You are bidden to an Indian wedding. How exciting! The weddings in India are renowned by the gorgeous color, joyful music and superb food. They are festivals about love, family and culture. Yet you may be glancing at your invitation and thinking: "What to wear?
Do not worry. It is an extremely frequent question. It is not so tough to figure out the Indian wedding dress code. This is a guide that will assist you in settling on the right outfit. You will experience confidence and appear good. Consider this your guide book to dressing at the numerous activities of an Indian wedding. Let us get started!
Why Understanding the Indian Wedding Dress Code?
Indian wedding is not a single party. It can be a sequence of occurrences in a span of days. Every event is associated with its mood and traditions. What you put on during a noisy and dancing party is not what you put on during a somber and a holy service. It means to say, I am glad to be here, I respect your traditions. In addition, it is very entertaining to dress up! It is important to be bright, respectful and comfortable.
The Big Three: Main Types of Indian Wedding Events
There are three events in most of big Indian weddings. Indian wedding dress code varies with each one.
1. The Sangeet or Mehndi Night: The Fun Party!
It is normally the initial large party. It is everything about music, dancing and happiness. The bride's hands and feet are typically painted with gorgeous henna.
- Mood: Energetic, colorful, and playful.
- What to Wear: This is to be viewed as an entertaining, party event. You can be more relaxed here.
- In Women: It is best to wear a bright suit of Anarkali or a trendy lehenga. A colorful salwar kameez is also something to wear. You will have plenty of mirror work and embroidery.
- In Men: Just right kurta pyjama is wonderful. Select one solid and bright or a fun coloring. A Nehru jacket on top of simple kurta also looks very smart.
- Colors are Key: Go bright! It is great to choose orange, pink, yellow, and green. Dark color, such as black, or navy blue is to be avoided.
2. The Wedding Ceremony: The Sacred Event
This is the main event. It can mostly be a religious and grave ritual. These ceremonies are quite lengthy and you will likely be sitting on the floor or a chair a moment.
- Mood: Dignified, typical, and holy.
- What to Wear: It is the time to wear your most traditional and formal outfit.
- On the part of Women: The best bet is a beautiful saree or a more formal lehenga choli. Your dressing ought to be clean and not glamorous. It is respecting the ritual.
- On Men: This is the moment of a sherwani or a bandhgala jacket. A jacket to go with a very nice, crisp kurta is also great. Colors can be usually more vivid and darker to use in the ceremony.
- The Right Colors: Maroon, deep blue, emerald green and gold are amazing. Red or white should not be worn. The bride has traditionally red. The Indian culture sometimes wears white as a mourning colour.
3. The Reception: The Grand Celebration
The everyone celebrates after the ceremony. It is a massive dinner and dance reception complete with speeches. It is glamorous and festive.
- Mood: Glamour, partying, happy.
- What to Wear: Here is your opportunity to shine. Imagine it is a super fancy gala or a prom.
- In the case of Women: It depends on a glamorous lehenga with much embroidery or a fancy cocktail saree. You are able to wear more jewelry and try out your appearance.
- In the case of Men: A Western tuxedo or suit or a sharp sherwani would be totally fine. A dark colored suit that is well tailored is adopted by many men.
- Color Palette: metallic colors, silver as well as black and gold are very popular. Deep jewel colors such as sapphire blue or royal purple can be worn as well.
You may also read this :- Men’s Wedding Attire Made Simple and Stylish
Men’s Wedding Attire Made Simple and Stylish
A Simple Guide to Indian Outfit Names
Let us decompose what these beautiful outfits are.
- A saree, also called a sari, is a long garment that is elegantly draped over the body and is usually 5 to 9 yards long. It is worn with a petticoat (underdress) and a blouse. It appears to be a complex thing and yet it is a beautiful vintage.
- Lehenga (or Lehenga Choli): It is a two or three-piece outfit. It also features a long flowing dress (the lehenga), a tight fitting top (the choli) and a long scarf (the dupatta).
- Anarkali Suit: This is a long, full dress like top and is tight at the bust and then flows outward. It is matched with tight pants (churidar), and dupatta. It is extremely comfortable and classy.
- Salwar Kameez: A kameez, or tunic top, worn with salwar pants and a dupatta. The pants fit easily and loosely.
Kurta Pyjama: A long shirt (kurta) worn with baggy pants (pyjamas). It is also stylish and comfortable for men.
Sherwani: The front of this long coat is buttoned. It is typically worn with a kurta and pajamas. It is quite regal and formal. - Nehru Jacket / Bandhgala: A jacket that fits tightly with stand-up collar. It is over a kurta to look smart and polished.
Your Indian Wedding Dress Code
Let us make this super simple. Here is a quick table to remember what to wear.
| Event | Mood | Women's Outfit | Men's Outfit | Best Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangeet | Fun, Energetic | Anarkali Suit, Colorful Lehenga | Kurta Pyjama, Nehru Jacket | Bright Pink, Orange, Yellow |
| Ceremony | Sacred, Formal | Elegant Saree, Lehenga | Sherwani, Formal Kurta | Maroon, Deep Blue, Emerald Green |
| Reception | Glam, Party | Glam Lehenga, Cocktail Saree | Sherwani, Tuxedo/Suit | Gold, Silv |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I wear a Western dress to an Indian wedding?
A: For the Sangeet or Reception, a formal, modest cocktail dress in a bright color is sometimes okay. But for the main ceremony, it is always better and more respectful to wear Indian clothes. You will also feel more part of the celebration!
Q: Is it okay to wear black if I accessorize with bright colors?
A: It is better to avoid black altogether. There are so many beautiful colors to choose from. Why risk it? Pick a jewel tone instead.
Q: Where can I buy Indian clothes if I don't have any?
A: Many great online stores ship worldwide. Websites like [Insert Example Site 1] and [Insert Example Site 2] have huge collections. You can also look for local Indian clothing stores in your city.
Q: What should children wear?
A: Children can wear smaller versions of adult outfits! Little girls look adorable in lehengas or Anarkali suits, and boys look handsome in small kurtas or sherwanis.
Q: Can I wear the same outfit to different events?
A: Absolutely! You can change your jewelry and dupatta to make the same outfit look different. A different necklace and a new hairstyle can completely change your look.
