We've all been there, right? The 'Save The Dates' come through followed by the wedding invites, and before you know it you're Googling "What do I wear to an Indian wedding?" Between event one, and event four you're lost when it comes to the dress code. (Side note, we know we have a lot of events, but it's fun and we love it!) With that challenge in mind, we thought we'd save you the trouble of weeding through search pages and walk you through the traditional wedding ceremonies you may be invited to, and how to dress so you feel at ease and look fabulous.
Indian wedding dresses are incredibly fun to wear and filled with bright colors that will make you feel like you're attending a red carpet affair. If you have more questions, we're always here to help! Just email us at hello@shopkynah.com.
The Mendhi (Henna) Party
A Mendhi is when all the women gather with the bride-to-be to get henna applied. One of our favorite events, the Mendhi is a colorful, vibrant, and vivacious event.
For this day we advise a colorful three-piece outfit often referred to as a kurta, shalwar, and dupatta, (kaftan, pants, and a scarf). We're loving the Asha Outfit as an option - the color and silhouette are perfect for henna-applying festivities.
Since traditional lehenga's might be too heavy for the occasion, another option could be to opt for the newest trend: midi-skirt. The best part is that you can break up the set and wear it over, and over, and over again. We're loving the Bette Lehenga from The Little Black Bow x KYNAH Collection. A red midi-skirt lace set that can be made in any color.
For our full list of recommendations on what to wear to a mehndi, see here.
The Sangeet
The Sangeet is pretty much the epitome of a song scene from a Bollywood film, (we kid you not). From a dance-off between the groom and brides sides to delicious food, this evening event is a fun-filled do.
From a churidaar suit, to a lehenga, the possibilities for the Sangeet are endless. Typically the guests wear bright colors, but it is completely up to you! One of our favorite ensembles is the Delilah Lengha in marigold yellow - an outfit that will move with you until the wee hours of the morning.
A little heavier option would be to opt for the Leila Lehenga, a fuchsia pink, floral embroidered skirt that comes with a twinkled blouse and tangerine ombre dupatta.
See our full list of recommendations on what to wear to a Sangeet here.
The Baraat & Ceremony
Before a traditional Hindu or Sikh wedding ceremony, there is a large and joyous procession known as a Baraat. This is when the groom and his family arrive at the wedding venue singing and dancing. Much of the ceremony is seated so if you're keen on the idea of wearing a sari, now is your chance! For the Indian wedding ceremony, we typically recommend wearing a sari, lehenga or outfit!
There is the Pricilla Sari which requires no pleats and allows you to wrap and go.
Or, if you've set your sights on something a little more traditional, may we suggest the Natalie Sari, a softer, beaded wrap-around that will still turn heads.
See all of our ceremony recommendations here.
The Reception
The Reception is not traditionally part of an Indian wedding and has recently been adopted to close out the wedding in an elegant and entertaining way. With a similar format to a western event, the Reception will have a seated dinner, speeches, and of course, more dancing. For this we say, GO ALL OUT! This event is a great opportunity to wear that beautiful outfit you've been lusting after or the look that you've been saving on Instagram. We recommend going for that sparkling lehenga you've been eyeing or gowns.
We'll admit, we definitely push the boat out for this one, and we think the off shoulder Olympia Kaftan would turn lots of heads
or the Selene Lengha would be stunning choices for this evening soiree.
