What to Wear to a Hindu Wedding? | LadyWood Estate

Marriage is one of the most important events in an individual's life. It is coming together of two individuals, two souls and two families. In the Hindu context, the importance and sanctity of the wedding institution can be gauged from the fact that a number of rituals are performed to accomplish it.

Traditional Hindu marriages are performed with the utmost care and in accordance with ancient practices and Indian culture. A number of considerations are still taken into account before choosing a prospective match. A lot more thought goes into a Hindu wedding compared to a traditional Christian or western wedding.

With this in mind, what you wear when attending an Indian wedding as a guest or member of the wedding party should be taken seriously. If you are attending an Indian wedding for the first time, we ought to tell you that the dress code is heavily guided by traditions and customs.

Indian weddings generally are comprised of many events that take place over the course of three to five days. The wedding ceremony (or ceremonies) is only one component to the celebrations. This means the outfit that you would wear during a wedding would also depend on the ceremony that you are attending.

At the absolute minimum, the wedding party will have a traditional Indian ceremony that represents the faith of their family. In reality, there are likely to be a number of ceremonies and you will need an assortment of different outfits to wear across the days.

Ladywood is perfect for this, with a number of areas, including the bridal suite, for the wedding party to relax and change between ceremonies of the day. 

So let’s look at a number of different events that take place before an Indian wedding ceremony, to give you some guidance on what you need to wear.

Many western wedding guests are often unsure of whether they should wear a traditional Indian outfit or whether they should stick to a western dress. Ultimately, it is up to you and what you need to wear to feel comfortable and confident. However, at most Indian weddings, western guests are encouraged to wear a traditional Indian outfit.

Before we go over all the events and clothing options you’re going to have for a traditional Indian wedding, let’s address some big fashion faux pas.

The first one that applies to any wedding ceremony is you are encouraged to wear bright colours rather than blacks and whites. You can wear white and black in certain events or situations as the fashion has changed over the years but it is more traditional to wear brighter colours.

Hindu ceremony is all about celebration and colour, so you will really get into the spirit of the celebration if you are sporting colourful garments. Whether you are wearing traditional Indian clothes or not, colour is encouraged.

Red usually should also be avoided since this is the colour that the bride tends to wear. In general, if you are close with the family you should check to see what colours they are wearing. This will allow you to avoid clashing with them. For example, even wearing a saree with black in it is acceptable as long as the immediate family aren’t wearing the same.

Finally, a rookie mistake that many first-timers make at an Indian wedding is to adorn themselves with a gorgeous outfit that is bereft of any ‘Indian’ accessories. A saree or a lehenga looks incomplete if not accessorised with the right jewellery.

For your ears, pick a pair of jhumkas (traditional bell shaped earrings) or chaand balis (traditional earrings). Do not leave the neck unadorned. Even a simple gold chain with a sparkling pendant will do the trick in completing the outfit.

Last but not least, wear at least a couple of bangles on each hand for that Indian touch.

An engagement party precedes a wedding in India. The engagement is held a few months to a year before, once the couple announce they are getting married it is customary for them to get engaged as soon as possible to avoid wider society talking about them in a negative way.

If you are a female guest attending an engagement party, then this is your opportunity to flaunt your dressy semi-formal or contemporary clothing. There are no rules to dressing up to an engagement party and you certainly don’t have to wear anything overtly traditional. Quirky draped sarees, Chanderi palazzo pants with kurtis, shararas, lehenga cholis, Indian gowns - anything goes as far as the engagement is concerned.

A male guest can wear trousers and a shirt with a formal jacket or a traditional suit. As mentioned before, you can wear something more traditional with Hindu culture by sporting a kurta pyjama.

In terms of accessories, all that you need is a wristwatch and a pair of mojris to complement your outfit if you are wearing a kurta. The dupatta can be skipped during the engagement because it is something that would ideally be worn by the groom and his immediate family members.

