Often, guests are excited about the idea of dressing up in the vibrant colors and beautiful patterns Desi clothes offer. While guests should feel comfortable wearing whatever they want to wear, we recommend that the bride and groom offer guidance on the dress code for each event and where wedding guests might be able to find reasonably priced outfit options without having to travel very far. We've included a list of clothing brands that sell great Indian and Pakistani outfits at the end, but you will also find some of the best shops for South Asian bridal wear on The Desi Bride. 

What should I wear to an Indian wedding as a guest?

For women, while embroidered sarees are beautiful, they can require assistance on wearing and are not as comfortable, especially for a first-time saree wearer. We recommend going with a lehenga or kurta / Punjabi suit that is easy to put on and comfortable to wear and dance in. While heavy embroidery and can-can can look appealing, the weight of the lehenga can take a toll if you are wearing the outfit for a couple of hours and dancing the night away. For men, pairing a heavy kurta or a light sherwani with jeans or Desi pajamas does the trick. We recommend going with lighter-weight clothes that still look gorgeous.

Are there any colors that are a no go for Indian weddings?

Traditionally, families preferred no white (worn at funerals) or black (historically a “dark” color), but these days, a lot of families and couples are open to all colors. While your wedding guests may not wear black to the wedding reception, it's quite common for the guests to wear black to a modern Indian wedding reception. We recommend letting your guests know whether or not you have a color preference.

What should I wear to the Indian wedding haldi, sangeet, wedding, and reception?

You may choose to vary your dress code by season and wedding destination.

• Haldi / Pithi / Mayo and Mehndi: Kurtas or Western Casual (jeans / shorts / summer dresses)
• Wedding / Reception: Desi or Western Formal
  • Women: Sari, Lehenga or Chanyacholi, Anarkali or Punjabi
  • Men: Sherwani or a Kurta

Can I rent Indian wedding clothes?

Yes! There are multiple companies that rent luxury wedding lehengas, designer sarees, and other outfits. We encourage you to share these brands with your guests especially if they are only going to wear the outfit once. Check out Preserve and LUKH for Indian wedding rentals.

Where can your wedding guests purchase Indian clothes?

While most large cities have stores you can visit, we also recommend several credible online options as your guests may be coming from all over.

• LUKH: Rent your Indofusion wedding outfit
• Desi Is Me: Find your fun or flirty bridesmaids outfits
• MOR Collections: Purchase a mix and match outfit that you can wear again with other pieces
• Harleen Kaur: Find a variety of fun, bold options from a Punjabi American designer
• Amazon: Find a variety of options from third party sellers
• Ethnovogue: Traditional outfits with a modern twist with made to fit options
• House of Indya: Ethno-fusion line that toes the line between Ethnic and Western designs
• Kalki Fashion: House of designer and couture brands
• Manyavar Mohey: Celebration wear for men with options for women as well
• Saffron Lane Co: Indo Western kurtas for men
• Utsav Fashion: One stop shop for with a large variety of authentic and trendy ethnic fashion

Need help with planning your dream Indian wedding in Dallas, Houston or Austin?

Use The Desi Bride Wedding Venue Concierge to find your luxury wedding venue

Find top Indian wedding hair & makeup artists in Dallas here

Find top Indian wedding hair / makeup artists in Houston here

Find top Indian wedding hair and makeup artists in Austin here

Fly in luxury celebrity Indian bridal hair and makeup artists for Texas Desi weddings from this list

Find top Indian wedding photographers in Dallas here

Find top Indian wedding photographers in Houston here

Find top Indian wedding photographers in Austin here

Fly in luxury celebrity Indian photographers for Texas Desi weddings from this list

Find other Indian wedding vendors for Texas South Asian weddings on The Desi Bride