I was invited to an Indian wedding earlier this year, thanks to my coworker and friend Akanksha. A North Indian wedding, to be specific. She and her husband are from Rajasthan, a state in India located in the Northern part of the country.
What to wear to an Indian Wedding (for Women)
In this age of increasing awareness of cultural appropriation, Indians do not seem to be concerned about this. In India, it is acceptable when a foreigner embraces their culture, either by wearing traditional clothes and/or eating Indian food.
When attending an Indian wedding, you are very much encouraged (in fact, expected) to wear traditional Indian clothes. You could show up in a normal dress but you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. Personally, I’ve always wanted to wear a saree. They just look so beautiful!
Finding the appropriate clothing to wear was the first task we needed to tackle, and it was the most confusing and time-consuming one since there were so many options. And the colors, oh the colors!
So in terms of what to wear, here are your most common options for women:
Lehenga – a 3-piece set consisting of a scarf, a crop top, and a long, A-line skirt (Lehenga). This is a popular option since it’s much easier to wear than a saree. It also suits most body types.
Saree – a 2 piece set consisting of a crop top, and a piece of long fabric to be folded into the bottoms and draped over shoulders and arms. I’d say a saree is the safest choice for a wedding guest.
Salwar Kameez – a 2 piece set consisting of a long top (Kurti) and a loose pair of pants. This is a more casual piece, which you can wear for side events.
If you aren’t sure which one to pick, you can’t go wrong wearing a Saree. This is the option that I went with as my traditional wear.
Jewelry for women
As told by friends and my tailor (who coincidentally was from Rajashtan as well), the more bling you have, the better. At the very least, wear large earrings and a set of bangles on both hands. Don’t worry about looking too blingy – you probably would fit right in. I wore a pair of orange Jhumka chandelier earrings, a very classic earrings style in India, and to this date is the biggest pair of earrings I owned, and I fit in just fine!
What to wear to an Indian Wedding (for Men)
For men, it’s slightly more straightforward! At the very minimum, you need a set of long Kurta and long pants. The Kurta could be made from cotton, linen, or silk, and the price will differ based on the material – cotton is the most affordable while silk is the most expensive. If you’d like to accessorize more, you can get a vest to put over the Kurta, or you can also get a scarf to complete your look.
Getting your traditional Indian clothes tailor-made
I ended up getting my Saree tailor-made at Little India. If you live in Singapore, my tailor is Tekka Trends. It cost me S$220 to custom make my saree (+$30 for express tailoring since I procrastinated too long…). I know it was pricey, but it’s the option that made the most sense to me since I planned to get a few uses out of this saree, and also I’ll be sharing it with my sister.
First, you need to decide on the colors you want to wear. As a guest at an Indian wedding, you are encouraged to wear bright and colorful clothes. Vibrant blue, mint green, orange, and bright pink are good choices of colors. The only color you should avoid is red since the bride would be wearing red at one of the main events. My tailor had a series of designer sarees to choose from, so I just picked one from his selection. I chose an orange, gold, and black saree for mine.
Next, you can customize how the blouse (top) will look like. You can customize the length of the sleeves, how low/high the neck and the back cutting will be, and how long you want the blouse to be. Normally, you want the blouse to be about a crop top length since you’re supposed to show a little bit of skin on your midriff. But don’t worry if you’re concerned about showing skin – most of it will actually be covered by the saree draping.
Whatever color and blouse you end up picking, make sure you also get your saree pre-stitched into a skirt. This will save you so much time since saree folding is pretty difficult and involves many safety pins. Getting it pre-stitched means you can just wear it like a skirt!
Saree Rental
If you don’t want to buy a saree, another option you can look at is renting. For those in Singapore, I sent some of my friends to Glamourdoll for a saree rental. I saw good reviews online and it seems that they were true – my friends were happy with the result. You can get a saree set + jewelry + purse for S$80-100, but you need to put down S$100 deposit which you’ll get back when you return the saree.
Clothes to pack for a North Indian Wedding
Since there are a lot of events and it spans multiple days, you’ll likely need four sets of clothes – two for each day. You can’t go wrong wearing traditional Indian clothes to all of these events, but I’ve included alternatives to what you can wear if you only have one traditional clothes (like me). I recommend packing the following:
Two smart-casual pieces for Mehendi and Haldi. This could be a co*cktail dress, a casual suit, etc.
