What to Wear to an Indian Wedding as an International Guest?

Are you excited to witness the most colourful, vibrant, eloquent and dramatic Big Indian Wedding bash? Raise the bar quite literally at hip and happening Punjabi wedding or rip that shirt apart during Haldi at a Sindhi wedding, devour the Dhoklas and Dhodas at glamourous Gujju wedding or just dance insanely on the floor, beach, scenic scapes at a Marwari destination wedding, whatever the excuse be, you cannot miss the Indian weddings.

Congratulations if you’re invited to the most enchanting Indian wedding this season, as a foreign guest invitee, we have got you covered with some of the quintessential fashion hacks to stay away from the unsolicited attention and blend in with the Desi Parivaar.

1. Keep a stock for multiple events

Because it’s not just “Kiss the bride and feast”, we have an array of rituals and ceremonies to follow before the D-Day arrives. Starting from the Ganesh Puja to Sagan, Haldi followed by Mehndi and finally the holy wedding day, this is the ideal series of events practised by most of the ethnic groups, however, don’t be surprised if a cocktail party and reception follows suit. So, you got to invest in ethnic clothing for each of the function.

2. Invest in traditional Indian garb

Embracing the culture and tradition at Indian weddings will keep you at ease and let you enjoy freely. In order to know what to wear to an Indian wedding, you must choose a classic Indian ethnic ensemble. For bridesmaids, the options are endless, you may choose from a plethora of dresses like Anarkali suits, sarees, Indo-fusion attires, lehengas and much more. Groomsmen may choose to wear kurta, sherwani, formal suit etc. to suit the occasion. However, it is recommended to not overdo instead keep it simple.

3. Steer Clear of Revealing Clothing

Traditional Indian clothing covers the shoulders, legs and sometimes the arms too, hence, it is advisable to wear and purchase garments that cover up entirely. Deep cuts with revealing cleavage, body-hugging clothes are considered malicious in the eyes of the Indian society. It’s best to cover up your shoulders, arms, legs and sometimes head during the rituals to show respect and stay grounded to the culture.

4. Add some colour

Unlike the western clothing that restricts the splash of colour and design, Indian wear allows freedom to experiment and add drama with a burst of colour, spunky design, embroidery and fancy visual aesthetic to complement the wearer. White and black are seen as inauspicious colours, so choose anything vibrant and bright to add some pep to your look. Just like a rainbow endows surreal seven shades, pick one and grace the occasion fashionably.

5. Accessorising is the Key

In case you are not having enough ethnic couture or last-minute planning is trouble, dress up pretty in jewellery and body adornments. Women may accessorise in pretty Bindis, bangles, earrings, necklaces and gorgeous hair accessories to further enhance their natural charm. A Bindi can elevate ethnic look instantly and when paired with a western or an Indo-fusion outfit, it accentuates the simplicity in a subtle way. A Bindi will act as an icing on the cake.

Now, let’s take a detailed look of what should foreign invitees wear to an Indian wedding, one event at a time.

What to Wear on the Engagement Ceremony?

For Bridesmaids

We all see a bunch of happy-go-lucky peppy bridesmaids twirling and swaying to their own beats or assisting the bride and her family with the preparations. For engagement or sagan ceremony, bridesmaid can choose to wear an elegant Indo-fusion lehenga choli sans dupatta or a fancy Anarkali gown for an ethnic and western blend. Make sure you wear your dancing shoes because the engagement ceremony is incomplete without hitting the dance floor and shaking a leg to some Punjabi music. Keep your makeup minimal and let your jewellery speak for yourself.

For Groomsmen

You must be hanging around with fellow boys, checking out girls slyly and partying with the bridegroom. Keep that bottle of whiskey on a side and slip in dapper shirt and tailored trousers to strike that flattering first impression, ahem ahem. Go for smart business casuals and wear your best moccasins with a statement watch for a perfect luxe element. Go and sprinkle your magic on the dance floor.

What to wear for Haldi?

For Bridesmaids

During the Haldi ceremony, brace yourselves, ladies, because a lot of turmeric paste is sprinkled and splattered on the bride and bridegroom. Essentially, it turns out to be a turmeric party where everyone plays around and drowns in yellow fever. So, we recommend you wear something that blends in the colour of the theme “yellow” or “mustard”. You may choose a pretty twirl-worthy Anarkali suit or quirky palazzo pants and crop top fusion ensemble to do the trick. A simple Salwar Kameez will also fit the bill and so will a coordinate or separates combo for a contemporary and modern look.

For Groomsmen

What a groomsman should wear at an Indian Haldi ceremony is something that will keep him comfortable, breathable and casual chic. A pair of trousers or denim paired with a free-movement kurta is a perfect pair to flaunt. If you want to experiment, go for a dhoti and team it up with a long kurta for an uber-stylish Haldi look.

What to wear for Mehndi?

For Bridesmaid

Opt for a gorgeous and jazzy long kurta with signature embroidery and thread work to exude the Desi girl in you. Drape a pretty saree for the occasion and shake them Thumkas on the Punjabi songs to have some fun with hand tattoos and girlfriends. Experiment a little with cape Anarkali suits or contemporary fusion wear to add your statement style. If your dress is too heavy, go light on makeup and jewellery and vice-versa.

For Groomsmen

A simple kurta-pyjama with a colourful jacket will work wonders. However, you can also wear a fancy silk kurta with subtle embroidery to add some Indian-drama and blend in effortlessly like your Indian friends.

What to wear for the Wedding?

For Bridesmaid

Keep yourself hands-free and stay comfortable in your attire because Indian weddings are quite tiresome and involve an entire day of running around. As a bridesmaid, you must look your best and steal the spotlight in a designer lehenga choli, or lehenga with a smart shirt for a fusion look, silk saree, salwar suit with intricate handwoven embroidery. Go OTT with beautiful Jhumkas, choker necklace and let your jewellery make an outstanding statement. Messy side buns, fish braids, half up-do’s add surreal grace and charm.

For Groomsmen

Image Courtesy: Priyanka Chopra's Official Instagram Account

Lift your look phenomenally in a rich and dapper suit or go all desi boy in a typical Indian sherwani with a Dupatta. Groomsmen also wear a traditional Indian Pagri or the surd that is considered to be auspicious and regarded highly, this will add yet another native charm to your look. For a day-wedding, don’t think twice about keeping your sunglasses handy and strike a stylish chivalrous charm.

From dancing to feasting, dressing up and gaping, Indian weddings are a roller coaster ride for days. You will go back with a ton of memories, experiences and a lifetime of happy moments to cherish on. Take a break from your work and regular life and taste the magical culture that will leave you spellbound, we promise.

Invest in the gorgeous ethnic couture and tell us your favourite piece of Indian clothing and why in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.