If you belong to the family of the couple, then you definitely need to be well-dressed for the occasion since this would be the first time that you would be meeting the other family in a formal setting.

Try choosing understated and elegant styles that exude a touch of class and sophistication. Anarkalis and sarees in rich fabrics and subtle hues with minimal embroidery work well for women.

Men can wear a kurta with a well-fitted churidar and dress it up with a jacket. The mother and father of the bride and groom can set themselves apart by wearing dressier outfits and choosing heavy pieces of jewellery to accessorise their outfits.

Mehndi (also referred to as mehndi or henna) is an ancient form of body art, originating in India and across South Asia and the Middle East.

A Mehndi party is the pre-wedding celebration in Hindu and Sikh culture when the bride has the red-orange mehndi "stain" applied to her palms, back of hands, and feet. Typically held a few days before or a day before the wedding, the event often has a lounge feel, with colourful pillows. It is held before the wedding as the mehndi darkens in colour over a few days which is what the Bride will want.

Since the bride has to get an elaborate design on her hands and feet, she normally turns up for the event in a sleeveless lehenga choli or a top and skirt. You don’t want to give her competition so here are some tips as to what to wear to a henna party. Male guests normally do not have a major role to play at the Mehendi ceremony.

As a guest, you can wear a saree, a lehenga choli, an anarkali suit or even a crop top paired with a skirt.

The length of the sleeves should be in accordance with how elaborate you want your Mehendi design to be. If you asked us, we’d say, it is best to go sleeveless! If you are planning to get a design done on your feet, wear a skirt so that the outfit won’t interfere with the Mehendi.

The Haldi ceremony marks the beginning of the wedding day rituals and is one of the most important pre-wedding rituals after the Ganesh Pooja . It is held over three or five days depending on advice taken from the couples priest.

The timings always depend on the dates as everything in the Hindu calendar runs by the 9 planets – your stars, dates and times. The last Haldi is normally done on the morning of the wedding, when the bride’s mother's family place bangles on her wrist, but due to time this isn’t always feasible and is often done the night before. A paste prepared with turmeric (Haldi) and water and is rubbed onto the bride’s and groom’s skin before a ceremonial bath.

It is not an elaborate affair so you can turn up for the event in a simple outfit. Usually, the bride will wear yellow since it is the colour of turmeric, so guests may way to avoid this colour, but there is no real colour or dress code for the day.

Indian Wedding Sangeet Ceremony is one of the most awaited pre-wedding functions as it is an event full of fun and frolic. From peppy dance performances to colourful and stylish outfits, a sangeet function is full of cheer, laughter and excitement.

The bride and groom-to-be, along with their immediate and extended families usually perform choreographed dance sequences to foot tapping Bollywood numbers. There is lots of great food and free-flowing drinks to get people in the mood during the event. Take it from us, it is one event that you want to be well dressed at.

The outfits that are worn during this event are generally Bollywood inspired - ladies flaunt lehengas, sarees and anarkalis that shimmer as they sway to the beats. It is the perfect time to bring out those sizzling lehengas that are full of bling or a sequinned saree.

You can even try your hand at a structured or a pre-draped saree for the occasion since it looks elegant and will stay in place even after the heavy duty dancing you are bound to do.

Red, green, pink and maroon are popular traditional colours for the sangeet outfit. You could also attempt to break the convention with a sensuous outfit in black and gold or a shimmering saree in a pastel shade - ultimately, it all boils down to how confidently you can carry the outfit.

Remember to wear comfortable shoes or sandals since you will be standing or dancing through the night.

This is equally a chance for the men at the wedding to shine and show off, with a number of options when it comes to outfits. This is the occasion to wear something sophisticated and charismatic to complement your dancing.

An Indo-western suit with a structured jacket paired with jodhpuris is a good option for the fashion conscious. You could even wear a Kutra Pajamas, a Sherwani or fitted trousers that will let you move in style while also setting you apart from the crowd.

