Indian Wedding: What to Wear?!

1.1 Hindu Wedding

Hindu weddings are considered to be very elaborate with a lot of rituals. Visitors frequently dress traditionally, with ladies donning saris or lenghas and men donning long-sleeved tunics and slacks. Bold, vivid colors are strongly welcomed, but make careful to avoid red, black, and white (which are linked with death and funerals and the color the bride wears). Remember that ladies should cover their shoulders, legs, and perhaps their arms if you choose a more modern alternative.

Scroll down to know about different types of Hindu weddings and the clothing that is appropriate for weddings.

1.2 Punjabi Wedding

If you’re a guest at a Punjabi wedding you can wear salwar kameez, Punjabi suit, or lehenga. Men typically layer up with a coat, jacket, or vest over kurta pajamas and sherwanis. The turban is not a must for all the guests. Punjabi weddings are not very conservative and they value style. (If you know, you know)

1.3 Gujarati Wedding

Keep in mind that you must wear traditional attire if you are a guest at a Gujarati wedding. You can dress in a bandhani saree, a Rajkot patola saree, or a straightforward lehenga-choli. Oh wait, you can also jazz it up with antique jewelry as well. Men can dress in sherwani or dhoti pajamas with a dupatta. 

1.4 Marwari Wedding

If you're a guest, all you have to do is wear a lehenga or a ghagra choli. Some Marwari weddings are conservative hence you’ll have to wear a dupatta that covers your face. It is preferred that not too much of your body is revealed. Men can wear kurta pajamas or a sherwani. 

1.5 Bengali Wedding

The silk maroon kurta and cream-colored dhoti set the ideal mood for a bengali wedding. Women guests wear traditional saree, lehenga, ghagra, or even an Anarkali suit. The colors can be ranging from sober colors like cream, and pastel blue to vibrant colors like magenta etc.  The male guests can wear kurta pajamas or sherwanis.

1.6 South Indian Wedding

If you’re a guest at a South-Indian wedding, you need to revamp your look in a very elegant yet festive way. Preferred clothing for female guests are sarees that are of bright colors like yellow, green, orange, maroon, etc. Light color clothing is mostly not preferred and white sarees for a south-Indian wedding are considered inauspicious. Men usually wear white dhoti also known as panche with a plain shirt or sometimes nothing but a white towel known as ‘shalya.’ 

1.7 Maharashtrian Wedding

Guests usually deck up with a nauvari saree and a matching blouse usually of vibrant colors. Men wear a dhoti or kurta with trousers or pajamas. 

1.8 Oriya Wedding

 
In an Oriya wedding, women usually wear bomkai, sambalpuri, or matha silk sarees. Whereas, men wear a dhoti and a cotton shirt or a kurta and trousers (usually white in color).

1.9 Bihari Wedding

 
Any Bihari wedding requires a banarasi saree as a dress. Except for sarees, you can wear a ghagra choli, lehenga, or an anarkali suit.  Men can attend lavish sherwanis with a straightforward kurta and pants.

1.10 Muslim Wedding

 
Among the most popular outfits for Muslim marriages are classic sub-continental gowns or simple long frocks. They are really handy and pleasant to wear. Saree is another excellent option. It is available in a variety of hues, and it will always have a unique appearance. Other than this, shararas and ghararas are amazing options. Men can dress in sherwanis, which are long tops that resemble coats. In a Muslim wedding, wearing colors like green, blue, or orange will make you stand out. The bride often wears a heavily pleated lehenga in vibrant color—typically in tones of red—along with a long top that is embroidered in gold on the day of the Nikah ceremony. So, it is preferred that you don’t wear something in the colors red and gold. 

1.11 Christian Wedding 

 
Get ready to bring out your best dresses and formal suits if you’re attending a Christian wedding in India. Except for the color white, women can wear any color dress (Why? Duh the bride is going to wear it! Don’t steal her thunder). However, there are some traditional Christian weddings where you are supposed to wear a saree and not too much skin should be seen. (Again, no white sarees!)

1.12 Parsi Wedding

Parsi weddings are elaborate and have a lot of interesting rituals. So, you might want to wear something comfortable yet grand. As a guest attending a Parsi wedding, you should wear blooming hues of blue, red, and white. Men wear small caps to cover their heads during the wedding. It might not be mandatory for guests, however, it might be different from one Parsi wedding to another. Men can wear a white robe called dugli and match it with trousers. Women can wear sarees or grand Anarkali suits.

If you made it untill here, thank you!

While you’re on our website, take a look at our Indian apparel and get ready to attend an Indian wedding! 

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Want help on all the different types of Indian clothing? Read along here! 
Want to learn why renting Indian clothing is a better option than buying? Then read here!
Want to learn more about all the different Indian wedding ceremonies? Learn here!

article written by Sharvani Kashyap