One evening gown/dress for Sagai and Sangeet. Something fancy you’d wear to any other wedding.
One traditional piece for Jaimala and Saptapadi. This is your saree/lehenga or whatever traditional Indian clothes you decided to get.
What to Expect at an Indian Wedding
You might have heard an Indian wedding is a multi-day event. This is true! Not only was it very festive, but it was also a great insight into the rich culture of Indian weddings. The wedding I attended spanned over 2 days, with the following events:
NOTE: Before reading this guide, make sure the wedding you are attending is a North Indian wedding. Even though India is one country, it is very diverse – there are 22 major languages spoken, and there are many wedding customs in India. They could be very different from the one I’m describing in this post.
1. Mehendi (Ancient Body Art)
Mehendi is an ancient body art ceremony, where the bride will be getting her hands and feet intricately tattooed using temporary natural ingredients called henna. The design is so intricate it will take hours and two artists to work simultaneously.
While the bride gets her henna done, guests usually lounge around, sipping on chai or busting moves on the dance floor. You can also get your hands henna-ed, but your design will be nowhere as intricate as the bride’s, of course.
2. Sagai (Engagement Ceremony)
Sagai is the ring exchange ceremony, which usually takes part at night and is followed by dinner. This ceremony marks the official ‘asking’ of the bride’s hand by the groom’s family. Along with the ring, gifts, and jewelry are also exchanged.
3. Sangeet (Dance Party)
Sangeet is the fun part of the ceremony. In an Indian wedding ceremony, guests are expected to perform a short dance routine, and this is the night when everybody gets a chance to go on stage. If you are attending, you better have some dance choreography prepared! Some people would go together in a big group, some might be confident enough to dance by themselves. Then at the end of the night, everybody goes on the stage for a big dance party!
4. Haldi (Turmeric Paste Ceremony)
Haldi means “turmeric”. During the Haldi ceremony, guests line up and apply yellow turmeric paste to the bride’s body. Turmeric has many health benefits for the skin, so the paste will help her skin glow for the big day later. It’s also believed turmeric has holy properties that will ward off evil and sickness. Aside from that, turmeric’s yellow color is also believed to be a very auspicious color in Indian culture.
I heard it can get quite aggressive and the turmeric might get applied everywhere to the bride’s body, including their face, neck, and hair. Be careful not to get any paste on your clothes since turmeric stain is almost impossible to get off.
5. Jaimala (Wedding Garland Exchange Ritual)
Finally, after 3 days, we’ve come to the actual wedding ritual. I thought all the events leading up to this were already festive, but Jaimala by far trumped them all. First, the groom will arrive at the wedding site on a white horse, welcomed by a loud and festive dance party at the entrance of the venue.
The groom then enters the venue with his entourage, followed by the bride with her entourage, wearing her most intricate clothing thus far – usually a red lehenga. The atmosphere of the event is definitely different than the previous nights, with fireworks going off every few minutes, food, and live drummers to spice up the party.
The wedding ceremony is marked by an exchange of an ornate fresh flower garland by the bride and groom, and another exchange of gifts (lots of gifts are being exchanged at an Indian wedding!)
6. Saptapadi (Seven vows wedding ritual)
Saptapadi is the seven vows of Hindu weddings to symbolize Nourishment, Strength, Prosperity, Knowledge, Progeny, Longevity, and Togetherness. The ceremony starts at midnight and continues well into the night, often ending as late as 4-5 am. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t last that long and went to bed shortly after it started (So sorry Akanksha!)
Some food and drinks from the wedding
Not only was the wedding a festive event, we were also spoiled silly with delicious food and drinks. There were many different types of food, but here are some of my favorites:
1. Chai in a clay cup
Chai is a spiced tea beverage that originated in India. During the wedding, you’ll often find guests sipping on a cup of Chai. The base is a strong black tea mixed with various Indian spices – cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black peppercorn.
Despite the Indian origin, the name Chai likely originated from the Mandarin word for tea, which is “cha”. Chai is often served in a “cutting” portion (half a cup) and in most parts of North India, it’s usually served in an unglazed clay cup called Kulhad (or Bhar in Kolkata).
