What to wear to an Indian Wedding as a guest?

We think of words like "extra," "jolly," and "on point" whenever we hear or read about an Indian wedding. Find garments worthy of such a royal occasion in order to properly represent the event's high status. There are a few things you should remember as a wedding guest, however. In what shade shall I dress? Amount of extras to add? Exactly how much is too much? We're here to assist you with everything. What to wear to an Indian wedding, both traditionally and now, is broken down into several categories below. Why not spare no expense for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion? What to wear? Here are some suggestions!

What to wear to an Indian Wedding (for Women)

Even though there is a growing awareness of cultural appropriation in today's world, my impression is that Indians welcome it wholeheartedly when a foreigner shows appreciation for their culture by, for example, dressing in traditional garb and/or partaking in Indian cuisine. The custom of dressing in traditional Indian attire for a wedding is strongly encouraged. You could show up in something more conventional, but you'll still stand out. The saree is an item of clothing that has long caught my eye. They are so stunning in appearance.

The first thing we had to do was figure out what to wear, which was the hardest and took the longest because there were so many different options. And those colours!

Conventional Saree

For an Indian wedding, a saree is one of the most traditional garments. Each and every type of visitor will find this to their liking. It's a tried-and-true ensemble that anyone in the bridal party or the bride's extended family can wear with confidence.

A two-piece outfit that consists of a crop top and a long piece of fabric to be draped over the body and tucked into the bottoms. The saree is the most conventional option for a guest of a wedding.

Suit

Suits are among the most convenient attire options for guests at an Indian wedding. Depending on the variety, they can be both lightweight and cumbersome. It's up to you whether you want to dress in a Patiala suit, an Anarkali, or just a long kurta and Churidar.

Salwar Kameez

A long top (Kurti) and baggy pants make up this two-piece outfit. You can dress down a little bit in this and still look great at the after parties.

Lehenga

The lehenga is a classic wedding dress. The options for lehengas are practically endless. You have the option of going with a dark shade, or going with a more muted colour scheme, such as a pale pink or blue.

It's a three-piece set that includes a scarf, a crop top, and a long, A-line skirt (Lehenga). Since this is much simpler to put on than a saree, it has gained a lot of popularity. There is a wide range of body types that can wear this successfully.

Sharara or Gharara

There is no more regal choice for an Indian wedding than one of these dresses. The sister or close cousin of the bride or groom would look lovely in this ensemble. However, if done in a muted tone, this ensemble can also be worn by far-flung relatives.

Evening Gowns

When attending an Indian wedding, evening gowns are the way to go. These are the epitome of chic comfort. You can finish off the look with some elegant clutches and understated jewellery.

Palazzo Pants

Wedding guests have been blown away by brides in Palazzo pants ever since they first appeared in the fashion world. You can dress these pants up or down by switching out the top.

Anarkali Skirts

You can't go wrong with an Anarkali skirt for your wedding—they're both stylish and elegant. Anarkali skirts are ideal if you're not the type who enjoys donning a lehenga. Wearing a skirt like this to an Indian wedding is one of the easiest things you can do and still look great. Put some thought into your accessories if you want to look wedding-ready.

Getting your traditional Indian clothes tailor-made

To begin, select the colours you intend to wear. If you're invited to an Indian wedding, you should dress as colourfully as possible. Colors like royal blue, emerald green, orange, and hot pink are great options. Because the bride will likely wear red to one of the main events, that is the only colour you should avoid. The designer saree I chose was one of several that my tailor had available. My saree is orange, gold, and black.

The next step is to decide how the blouse (top) will ultimately look. The blouse's length, sleeve length, neckline, and back cutting can all be altered to your preferences. The standard length for a blouse in this situation is that of a crop top, as you are expected to expose some abdominal skin. Don't worry, though; the saree draping will conceal you as well, so the overall effect will be tasteful.

You should get your saree pre-stitched into a skirt and choose a blouse to match the colours you choose. With the difficulty and number of safety pins required to fold a saree, this is a huge time saver. If you have it pre-stitched, you can put it on like a skirt and go!

Dress Rental

Renting a saree is an alternative to buying one. Some of my friends in Singapore needed sarees, so I referred them to Glamourdoll. The reviews I read online were positive, and it appears that my friends are satisfied with the outcome. A complete saree outfit, including jewellery and a purse, can be rented for S$80–100, with a refundable S$100 deposit.

