Indian weddings are known for being particularly bright and colourful affairs so it’s only right that this should be reflected in the attire of the wedding party and the guests. These wedding outfits are incredibly beautiful so this is a great chance to choose something truly spectacular, whether you are the bride, groom or a guest. We’ve put together a quick guide to help you choose your attire.
Bride
As the most important woman at the wedding, it’s the bride’s chance to choose the most sensational dress. As there are so many different traditions within Indian culture, the Bride may wear very different outfits depending on which part of India she is from. For example, Punjabi brides usually opt for lenghas, whereas a Gujarati bride is more likely to wear a saree.
These outfits tend to be particularly colourful and often feature the colour red. This colour is commonly used due to its association with life and new life in Indian culture. Other colours are often used alongside red such as gold and cream, creating a particularly luxurious look.
This bridal outfit from Sonas Couture is a great example of Indian bridal wear with its bright colours, glittering detailing and beautiful patterns.
Groom
While it’s traditional for all eyes to be on the bride, that doesn’t mean that the groom can’t find a striking outfit. While the bride is usually wearing plenty of bright colours, so too can the groom. In fact, many grooms will choose outfits which feature beautiful patterns and fabrics.
The most common outfit for Indian grooms is the sherwani, a long jacket-like item which is worn over a kurta and churidar or pajama. However, there are other options for Indian grooms, such as the kurta pajama, jodhpuri or nehru suit.
In addition to these outfits, there are sometimes additional things for grooms to wear, depending on their Indian traditions. These include the wedding turban, known as a safa, the sehra, which prevents the groom from seeing the bride before they marry, and mojari, curl-toed shoes which are usually seen in North India and Pakistan.
Guests
Just as the bride and groom wear bright colours and ornate patterns, so can the guests. In fact, many of the guests outfits are likely to be somewhat similar to what the bride and groom are wearing.
However, one important rule to take note of is that female guests should avoid wearing red as it is highly likely that this will be the colour of choice for the bride. Female guests can instead choose brightly coloured sarees, lehngas or ankarlis.
For the male guest, kurtas and sherwanis are popular choices for wedding tuxedos which can feature a whole range of colours. Again, it may be best to stay away from red as some grooms will also choose to wear red, just like the bride.
When it comes to find the perfect outfit for an Indian wedding, the most important thing is colour. So, whether you are the bride, groom or guest, make sure to choose something with bright colours and beautiful patterns, and you are sure to have an outfit that will turn heads.