These clay cups are only to be used once – I was quite surprised when I saw people throwing away their clay cups into the bin, but these cups are actually pretty environmentally friendly. The clay would return back into the soil once disposed of, unlike plastic cups. Clay also has tons of health benefits compared to using plastic cups.
2. Paneer, fresh Cheese from India
My friends are gonna roll their eyes at me for this – but YES I LOVE PANEER!
I love Paneer in all forms – in a curry, in a sweet-sour sauce, or grilled on a skewer… it’s just so good!
Paneer is a semi-firm cheese that will not melt at cooking temperature, so it is often used in savory vegetarian dishes. The closest other type of cheese I’ve tasted that is similar to Paneer is probably Haloumi, although Paneer tasted fresher and a lot less salty than Haloumi.
3. Panipuri
Panipuri is a common Indian street snack, consisting of bite-sized, hollow crispy fried dough (called “puri”) containing chickpeas, potatoes, and onion. The puri is then dipped in a jar of cold water so that it is totally filled with the water inside. This is where the “pani” part of the name comes from – it means water. There are typically two types of flavors – sweet or spicy – and I personally loved the spicy version! The pani is typically served cold and flavored with all kinds of herbs and spices.
Panipuri is usually served from a stall, where you can just stand there with a bowl in your hand, point at the panipuri flavor you want and the stall owner will hand you the tiny puri straight into your bowl which you then proceed to eat in one gulp. I had 5-6 of these in one go. No shame. They are so easy to eat and very delicious.
Okay, that’s my experience of attending an Indian wedding! It was such a fun weekend full of cultural learning and festivities. Special thanks to Varsha and Shefali for the bits of cultural education during the entire wedding. It was indeed information overload, and I wouldn’t have been so lost if it wasn’t for you guys! And of course, for Akanksha and her family for having us!
Lehengas and sarees are the most common options for women. A lehenga is a two-piece outfit that includes a top (usually cropped) with a full, high-waisted skirt. A saree is a long piece of fabric, often made of silk, that's used to wrap around the body.
Wear something colourful and bold, whether you're going for a western look or a more traditional Indian one. Some hues should be avoided at all costs. These include black and white, as these colours are often associated with funerals in Indian culture.
White and black are the go-to shades for western weddings, but not for Indian ceremonies. Instead, bright colors, such as pinks, yellows, and greens are encouraged. There is no such thing as over-dressing when it comes to traditionalist weddings unless you're mirroring the bride and groom.
Cleavage, mini dresses, and revealing clothing that clings to your body is not acceptable if you're wondering what to wear to an Indian wedding as a guest. For men, classic suits or long-sleeve dress shirts and trousers are the most appropriate options.
As a guest at an Indian wedding, you are encouraged to wear bright and colorful clothes. Vibrant blue, mint green, orange, and bright pink are good choices of colors. The only color you should avoid is red since the bride would be wearing red at one of the main events.
The amount of the cash gift varies and is personal to each guest. Whereas you might think of nice round numbers like $50, $70, or $100, in Indian culture we never give a gift ending in 0. The amounts usually end with a “1” such as $51 or $101.
Indian brides will traditionally wear red, so it's important to avoid this color out of respect for the bride. Black is also viewed as unfavorable. If the wedding will be Sikh or Hindu, both men and women should also bring something to cover their heads during the ceremony.
Giving gifts is a common tradition at Indian weddings. The traditional wedding gift is money, which is regarded as the most thoughtful gift for the couple to start their lives together. This is better done by placing money in a pretty envelope or embroidered bag, along with your best wishes.
As we all now know, wedding guests (both men and women) shouldn't wear white to an Indian wedding. We also discussed how black clothing could be associated with bad luck: a dark black suit is probably a no-go.
Semi-formal might be the most common wedding dress code. Think date night at the nicest restaurant in your town. Men should definitely wear slacks and a dress shirt but they can choose if they'd like to wear a tie and sport jacket or not. Women should wear a nice dress, skirt, or pants.
A: You can wear Indian dress or Western dress. Either is appropriate and appreciated! If you want to wear Indian clothes, it's seen as acceptable for non-Indians to wear.
Not at all! wearing a lehenga has nothing to do with being Indian or not, it just means that people from other countries recognize and appriciate the indian culture as much as it's citizens. If you are looking for beautiful lehengas online, check out KARAGIRI. They have a beautiful collection of lehengas online.
