How to dress for an Indian wedding?

The confusing question of what to wear as a guest at an Indian wedding will be presented to everyone attending for the first time. To assist you in figuring things out, we are here.

Get excited if you've been invited to a friend or relative's Indian wedding ceremony. Even though these gatherings are always buzzing with joy, let us first address your initial query: 

What should I wear as a visitor to an Indian wedding? 

It's advisable to review the basic traditions and conventions of guest costumes at Indian weddings on your own time, even though there may be some dress code hints on the wedding invitation.

Here are some details regarding Hindu weddings, Punjabi weddings, and how to ensure that you are respecting Indian culture to make it simple for you.

Get ready for a variety of ceremonies and gatherings

The wedding ceremony is merely one of several activities that occur over two or three days during an Indian wedding. Your Indian-American friends or family members will certainly hold at least a traditional Indian ceremony that honors the religion of their ancestors, most likely Sikh, Hindu, or Muslim. Many American-born couples will also wish to have an Americanized ceremony that will appear and feel quite comfortable.

The Haldi ceremony, the Mehndi ceremony (a female-only celebration of the bride that focuses on the application of ceremonial henna), and the Sangeet, a night of singing and performances for the couple that frequently includes choreographed Bollywood dancing, are additional typical pre-wedding occasions.

The couple will specify which parties you are invited to, but just in case, we advise dressing in your wedding guest clothing for at least these two of them.

Think about traditional Indian wedding attire.

Wearing traditional Indian attire is one of the better options if you're unsure about what to dress as a visitor to an Indian wedding. That includes any of the following for women:

A vibrant saree, which is a long, intricately knotted garment worn from the shoulders to the ankles and covers one or both arms. During religious ceremonies, extra fabric is typically left loose and can be utilized to cover your head.

Another popular option is a lehenga, which is often a two-piece dress made up of a crop top and a full skirt, unlike a saree.

A sharara is a style of suit that consists of wide-leg, palazzo-like pants and a coordinating tunic top (sometimes called a Kurti or kurta). Embroidery, brocade designs, and sparkling beading are frequently used to embellish the set.

A long-sleeved tunic (Kurti) or a knee-length jacket (sherwani) with matching slacks can be worn by men.

Clothing for men and women is available in a variety of patterns, prints, and vivid colors. If you are in a region where there are many Indian Americans, check out the local Pakistani, Indian, or Nepalese markets since they may carry clothing.

Do not pester the bride or the groom about their clothes in any way! Try to negotiate this phase on your own or seek advice from a bridesmaid or other wedding party member if you are truly confused about what to wear because, believe us, they are overloaded with other responsibilities.

Wear color and cover your head to show respect.

Avoid wearing anything white on the wedding day since, contrary to what Western culture believes, it is associated with funerals in South Asia and India (not to mention that it is never a good idea to wear white to someone else's wedding). In order to show respect for the bride, women shouldn't wear red because it is the traditional color for Indian wedding dresses. 

Last but not least, black is also seen as a bad color for Hindu rituals, therefore we advise staying away from it. However, pretty much every other hue of the rainbow is totally okay for visitors!

Cover up and wear modest attire.

Suppose you're not wearing a true Indian costume. In that case, your Western clothing should be just as modest as the traditional Indian wedding guest apparel, which covers the shoulders, legs, and occasionally all of the arms. What not to wear to an Indian wedding as a guest includes cleavage, tiny dresses, and revealing clothes that cling to your body. Traditional suits or long-sleeve dress shirts and pants are the best options for guys.

Feel at ease.

This is particularly significant if you're accompanying the groom when choosing what to wear to an Indian wedding.

You'll be on your feet because the groom rides into the ceremony during the baraat while his family and friends dance a processional to greet the bride's side. You'll want to ensure that your clothing isn't too constricting or too short to prevent you from sitting cross-legged for a lengthy period during a Sikh wedding because guests sit on the floor.

Be confident wearing accessories.

Bring out your best jewelry and body adornments even if you decide against donning traditional Indian dresses—bling is a significant part of Indian design. For ladies, this could take the form of beaded handbags, elaborate earrings, bangle bracelets, or bindis, which are stickers worn on the forehead between the eyebrows.

House of Indya feels gratitude for providing the best possible Indian dresses for a wedding to its clients at times.

FAQs

Which are the most preferred Indian dresses for weddings?

Mostly lehengas and sarees and embellished suits go great for attending a wedding. For men, a kurta pajama for sherwani fits best.

Is Purchasing Indian traditional clothing with modern clothing okay?

Indian clothing can be purchased in a wide variety of ways, particularly online. Remember that the textile and apparel industry is a significant contributor to India's economy when you purchase Indian clothing.

What are the other Notable Indian Clothing Styles?

The Jama, Nehru jacket, mekhela chadar, pattu pavdai or Langa voni (for girl children exclusively), mundu/lungi, and angarkha are some other Indian clothing designs are the best other options to get dressed up in a wedding.