London’s Iconic Gurudwaras

The first Gurudwara in Slough was Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara opened in April 1976. Modeled after the gurudwara in India known as the Golden Temple, its services were being held in the Barn Restaurant, Salt Hill Park before the gurudwara was made. This Gurudwara in London cost over £70,000 to build and is made on land leased from Slough Corporation. The money for its construction was sourced from the Sangat. Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara offers many services including matrimonial and Annand Karraj. 

The Anand Karaj ceremony has a nominal fee (Bheta or donation) of £900.00 which can be paid via cash or card. For this amount they offer services like Prashaad, Tea, Granthi for Lavan and Kirtani Jatha from Gurudwara Sahib. However, if you choose to book outside catering after the anand karaj there will be an additional charge of £200 (gas, electricity and cleaning charges). 

Choosing a Gurudwara for a Sikh wedding in London or the UK involves considerations that balance tradition with practicalities for your event. Here are key factors to keep in mind:

1. Location and Accessibility – The first factor to consider is the location of the Guru Nanak Gurudwara. You need a place where you and your guests can comfortably reach without much hassle. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a place that is walking distance to your house but its location should not be a problem either. A gurudwara near you will also allow you to commute if you need to bring something with you for the ceremony. 
2. Ceremonial Setup and Amenities Do detailed research about the setup of the Gurudwaras in London. Your best option is to contact or visit them and get all the information first hand. You will need to check the size of the hall and whether or not it can accommodate your guests who will be present for the Anand Karaj ceremony. Another thing to keep in mind is whether there will be chairs for the guests who cannot sit on the floor as some might have physical problems. Traditionally Gurudwaras urge you to sit on the floor and hence have no chairs so you might need to make additional arrangements causing a change in your budget.
3. Guidelines and Protocols- Some Gurudwaras are more flexible but some might have rigid guidelines for you to stick to. You will probably be told in advance if they have any specific requests from you but it is always better to ask than assume. You should ask ahead if they require any specific dress code from the guest or if there are any timing or other restrictions. You can also find a list of these restrictions on their websites.
4. Availability and Booking Policies- selecting a Gurudwara for your wedding is of course a time-consuming process but you need to check for availabilities straight away. Famous gurudwaras are often booked months in advance. Since not every Gurudwara performs anand karaj ceremony, the ones that do tend to have a busy schedule. If you book it soon you have the chance to pick a date and time that suits you. You can decide after asking all the Gurudwaras that you shortlist for their availability. 
5. Facilities for Catering and Langar – A Sikh wedding is never complete without the traditional Langer that feeds not only your guests but many hungry people as well. It is a benevolent act of kindness essential to the Sikh tradition. Usually, every Gurudwara provides in-house catering for a langar, but double-checking is always good. Although not widely popular, you might even be allowed to hire outside caterers granted that you seek permission in advance and pay any extra fees if necessary.
6. Accommodation for Rituals and Customs- There could be several pre-wedding or post-wedding rituals like Milani that you might want to indulge in. You should make sure that the gurudwara has no problem with any such festivities. If you are planning on playing the traditional dhol, you should ask for that as well. Try to get permission for anything that you think might cause some problems. 
7. Budget and Donations Another thing worth considering is the donation that you need to make to the Gurudwara before getting married. Not called a “fee” since you aren’t technically paying the Gurudwara only donating to its cause. Some Gurudwaras might have a certain minimum amount already fix that they expect for a wedding ceremony but it is customary to have this discussion in advance since the families might also want to donate more than the minimum amount to show their gratitude. This will factor into your overall budget.
8. Documentation and Marriage Certificate – Some gurudwaras in London are legally certified and provide a marriage certificate whereas others are not. In that case, you might have to weigh other options. Never forget to double-check this crucial detail. You might even choose to have a legal marriage before or after the gurdwara ceremony depending on your preference.