An Indian wedding is a very modest and traditional ceremony. Tight-fitting or revealing dresses are less appropriate to wear. Any gowns that show your shoulders, like a strapless dress, should also be avoided unless you choose to wear a shawl.
Showing your legs or too much of cleavage in an Indian wedding ceremony whether it's Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh is not considered good while you're free to show off your belly which is exposed in most of the traditional Indian outfits.
Staying on the conservative side when attending a wedding is smart. If you're wearing a short dress, be sure that it's no shorter than an inch above your knee. It's okay for your dress to be tailored to fit you, but be sure you're dress is not too tight.
Ditch your minimal looks and go full glam with a lovely bright lipstick. Traditional jewelry is a classic for Indian weddings that include headpieces, bangles, earrings, and the most crucial part is bindi. Bindi is an ornate sticker on your forehead, and it is a big part of Indian culture for women.
As a general rule, "wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile," Sabatino affirms. However, you should avoid wearing white unless you are told otherwise. That shade, she says, is reserved exclusively for the bride.
It was for an Indian wedding, which can span multiple days and require not just a single dress but an entire wardrobe: four outfits, perhaps, for weekend-long festivities; two pairs of shoes; three purses; and bangles and earrings to match.
A typical cash wedding gift could range from $50 to $500, depending on the same factors listed above. Even then, aiming for the $100 mark is generally sufficient and will be comparable to the average cost of a physical wedding gift.
How much should a cash wedding gift be? The average wedding gift is around $100 (per guest), and this baseline is a great place to start. If you're bringing a plus-one, then you can give $200 as a couple.
They suggest the following breakdown: coworkers or distant relatives should spend 50 to 75 dollars. Friends or relatives, 75 to 100 dollars. For close friends, family, or if you are in the wedding party, you should spend 100 to 150 dollars—or more.
What nail color goes with Indian style? It's important to go with shades that complement the skin tone. So for darker Indian skin tones, red, Fuschia pink, sunshine yellow, and poppy orange would be best. Lighter Indian skin tones should consider pastel nail colors as well as peaches and reds.
Steer clear of off-white, eggshell, beige, champagne, cream, or any other super light color that could be mistaken for white. There are so many dress options available in a variety of hues, so steering clear of these shades should not be a major issue.
Indians consider yellow and red as lucky colours for marriage. Yellow signifies purity, and red signifies fertility and prosperity. These two colours dominate everything in an Indian wedding. From wedding decorations to clothes, yellow and red can be seen everywhere.
Color means everything at Hindu wedding celebrations, but never wear black and don't show up in red out of respect for the bride. 2. Choose comfort above all else. Indian wedding ceremonies and receptions are typically several hours long and can go late into the evening.
Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment by the groom, or his family, to the bride, or her family, dowry is the wealth transferred from the bride, or her family, to the groom, or his family.
Indian weddings can last up anywhere from three days to a full week, depending on the ceremony. There are pre-wedding rituals leading up to the 2 to 3-hour long marriage ceremony.
The dress code is "informal, but Indian-inspired," says Shah. "Wear colorful clothing and a South Asian lengha or Indian tunic. Wear something colorful—avoid wearing all-white or all-black."
Indian weddings are traditionally multi-day affairs, and involve many intricate ceremonies, such as the painting of the hands and feet of the bride called a mehndi.Garlands are presented to guests of honor instead of corsages, and lots of flower or rose petals are thrown for good luck.
In certain cultures, notably South Asian and East Asian cultures, red is considered lucky and auspicious—and thus has been traditionally incorporated into wedding day attire the same way white dominates wedding attire in Western cultures.
It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire; jeans, T-Shirts, shorts, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally.
"This is where you're thinking more light colors and casual materials," she says, versus fancier fare like satin and sparkles. You can wear things that are a little more flowy, and even bold prints are acceptable. "That really cute sundress or maxi dress is a great example of dressy casual,” Swann says.
Yes, of course, you can! Whether a man or woman, you should feel free to wear pants or jumpsuits to a wedding as a guest. Just be sure to avoid anything too casual, like denim or athleisure wear. And make sure your outfit is still appropriate for the formality of the wedding.
