Wedding season here in London and number one was my nephew.

Instructed not to wear black, I was determined not to get this wrong and ruin the day. To be fair, the wedding was not even marginally dependent on my outfit, but not having been to a Hindu wedding before I felt on the back foot.

Inevitably a little late, we set off – my family clean, shiny and dressed in anything but black. With the rain pounding the car, we speculated on the cultural and religious phenomenon of a Jewish man marrying a Hindu Indian woman.

Jewish weddings are dominated by food and, similarly, within 15 minutes of our arrival at the just-beyond North London venue, we were fed with fragrant, vegetarian dishes, some familiar, some new and all utterly delicious.

Ham & High: Laura Marks was surprised at the similarities that a traditional Hindu wedding has to a Jewish one.Laura Marks was surprised at the similarities that a traditional Hindu wedding has to a Jewish one. (Image: Laura Marks)

Directed into the ceremony hall itself we found a pillared canopy and a mandap, which was smothered with spring flowers. This was the next similarity - and one I hadn’t expected - as Jewish weddings too are conducted under a canopy, which signifies setting up a home.

The couple sat with their closest family, walked in tiny circles, recited prayers, made vows and shared a symbolic first meal. Whilst our faith traditions are so different in many ways, these rituals, and numerous others, felt extraordinarily and comfortingly familiar.

After the ceremony, carefully explained by the priest, the mood changed as we tucked into yet another enormous meal before hitting the dance floor. From Bollywood to Bananarama, we danced the now starry and clear night away. The climax, to everyone’s joint horror and delight, was Michael's dad Tim 'dad dancing'. I can’t tell you if it was a Jewish or a Hindu version and I’m quite sure that by that stage nor could he.

We live side by side in our wonderfully diverse city but many of us worry about our children marrying into different faiths or cultures. However, as with so many dual faith weddings, we rejoiced as Michael and Bhavita start their future life based on their deep love for each other and their endless personal and cultural similarities.

This left us free to kick off our heels, turn up the volume and celebrate a connection I feel sure was made in heaven.

  • Laura Marks OBE is founder of Mitzvah Day, chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and an interfaith consultant – (commongood.uk.com)