A roka highlight of the day two families said yes
The roka is the ceremony, common in North Indian and especially Punjabi families, that formally marks the match: the families meet, usually at one of their homes, exchange gifts, sweets and shagun, and in many families the groom's mother places a red chunni over the bride's head. It is often small, held months before the wedding, and sometimes followed by a ring exchange. If you filmed a roka, upload it as its own WeddingEditor project and WeddingEditor's AI editing makes a Highlight Reel of about 5 minutes or a Social Teaser from it.
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Last updated October 2026
How to get a roka highlight
- 1
Upload the roka footage
Create a project for the roka and upload what you filmed: the families arriving, the prayer if there was one, the gifts and sweets, the chunni, any rings and the meal. A roka is often filmed by one shooter in a living room, so a single camera's files are fine.
- 2
Explain who the families are
At a roka the two families may be meeting properly for the first time. In the people question, say which side is which, who the parents and grandparents are, and who placed the chunni or exchanged the gifts. List the moments that make it official for this family.
- 3
Receive the roka film
After the upload completes, use a plan credit or pay for One Wedding and start processing; expect roughly 24 to 72 hours. WeddingEditor's AI editing makes the edit and it is checked before delivery. You watch and download it in the app and have up to two revision rounds by email.
Roka moments to list
Arrival
One family arriving at the other's home with trays of sweets, dried fruit and gifts.
Prayer
A short puja or ardas, depending on the family, with the couple seated together.
Shagun
Elders giving gifts or money to the bride and groom, and touching heads in blessing.
The chunni
The groom's mother or a female elder draping a red or embellished chunni over the bride's head.
Sweets
Relatives feeding each other mithai, often with teasing.
The families together
A group moment with both families, the first time many of them are in one frame.
What happens at a roka, in order
The roka is simple compared with later events, and practice varies. Some families merge it with the engagement or call it a thaka or chunni ceremony.
1. The families meet
One family, often the groom's, visits the other's home or both meet at a temple, gurdwara or restaurant. It is commonly a small gathering of close relatives.
2. Blessings
Many families start with a prayer suited to their faith, and elders bless the couple.
3. Gifts and shagun
The families exchange gifts such as clothes, sweets, dried fruit and money as shagun. The tilak or a dot of vermilion may be applied to the groom in some families.
4. Chunni and rings
In many Punjabi families the groom's side covers the bride's head with a chunni, symbolising acceptance into the family. Some exchange rings at the same time.
Short events, short films
A Social Teaser often suits a small roka; a Highlight Reel of about 5 minutes works when the roka was larger. You choose the deliverable when you create the project.
What you know is what they use
WeddingEditor only knows the families through your preference answers, so names and relationships come from you.
Parts of the roka and what to note in the preferences
| Part of the roka | What it looks or sounds like | What to note in the preferences |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Trays of sweets and gifts carried in | "Groom's family arrives; keep the trays." |
| Prayer | A short puja or ardas | "Brief, but in." |
| Shagun | Envelopes and blessings | "Both grandmothers giving shagun." |
| Chunni | A chunni draped over the bride's head | "Must include." |
| Sweets | Feeding mithai, laughter | "One or two shots." |
| Group photo | Both families together | "End here." |
What is a roka ceremony?
A roka is a pre-wedding ceremony, common in North Indian families, where the two families formally accept the match by meeting, blessing the couple and exchanging gifts.
An engagement or sagai centres on exchanging rings and is often larger; some families hold both, some only one, and some combine them into one event.
Roka highlight questions
The roka was only an hour at home. Is a highlight worth it?
It can be. Many couples like a short film of the day their families first came together. A Social Teaser suits a small gathering; a Highlight Reel suits a longer one.
Can the roka and the engagement go in one film?
Yes, if you upload both into the same project and say the order. Or keep them separate as two projects.
How will WeddingEditor know which family is which?
Write it in the people question: "groom's side in blue and white, bride's parents on the sofa, bride's grandmother in the cream shawl".
The prayer was in a language I don't know. Is that a problem?
Not for the edit, which keeps the audio as recorded. Just note that a prayer took place and roughly when, so the AI editing keeps a moment of it.
Is there a minimum amount of footage?
No minimum number of files is required. Upload what you filmed; every file must finish uploading or be left out before checkout.
Does the couple see it before I do?
No. WeddingEditor delivers only to your project and does not contact your couple.
Who decides what parts of the roka can be shared in a film?
The two families do. A roka is often a private family agreement, and the protocol for filming it is theirs. WeddingEditor makes the edit from the files you choose to upload and does not decide what may be shown.
Other Indian wedding events
The first family photo, turned into a film
Create your account, upload the roka, and say who each family is.
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