What to wear to an Indian Wedding (for Men)

Now is the time to pull out your most spectacular Indian wedding outfit, as the wedding season is quickly approaching. The letters from your friends and family have probably already started piling up. Upon receiving a wedding invitation to a traditional Indian ceremony, the question of what to wear naturally arises.

When invited to an Indian wedding, every guest, not just the women, must consider what to wear. Many men feel they have nothing to wear to a friend's wedding because they cannot find anything that is suitable. We recommend sticking to the more conventional standards of wedding attire, but recognise that there may be some variation. In the same way that women have many different dress options to choose from for an Indian wedding celebration, men do as well. How the men at an Indian wedding should dress depends on their roles and the events planned for the day. Here are a few suggestions for the men to consider when selecting their wedding attire.

Mangni Outfit Kurta Churidar & Nehru Jacket

The very first thing that springs to mind when organising an Indian wedding is the Mangni, and engagement, attire. A Kurta Churidar as well as Nehru jacket are appropriate for any Mangni to which you may be invited. It's perfect if you're heading for a simple, timeless style. To create a monochromatic look, pair your kurta with a matching or contrasting Nehru jacket. Pair your black kurta with a black Nehru jacket. Traditional brogue shoes will elevate any outfit.

Haldi Outfit Yellow Kurta And Dhoti

If you want to get in the spirit of a Haldi celebration, wearing yellow is a great way to do so. During the Haldi ceremony, you should wear something you don't mind getting a little dirty. Keep your attire somewhere in the middle of being too casual and too formal. You can wear a yellow or white kurta with pyjamas, a Patiala, or a dhoti. Wearing light-colored clothes is recommended if you plan on working around yellow paint, as this will help prevent any accidental stains. Haldi ceremonies have a relaxed dress code. Haldi should be worn in light or vivid colours with bold embroidery or patterns. You should pay attention into what you wear to the an Indian wedding because, like any other ceremony, it will be scrutinised.

Barat Outfit Sherwani With Paagdi (Turban)

For a male guest at an Indian wedding, the Sherwani is indeed the second best option. To look like a true Barat, a sherwani is your best bet. This is the recommended attire for men Western guests attending an Indian wedding. A sherwani is the best choice of clothing for men with black complexion. The overall effect is one of sophistication and elegance. Similar to a coat, it is worn over a kurta or with churidar or dhoti salwar. Your outfit would be perfect with the addition of a Paagdi. Complete your getup with a pair of timeless Jutis. A Baraat outfit isn't complete without the appropriate headwear to express the occasion. It's possible that you and your team members will all be able to locate compatible Paagdis.

Indian Jodhpuri Suit (Reception Outfit):

After the ceremony dress, the reception dress is the next requirement for an Indian wedding. The receptions I've been to have required a suit, but a more casual outfit would have been fine. The Jodpuri suit is a great illustration of a classic look updated with a modern touch. It's a notch above the standard dress code for a reception. Coat and pants, and even a vest, are part of the uniform. Try pairing complementary but contrasting pieces, such as a jacket and pants, to liven up your look. Pair your outfit with some classic brogues or polished business shoes. This is the outfit that will have all eyes on you at the wedding reception.

Western 3 Piece Suit

The traditional three-piece suit is another acceptable option for the wedding reception. Attendees are encouraged to put their best fashion forwards foot forwards by dressing in the most elegant typical or combination wedding attire for the occasion. Male guests at an Indian wedding may not know what to wear. However, a suit is the most conventional and appropriate attire for a reception. In addition to being classy and well-defined, it also avoids drawing undue attention to itself. A timeless pair of leather shoes would finish off the ensemble perfectly. This ensemble is perfect for the nonconformist.

Designer Outfit To Stand Out

If the invitation to the wedding you're invited to is all glitter and no substance, run! Because of this, you need to look your best if you want to make a good impression. How do I dress for a formal Indian wedding? A few ideas are provided below. Many modern Indian weddings require the groom and his attendants to dress in a stately manner. You can find a sherwani that's durable enough for manual labour or one that's elegant enough for an Indian prince's wedding. An excellent way to up your glitz factor is to wear a designer sherwani with intricate embroidery and glittering embellishments. You can't go wrong pairing a stylish sherwani with an embroidered scarf. In place of the traditional dupatta and sherwani, some modern designers are opting for a cropped jacket to add a touch of flair to the kurta.