Dressing up as a Native American is never appropriate. For years, classrooms across the country have included special days where students "dress up" as Native Americans for different celebrations and lesson activities. Often, the outfits people wear to look "Indian" have nothing to do with Native people and cultures.
The rule of thumb when attending a traditional Indian wedding ceremony as a guest is to dress anything but formal or casual. Traditional Indian weddings are indeed gala affairs where the outfits need to suit the occasion. For this reason, wearing simple cotton suits and kurtas is not an option.
Colors are held in greater esteem when it comes to the Indian bride and her wardrobe. Red is the most popular choice but modern luxury brides are now also choosing gold, ivory, and pastel shades for their bridal trousseau.
The sari is easy to wear – and can be worn by anyone
It has the appearance and reputation of being difficult to wear, but ask any one of the millions of women who wear one every day – it's not. The sari transcends socio-economic divisions and is seen as an egalitarian garment.
In general, it's not appropriate for guests to wear white to a wedding. "When you're a guest at a wedding, the most important thing to keep in mind is not to upstage or upset the bride," says wedding dress designer Madeline Gardner. "It's safe to stay away from any outfits that are predominantly white, cream or ivory."
Leave the Bra at Home, Especially if You're Small-Chested. You might think you need to bring a strapless bra wedding dress shopping, but this is a misconception. Bridal gowns aren't constructed like off the rack dresses you might find at your local department store. "Bras do not work with most gowns.
We recommend wearing a supportive strapless bra for wedding dress shopping, so no matter the style of dress, you'll get a good idea of how it can look and feel with a little extra support!
Gowns that are strapless or have straps less than 1” in width, need to be paired with an undergarment that is strapless. If the back of your gown comes up to where your bra closure would normally rest on your back, you can probably get away with wearing a normal strapless bra with your wedding gown.
Wear dress shoes, nice sandals, or the traditional jutees that go with your kurta pajama. Keep in mind it is not appropriate to wear black to any occasion besides the reception. By wearing bright and bold colors, you will fit right into the crowd at an Indian wedding!
For shoes, opt for sandals or flats. Remember, it's custom to remove your shoes in someone's house, so you'll likely remove your shoes for the party if it takes place indoors. Wear something that's easy to slip off.
The wedding procession, or Baraat, is the event that commences the start of the wedding and is one of the most important and exciting parts of the day. Traditionally, the groom arrives at the wedding venue on a decorated horse–or even an elephant–and it can take more than an hour.
"Guests at weddings should wear a pair of shoes that are formal as well as comfortable," says Kaeleigh Testwuide, a wedding expert and the owner of The Diamond Reserve. You don't have to wear sky-high heels that hurt your feet—think comfort and class, she recommends.
Skip the skimpy co*cktail dress and opt for something a little more on the conservative side. Dresses and skirts should be approximately at knee-length. At a hot summer outdoor wedding, try wearing lighter fabrics rather than less of them.
Women should wear a formal floor-length gown that does not reveal the ankles at the hem of the dress, but if the wedding seems a bit less formal, a sophisticated co*cktail dress may also be acceptable. Women may also wear elegant pantsuits. Men must wear a tuxedo.
Women should wear a formal floor-length gown that does not reveal the ankles at the hem of the dress, but if the wedding seems a bit less formal, a sophisticated co*cktail dress may also be acceptable. Women may also wear elegant pantsuits. Men must wear a tuxedo.
Can you wear pants to a wedding? Yes, you absolutely can. If you don't like dresses or your legs are not your best feature, pants are totally acceptable, so long as you keep the time of day and venue in mind.
Avoid sequined dresses and any clothing that will draw attention away from the bride. A wedding isn't the proper time to make a bold fashion statement. Ditch your everyday jeans and tee. Even if the wedding initiation says “casual”, wearing sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, and jeans are never appropriate for a wedding.
Totally fine!Just make sure they're dressy enough for the nuptials. Start with tailored trousers and a polished blouse, or make things easy for yourself by grabbing a matching blazer. Pant suits are a great way to go, or you can coordinate the color of your pants with your top, like this monochrome moment.
Can you wear pants to a wedding? Yes, you absolutely can. If you don't like dresses or your legs are not your best feature, pants are totally acceptable. Pants give you the option to wear flat shoes, which many ladies (if not all of us!)
Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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