What To Wear To A Traditional Indian Wedding

Attending an Indian wedding can be an incredibly exciting and colorful event. However, if you’ve never been to a traditional Indian wedding before, knowing what to wear can be confusing. With many ceremonies spanning several days and including various events, outfit planning for an Indian wedding requires some strategic thinking. Here’s a guide on how to dress appropriately and stylishly for every occasion at a traditional multi-day Indian wedding celebration.

Understanding Traditional Indian Wedding Attire

India is an enormously diverse country with many regional cultures, languages, customs and clothing styles. Traditional Indian wedding attire can vary greatly depending on the family’s religious background (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian) and region of origin. However, there are some commonalities.

For women, elegant saris and lehengas are very popular at Indian weddings. These consist of long, intricately decorated skirts and a cropped blouse or choli. Salwar kameez – a tunic top with loose trousers that cinch at the ankle – are also commonly worn. Whatever the outfit, bright colors, metallics, sparkling embellishments and fine silks or chiffons are ubiquitous when dressing for an Indian wedding.

For men, a sherwani – an embroidered long coat with a mandarin collar worn over tailored pants – is traditional formal attire. However, nowadays most male wedding guests opt for suits or tuxedos paired with colorful vests, sashes and turbans or scarves.

Outfits For Each Wedding Event

Most traditional Hindu and Sikh Indian weddings consist of several pre and post wedding rituals and celebrations that take place over three to five days or up to a week. Different levels of formality are recommended for the various events.

Sangeet/Mehndi

The Sangeet is a big pre-wedding party, traditionally held at the bride’s family’s home the night before the wedding. This lively event features music, dancing and singing performances to bless the soon-to-be-married couple. Often mehndi artists decorate female guests’ hands and feet with temporary henna tattoos during the Sangeet festivities.

The mood is celebratory and fun, so brightly colored Indian party wear like anarkali suits, gowns or dresses are recommended. Since there will likely be dancing, avoid heavy fabrics like silk or super long outfits that restrict movement. Saris and lehengas are still very popular choices. Finish the look with statement earrings, bangles and bindis.

Wedding Ceremony

As the main event, the wedding ceremony – which could be Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian or another religion – calls for formal Indian ethnic wear. This is the time for guests to wear exquisitely decorated saris, lehengas or Indian gowns in fine silks, chiffon or velvet, adorned with beads, sequins, crystals and embroidery.

Saris should be draped in the traditional style, with elegant pleats and the pallu (the decorative end piece) arranged fashionably over the shoulder. Jewel toned colors with a good amount of sparkle are recommended to dress your best for the wedding ceremony.

Most male wedding guests wear suits or tuxedos, paired with colorful vests, ties and scarves. However, Indian men often don traditional sherwanis or achkan jackets for the ceremony. Top it off with a safa (turban) for a sophisticated touch.

Reception

Following the wedding ceremony, the reception is chance to celebrate the newly married couple while enjoying cocktails and a nice dinner. The dress code calls for semi-formal ensembles – though in India, semi-formal still means plenty of gorgeous colors, embroidery and embellishments.

For women, chic Indian fusion wear like gowns, dresses, anarkalis, palazzo pantsuits or straight cut salwar kameez are perfect. Avoid heavy silks or overly voluminous skirts in favor of more body conscious shapes that won’t get in the way on the dance floor. Finish the modern Indo-western reception look with statement earrings and heels.

Men can wear well-tailored suits or tuxedos with a hint of Indian flair like a pocket square, vest or tie featuring traditional paisley prints, colors or embroidery.

More Tips For Picking Indian Wedding Outfits

• Seek inspiration from Indian bridal magazines, Bollywood celebrities and Instagram.
• Ask the bride and groom for color scheme suggestions – their wedding colors may dictate wardrobe shades.
• Look for flattering silhouettes that complement your body type.
• Rent outfits rather than purchasing for a one time event.
• Hire reputable Indian jewelry vendors to complete the traditional look.
• Break in heels and shoes ahead of time to be comfortable dancing.

Attending an Indian wedding gives guests a chance to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant colors, flavors, sounds and visual delights of Indian culture. Taking some care when planning outfits ensures you’ll look and feel your absolute best to honor the bride, groom and their families on their important day while creating some unforgettable memories.