Those who are not as confident wearing traditional Hindu attire can wear suits or tuxedos and embrace the occasion by experimenting with colours or patterns. As mentioned before, the night is a long affair of dancing and festivities. So bring appropriate footwear. Opt for comfortable footwear that will let you dance away into the night happily!

Female relatives can wear sarees, embellished lehengas or even pre-draped saree-gowns paired with fine jewellery pieces. Since the sangeet is generally a nocturnal affair, we would suggest that you wear bright yet offbeat colours like aubergine, fuchsia and bottle green.

Kundan jewellery is a good option for the evening since it will add some bling to your ensemble. Male relatives can wear sherwanis, western suits or kurtas in fine fabrics to bring out their flamboyant style.

The wedding ceremony is the most important part of the wedding festivities, so your outfit should reflect this. Since the ceremony entails many traditional procedures and rituals, we’d recommend that you stick to traditional attire for the wedding and do not experiment too much with styles that are not tried and tested in a wedding setting.

So what can you wear? We tell you that in this section about how to dress up for an Indian wedding party.

This is where the region the wedding families are from will really come into play. Families from the north of India will wear vastly different clothing to a wedding ceremony when compared to their southern brethren. However, usually saree’s are traditional and the older generation may go for saree’s but the youngsters are most likely to wear a lengha.

If it is a North Indian wedding you would mostly find women in anarkali suits and lehengas. Floor sweeping anarkalis with all over zardosi embroidery would be a good choice if you opt for convenience and comfort over style.

Choose designs in vibrant shades with oodles of gold detailing - nothing is considered over the top during a wedding. Sarees, if worn are crafted from Benarasi silk, georgette with zardosi or thread embroidery. If you own an heirloom Benarasi silk saree or a Jamdani saree, it will be an apt choice for the occasion. Pick outfits in shades of red, green, yellow or pink which are the standard wedding colours.

In case you are attending a South Indian wedding, chances are that you may not find too many women in suits or lehengas because the saree is the outfit of choice during a wedding in that part of the country.

Men attending an Indian wedding should definitely avoid the regular trouser and formal shirt combination. The wedding is an occasion where you can show off your sartorial style and a shirt with a trouser definitely does not do justice to the scale of the event. If it is a north Indian wedding that you are attending, you could wear a kurta with some elegant embroidered details on the collar and yoke.

A silk or cotton silk kurta with a jacket exudes the right amount of richness suitable for the occasion. Finish it with a pair of churidar pyjamas and a matching dupatta for a truly traditional look.

The family of the couple should ideally wear outfits in opulent fabrics like silk and brocade. Sarees are a good choice for older women while youngsters can wear anarkali suits or lehengas to the occasion.

Remember to pick the best jewellery pieces that you own to accessorise the outfit because as family, you need to look impressive on the wedding day. Men do not have to stick to the same old kurta-pyjama. Try something new with sherwanis or jodhpuri jackets paired with slim fit trousers.

Among all the festivities in an Indian wedding, the reception is one that is not exactly guided by any rituals. It is just an informal gathering with a lavish dinner, lots of music and plenty of photo opportunities. Naturally, every single guest is dressed in their festive best for the reception.

There are no traditional guidelines to this, so continuing your outfit from the wedding ceremony is an option. If you wore a more muted outfit in respect of traditions, however this is your chance to bring out a more stylish piece.

This is also the point where a more western outfit, such as a tuxedo or dress, is more acceptable. If you feel more comfortable in these outfits but want to show respect during the traditional ceremonies, this is the time to change.

The reception is normally the last event as a part of the wedding celebrations. So remember to finish it on a high as far as your wedding fashion is concerned. At the end of a wedding ceremony, you will realise that it is a roller coaster ride with an overload of emotions, drama, music, fun and colour.

If you are interested in booking a Hindu Wedding, take a look at our page on it and get in contact.