Attire for a Traditional Indian Wedding

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Today's Bride

Attire is an important aspect in any bride’s wedding planning process, and an Indian Wedding is no different! Here’s what you need to know to pick out the perfect sari and help your groom adhere to tradition!

Bride’s Attire

Ceremony Lehenga

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A lehenga is traditional Indian attire worn for wedding celebrations. Unlike western wedding ceremonies, brides avoid wearing white, as it’s a symbol of mourning. Instead, they opt for a colorful sari that reflects their region of origin. Typically, shades of red are popular colors as they represent happiness and good luck to the married couple. More modern brides, though, want to stand out and have been choosing other colors like blue, tangerine, green, gold, and coral. These colorful lehengas are embroidered with intricate gold designs made from 24 karat gold thread and adorned with crystals. The bride is then draped with an extravagant head scarf and a large amount of jewelry.

Reception Lehenga

As is every bride’s dream, the Indian bride typically has two saris! After the ceremony, she’ll usually change into another lehenga. If the bride wore the traditional red lehenga for the ceremony, she may choose a different color for her reception like pinks, golds, blues, oranges, and purples. Some Indian-American brides may choose to wear a westernized wedding dress for their reception to incorporate both cultures into her wedding day.

Jewelry

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Indian brides are heavily adorned in 24 karat gold jewelry. You’ll see them wearing heavy necklaces, dozens of bangles, dangling earrings, head pieces, finger and toe rings, nose rings called nath, belts called kamarbandh, and even more! Besides making the bride look and feel gorgeous, most of the jewelry carries a special meaning. One traditional piece is an ankle bracelet, or a payal, that is meant to tinkle as the bride approaches her groom. Bangles symbolize safety and luck in their new marriage, as well as fertility and prosperity!

To learn more about Indian Wedding Traditions, check out our article in Today’s Bride Cleveland Magazine!

Henna

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Henna is a very important custom in Indian culture for a bride’s wedding day. Applied the day before the wedding ceremony, henna is a detailed and elaborate pattern of swirls and designs that symbolize joy, beauty, and spiritual awakening. Typically applied to the feet and hands, henna is an ink that dries and peels off to leave a brown stain on the skin. It is said that the darker the stain, the stronger the bond will be between the bride and her groom, as well as the bride and her mother-in-law. There is also a custom that the bride and groom’s names are written in henna somewhere on the bride and it’s the groom’s job to find them.

Groom’s Attire

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The groom typically wears a long jacket – called a Sherwani – over fitted trousers known as Churidas.  Usually they are worn in a color complimentary to the bride – gold or white are common choices. His loafers, called Mojari, are typically leather and must be removed before entering the mandap. He will also wear a traditional turban, or Safa. This is adorned with a brooch called a Kalgi which symbolizes respect. The groom wears this outfit through the ceremony and reception, though he can remove the Safa for the reception.

guest attire

Avoid

If you’re attending an Indian wedding, you should be careful to respect their traditions. Avoid wearing colors like black and white. This can be seen as disrespectful since they are common colors when attending a funeral. Because the bride typically wears a shade of red, it’s polite to avoid any of these colors, too.

An Indian wedding is a very modest and traditional ceremony. Tight-fitting or revealing dresses are frowned upon. Strapless dresses or any gowns that show your shoulders should also be avoided unless you choose to wear a shawl or sweater overtop.

Embrace

This may be the biggest party you ever attend, so embrace it! Wear dresses with bright colors or fun prints and play them up with dramatic jewelry and accessories! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes – as these celebrations can last a long time and you’re sure to dance all night long!

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What to wear to a wedding – whether you’re a bride, groom, or guest – is always difficult! With a traditional Indian wedding, following tradition and custom is important, so be sure to follow these tips when planning your attire! Visit our Pinterest Board for more Indian Wedding Inspiration.