A simple printed Floral Jacket

Wearing a floral jacket with elegant Jodhpuri pants is a great way for men to make a subtle but striking fashion statement. Wearing this Indian bridal/mehndi outfit to your BFF's mehndi party will be a blast!

Wear A floral Printed waistcoat

Fashionable this season are floral patterns. Wearing a floral printed waistcoat over a plain comfortable kurta Pyjama is the best way to stay stylish and look effortless at a sibling's or friend's mehndi ceremony.

Pick a dapper Pathani or An Afghani Suit

On the mehndi night, if you show up in a slick Pathani suit, you're guaranteed to get the attention of many attractive women.

We all know that Pathanis are incredibly soft and breathable, but did you also know that they make a man look more rugged and are perfect for hot-weather Indian weddings?

Pick a dapper Kurta-Salwar Combo

You can dress down the traditional kurta pyjama by layering it with a waistcoat for a more subdued look.

A bright coloursed kurta With Nehru jacket

For a Mehndi or Haldi ceremony, a bright yellow kurta paired with a tailored Nehru jacket is a perfect example of the kind of bright, bold colour combination that is appropriate.

Wear PINK

It is only during the mehndi or sangeet ceremony at an Indian wedding that a man is permitted to wear pink. If you want to look stylish and confident in a pink kurta, go for a pastel shade, as bright pinks and fuchsias look ridiculous on men.

Wear a Kurta With Jeans

Instead of wearing the same kurta to every Indian wedding, try teaming it with a fun pair of jeans for a new look.

Pair a Kurta With Dhothi pants

At a mehndi ceremony, you can dress traditionally by pairing a pre-stitched dhoti with a brightly coloured, medium-length kurta that falls just above the knee. Not all men have the self-assurance to wear the amazing traditional teaming of a kurta and a dhothi, so you'll definitely stand out in this kurta-printed avatar.

colours on colours pairing

Pink Kurtas with open orange Nehru jackets are also a great option; pair them with white chudidars for a well-balanced outfit. The attire of an Indian wedding guest is ideal for a musical evening of dancing and singing.

Wear a contrasting dupatta with an Afghani Suit

If you've been working out and want to show off your biceps, an Afghani suit and a contrasting dupatta is the way to go. If you want to try a new style, don't be afraid to mix and match colours.

Ethnic Jacket , Kurta And Jeans combination

It's easy to create your own classic, relaxed avatar by mixing and matching elements of dressier and more casual attire. Put on your favourite pair of jeans and a well-tailored kurta, and accessorise with a nice waistcoat for a touch of glitz. This do-it-yourself getup is perfect for looking put together while you dance the night away with the bride's gang and the groom.

What not to wear to an Indian wedding?

What NOT to Wear to an Indian WeddingNow that we've covered what to wear to an Indian wedding, here are a few pointers to keep in mind. Although you may have been patiently waiting all year for wedding season to arrive, the festivities can put you under pressure to find the perfect outfit. Men often make the egregious error of inappropriately dressing for a wedding. Consider the following frequent slip-ups:

DON’T wear black or white.

The more vibrant the colours, the better they are at Indian weddings. You're free to wear just about any colour you want, but please, no black or white. Why? In India, white is the colour of death and mourning, while black is worn only to the grave. If you can avoid these two colours, you should be fine.

Avoid Dressing Too Loud

Guests at a wedding should not dress more formally than the groom and bride. If you overdo it with your wedding attire, you risk stealing the spotlight from the bride and groom on their big day. You should keep the accessories to a minimum and go for a sophisticated, understated look instead.

What Jewelry to wear

At an Indian wedding, more jewellery is always better. Stack on some fake gold bracelets you picked up at the mall.

Stack on the gold jewellery, starting with some oversized hoop earrings and working your way up. Make sure, however, that your jewellery doesn't outshine the bride's.

Women in India commonly sport nose rings. Some women choose to wear a jewel that sticks to one of their nostrils in place of a piercing.

The more bling you have, the better, according to my friends and my tailor (who, coincidentally, was also from Rajasthan). Large hoop earrings and a stack of bangles for each hand are a bare minimum. There's no need to stare too intently; you'd probably blend in just fine.

