |
| Loose Flower Petals | Per bag, for walkway or shower | $15 |
| Fresh Flower Thali Tray | Decorated tray for thali ceremony | $65 |
| Floral Hair Accessories | Jasmine strings, flower clips, veni | From $35 |
Tell us your wedding date, flower preferences, and colour theme — we'll create a custom garland proposal.
Order Garlands on WhatsAppUnlike most florists who rely entirely on wholesalers, Alangkaar operates its own flower nursery in Hanoi, Vietnam. This gives us direct control over flower quality, variety, and supply — meaning we can source specific colours and bloom sizes that wholesale markets simply don't carry. For special requests like rare orchid colours or oversized rose blooms, our nursery grows them to order.
Every garland is woven by hand on the morning of your wedding. Our team starts before dawn — selecting the freshest blooms, removing any imperfect petals, and stringing each flower individually using traditional techniques passed down through generations. The garlands are then packed in styrofoam boxes with ice packs to maintain freshness during delivery.
Garlands are delivered directly to your wedding venue — whether it's a temple hall, hotel ballroom, or your home. Delivery is timed to arrive well before the ceremony so there's no last-minute stress. Our team coordinates with the decoration team to ensure every floral element is in place.
One of the biggest advantages of ordering garlands through Alangkaar (rather than a separate florist) is colour and style coordination with your entire wedding setup. When our decoration team designs your mandap, stage, and walkway, they share the exact colour palette with our garland team. The result: your exchange garlands, bridal bouquet, and hair flowers match your stage decoration perfectly — creating a cohesive, professionally styled look across every photograph.
This kind of coordination is impossible when you buy garlands from one vendor and decoration from another. The shades won't match, the flower types won't complement each other, and the overall aesthetic suffers.
Alangkaar's floral services go well beyond garlands. We provide fresh flower installations for mandaps, floral walkway arches, centrepiece arrangements, hanging installations, pew decorations for church weddings, and pelamin florals for Muslim and Malay weddings. Loose petals for the aisle, flower shower arrangements, and pooja flower trays are all available as add-ons.
For a complete overview of all our floral products and pricing, visit our 2026 garlands and flowers pricelist. For full wedding planning including garlands, decoration, catering, photography, and entertainment, explore our all-inclusive temple wedding packages.
Bundle garlands with your decoration package for perfect colour coordination — and save on overall costs.
Get Bundle QuoteShare your wedding date, flower preferences, and colour palette — we'll handcraft garlands that make your ceremony unforgettable.
Order Garlands on WhatsAppOr call us at +65 8444 4005