What to Wear to an Indian Wedding as a Guest
Colours to choose and avoid, what each function expects, and what to wear if you have never been to an Indian wedding before.
Wear colour, and dress for each function: something comfortable for mehendi, something you can dance in for the sangeet, and your most formal outfit for the reception. Avoid red, which is the bride’s colour, and be careful with white and all black. Cover your shoulders and knees for the ceremony, and ask the family.
An Indian wedding is rarely one event. There is usually a mehendi, a haldi, a sangeet, the ceremony and a reception, and the invitation may not tell you what to wear to each. Guests who have never been before often ask the same few questions, and this page answers them.
Customs differ by community and by family, and the best advice any guide can give is to ask the family or a friend close to them. What follows is the general shape, written by a studio that dresses the bride, her sister and the family.
Colours to wear, and colours to be careful with
Bright colours are welcome at an Indian wedding: jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire, fuchsia and marigold, and rich pastels. Do not worry about being too colourful.
Red is the colour the bride traditionally wears, so guests usually leave it to her unless the family says otherwise. White is worn in some communities for mourning, and in Gujarat the bride’s panetar is white or cream with a red border. All black is often avoided at celebrations. If you want to wear any of these, ask the family first.
Mehendi
The most relaxed function of the week, often held by day. Wear something comfortable that you can sit in for hours. Greens, yellows, pinks and oranges sit well with henna.
Haldi
Haldi is traditionally yellow, and turmeric stains. Wear something you are happy to see marked, and do not choose your best outfit.
Sangeet
The musical night, with dancing. Wear something you can move in for hours, with a skirt or trousers that allow it and shoes you can dance in. Jewel tones and anything with mirror or sequin work show well under evening lights.
The ceremony
The most traditional function. Dress more modestly, covering your shoulders and knees, and choose something you are comfortable sitting in for a long time. At some ceremonies shoes are taken off, so ask whether to bring socks or slip-on shoes.
Reception
The most formal evening of the week. This is the occasion for your most formal outfit, and a good moment for a rich colour, heavier embroidery and your best jewellery.
For men
A kurta set is the simplest choice. A bandhgala-style jacket or a sherwani suits the ceremony and the reception, and many men wear a kurta to the mehendi and sangeet. A well-cut suit is acceptable at a reception if you do not own Indian wear.
If you do not wear Indian clothes at home
You are not expected to be an expert, and hosts are generally delighted when guests wear Indian clothes. A lehenga, a sari or a salwar kameez are all fine, and so is a long dress or a smart outfit in an Indian colour. If you want something made to measure, we make outfits for wedding guests as well as for the bride’s family. Tell us the date and the function, and we will say plainly what can be made properly in the time.
Questions we are asked
What should a guest wear to an Indian wedding?
Wear colour, and dress for each function: comfortable at mehendi, dance-ready at the sangeet, formal at the reception. Cover your shoulders and knees for the ceremony. Avoid red, which is the bride’s colour, and ask the family before wearing white or all black.
What colours should you not wear to an Indian wedding?
Red is traditionally the bride’s, so guests usually leave it to her. White is worn for mourning in some communities, though in Gujarat a bride wears a white or cream panetar. All black is often avoided. Ask the family if you are unsure.
What do guests wear to a mehendi?
Something comfortable you can sit in for hours, often bright. Greens, yellows, pinks and oranges sit well with henna. It is the most relaxed function of the wedding, usually held by day.
What do guests wear to a sangeet?
Something festive that you can dance in for hours: jewel tones, mirror or sequin work, and shoes you can dance in. The sangeet is the musical night and is one of the liveliest functions of the week.
What should a non-Indian guest wear to an Indian wedding?
Anything Indian you feel comfortable in, such as a lehenga, a sari or a salwar kameez, or a long dress in an Indian colour. Hosts are usually delighted by the effort. Ask a friend close to the family about each function.
Can I have an outfit made to measure as a wedding guest?
Yes. Nirali Amin Designer Studio makes outfits for wedding guests as well as for the bride’s family, made to measure and hand-embroidered, in Vadodara or by video-call fitting from abroad. Tell us the date and the function.
What do men wear to an Indian wedding as a guest?
A kurta set is the simplest choice, and a bandhgala-style jacket or sherwani suits the ceremony and reception. A well-cut suit is acceptable at a reception if you do not own Indian clothes.
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Tell us the date and who you are dressing
Bring the date, the occasion and how many people. We will tell you plainly what can be made properly in the time — from the studio in Vadodara, or on a video call from wherever you are.