What to Wear to a Henna or Mehndi Party

You may be invited to the bride's henna or mehndi party if you are a member of the wedding party or a close friend of the bride. The bride's hands, arms, and feet are traditionally decorated with henna during these celebrations. The bride's party will keep her entertained during the long wait while she waits to be crowned.

If you're lucky, you can also get your hands decorated with a design. What a fantastic wedding ceremony to attend!

You can wear a colourful, sleeved dress made from a soft, forgiving fabric to this event, as you will be sitting still for quite some time while the henna is applied.

Wear sandals or flat shoes. Keep in mind that it is polite to take off your shoes when entering someone's home, so you probably won't wear them at the party. Put on clothes that are simple to remove.

You can still wear jewellery, such as earrings and necklaces, but if you plan on getting henna on your hands and wrists, you might want to hold off on the bracelets.

Alright, so that's what it's like to attend an Indian wedding from my perspective! It was a wonderful weekend filled with celebrations and new cultural insights. I'd like to thank Varsha and Shefali, in particular, for all the cultural lessons they sprinkled throughout the wedding.

Try on these outfits for size, but remember the dos and don'ts of dressing for an Indian wedding. You can use this list to get psyched for the next wedding you attend.

Conclusion

There are a number of different options for what to wear to a modern or traditional Indian wedding. Guests at weddings typically wear sarees because they are the most traditional dress code for the occasion. Attendees of an Indian wedding often find suits to be the most practical choice for their travel attire. The lehenga consists of a scarf, a crop top, and a long A-line skirt. For an Indian wedding, shararas and ghararas are no longer the proper attire.

If you are not the type to wear aLehenga, an Anarkali skirt is your best bet. All guests, not just the ladies, need to think about what to wear when attending an Indian wedding. Men's clothing is coordinated with their duties and the day's schedule. When it comes to the men's wedding attire, here are a few ideas to think about. An invitation to a Mangni would warrant a Kurta Churidar and Nehru jacket.

When working with yellow paint, it's best to wear light-colored clothing to avoid staining. Men from the West who are invited to an Indian wedding should wear sherwanis. The Jodpuri suit is a perfect example of a time-honored style given a contemporary twist. It's also appropriate to wear a classic three-piece suit to the wedding reception. In order to add a touch of glitz to your modern sherwani, you can accessorise it with elaborate embroidery and shiny embellishments.

The easiest way to look chic and put together at a mehndi ceremony is to wear a floral-printed waistcoat over a plain, comfortable kurta Pyjama. Colorful, eye-catching ensembles are ideal for an Indian wedding, such as a group of guests dressed in bright yellow Kurtas and a tailored Nehru jacket. The pressure to find the ideal wedding guest outfit is real. What to wear to an Indian wedding is discussed here. Black is reserved for the dead in India, so avoid wearing it or any other shade of grey.

Don't overdo it with the formalwear, either. As a member of the wedding party, you may be invited to the bride's henna or mehndi party. During these festivities, henna is traditionally applied to the bride's hands, arms, and feet. Keep in mind the appropriate and inappropriate ways to dress for an Indian wedding.

Content Summary

• What to wear to an Indian wedding, both traditionally and now, is broken down into several categories below.
• The custom of dressing in traditional Indian attire for a wedding is strongly encouraged.
• The lehenga is a classic wedding dress.
• When attending an Indian wedding, evening gowns are the way to go.
• You should get your saree pre-stitched into a skirt and choose a blouse to match the colours you choose.
• Now is the time to pull out your most spectacular Indian wedding outfit, as the wedding season is quickly approaching.
• How the men at an Indian wedding should dress depends on their roles and the events planned for the day.
• After the ceremony dress, the reception dress is the next requirement for an Indian wedding.
• However, a suit is the most conventional and appropriate attire for a reception.
• Wearing a floral printed waistcoat over a plain comfortable kurta Pyjama is the best way to stay stylish and look effortless at a sibling's or friend's mehndi ceremony.
• It is only during the mehndi or sangeet ceremony at an Indian wedding that a man is permitted to wear pink.
• Instead of wearing the same kurta to every Indian wedding, try teaming it with a fun pair of jeans for a new look.
• You may be invited to the bride's henna or mehndi party if you are a member of the wedding party or a close friend of the bride.
• Put on clothes that are simple to remove.
• Try on these outfits for size, but remember the dos and don'ts of dressing for an Indian wedding.