Sandhya Garg — Wedding Guest Guides
What to Wear to an Indian Wedding, Event by Event
Mehndi · Haldi · Sangeet · Ceremony · Reception · 12 Dresses · XS–3XL
Quick Answer
An Indian wedding isn't one event with one dress code — it's usually three to five events across several days, each with its own colours and demands. Wear bright, saturated colour throughout: this is a celebration and standing out is welcomed, not rude. Avoid solid red, which is traditionally the bride's, and in Hindu traditions avoid white and black — though this varies by region, faith and family. And plan practically: at a mehndi your hands will be covered in henna for hours, at a haldi you'll be covered in turmeric, and at the ceremony you may be sitting on the floor.
If you've been invited to an Indian wedding and you haven't been to one before, the invitation itself can be daunting — several days, several events, names you may not recognise, and a real worry about getting something wrong at somebody's wedding.
Here's the reassuring part: Indian weddings are the most generous occasions I know. Guests are expected to be colourful, and being overdressed is close to impossible. I'm an Indian designer — Project Runway Season 13, trained at London College of Fashion — and this is the guide I'd give a friend.
Cobalt, gold and emerald — three colours that belong at any Indian wedding and none of which belong to the bride.
The Colour Rules, and How Firm They Really Are
| Colour | Where it stands |
|---|---|
| Red | Traditionally the bride's colour in most Indian traditions, so guests avoid a solid red outfit — exactly as Western guests avoid white. A print containing red is usually fine; a red dress is the one to skip. |
| White | Associated with mourning in Hindu tradition, so avoided at the ceremony. Less rigid at a modern reception, and not the same rule in Christian or some other Indian communities. |
| Black | Traditionally considered inauspicious at Hindu ceremonies. Increasingly worn at cocktail-style receptions by younger guests, but not a safe choice for the wedding itself. |
| Yellow & marigold | Auspicious and celebratory, and traditional for the haldi in particular. |
| Everything else | Welcome, and the brighter the better. Emerald, cobalt, fuchsia, marigold, saffron, deep pink, gold. Pale neutrals are the only real misstep — they read as underdressed. |
One honest caveat: India is not one culture, and these customs differ by region, religion, community and generation. A Punjabi Sikh wedding, a Tamil Hindu wedding and a Goan Catholic wedding are not the same event. If you're unsure, ask the couple or whoever invited you — nobody has ever been offended by that question, and most people are delighted you asked.
At a Western wedding you dress so as not to outshine the bride. At an Indian wedding you dress to add to the colour. Being too plain is the only real mistake.
If You'd Like to Wear Indian Dress
You're never obliged to — but many guests would like to, and hesitate for one very practical reason. A traditional saree takes fifteen to thirty minutes to drape correctly, if you know how. Most women outside India don't, and plenty of South Asian women don't either. Pleating six yards of fabric by yourself, in a hotel room, before an event you're already nervous about, is not how anyone wants to start the day.
So I made two saree-dresses. The drape is built in and stitched in place — you step into it and you're done, and it stays exactly where it should through a long ceremony and a longer reception. No pins, no pleating, no asking a stranger for help. Both are down to one dress per size.
Five Events · Twelve Dresses · XS to 3XL
Event by Event
Event One
The mehndi — and the thing nobody tells you
Henna is applied to the bride's hands and often to guests', and it's a relaxed, joyful, daytime event. Here's the practical part: once henna is on your hands, they're out of action for two to three hours while it dries and sets. You can't hold a clutch, adjust a strap, fasten anything or eat without help. So wear something that needs nothing from your hands after you put it on — no dress you have to hold up, no fiddly closures, and pockets or a crossbody rather than a clutch.
Event Two
The haldi — wear something you can afford to lose
Turmeric paste is applied to the couple, and it gets everywhere — on purpose, cheerfully, and often on the guests. Turmeric stains permanently. That's part of why yellow and marigold are traditional for this event: the stain simply disappears into the colour. Wear something bright, inexpensive enough that you won't mind, and preferably cotton so it washes well.
Event Three
The sangeet — you will be dancing
Music, choreographed performances by both families, and hours of dancing. This is the glamorous one — the event where you can go as bright and as embellished as you like. But you'll be moving all night, so choose something that moves with you: a skirt with volume, straps that stay put, and nothing you'd have to keep rearranging between songs.
Event Four
The ceremony — you may be sitting on the floor
The most formal and most traditional event, often long, sometimes several hours, and frequently held in a temple or mandap where guests sit on the floor and shoes come off at the door. That means: a hem you can sit cross-legged in, covered shoulders, and shoes you can slip off without a struggle. Modest doesn't mean dull — this is where embroidery and rich colour belong.
Event Five
The reception — the most formal of all
Evening, seated dinner, speeches and the most dressed-up event of the whole wedding. This is where a floor-length gown, hand embroidery and gold belong, and where Western-style formalwear is entirely at home alongside Indian dress.
All in XS · S · M · L · XL · XXL · XXXL where stocked · Size chart · Made to measure
Indian Wedding Guest Questions, Answered
What should a guest wear to an Indian wedding?
Bright, saturated colour and something you'd consider dressy — emerald, cobalt, fuchsia, marigold or gold, ideally with embroidery or a rich print. You do not need to wear Indian dress unless you'd like to; a formal Western dress in a celebratory colour is entirely welcome. Avoid solid red, and avoid pale neutrals, which read as underdressed.
Can I wear red to an Indian wedding?
As a guest, it's best avoided. Red is traditionally the bride's colour in most Indian traditions — the equivalent of wearing white to a Western wedding. A print that contains red among other colours is usually fine; a solid red dress is the one to leave at home.
Can I wear white or black to an Indian wedding?
Traditionally, no. In Hindu custom white is associated with mourning and black with inauspiciousness, so both are avoided at the ceremony. Both are more accepted at a modern reception, and customs differ across regions, faiths and families — if you're unsure, ask whoever invited you.
What should I wear to a mehndi?
Something bright and relaxed that needs nothing from your hands. Once henna is applied it takes two to three hours to dry and set, during which you can't hold a bag, adjust a strap or fasten anything. Choose a dress with pockets or wear a crossbody, and avoid anything fiddly.
What should I wear to a haldi ceremony?
Yellow or marigold, in something you don't mind staining. Turmeric paste gets on everyone and the stain is permanent, which is part of why yellow is traditional — the mark simply disappears into the colour. Cotton is the practical choice.
Do I have to wear a sari or lehenga as a non-Indian guest?
No. Wearing Indian dress is usually taken as a compliment if you'd like to, but a formal Western dress in a bright colour is perfectly appropriate at every event. What matters far more is turning up in colour rather than in beige. If you would like to wear a saree without learning to drape one, our saree dresses have the drape stitched in — you step into them.
What should I wear to the ceremony itself?
Covered shoulders, a hem you can sit cross-legged in, and shoes that slip off easily — guests often sit on the floor and remove shoes at the door of a temple or mandap. A midi or maxi with sleeves, or a jacket over a sleeveless dress, covers all three.
Do these come in plus sizes?
Yes. Most styles run XS to XXXL, graded individually rather than scaled up, and made to measure is available, including length.
Several Events, Several Outfits
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About the Writer
Sandhya Garg is an Indian fashion designer and Project Runway Season 13 alumna who won two challenges on the show and presented her collection at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. She studied womenswear and textile design at London College of Fashion and worked at Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Liberty London, and Alice Temperley. Her label works with artisan partners in India on hand embroidery and heritage textiles — featured in Marie Claire, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Vogue online, in sizes XS–3XL.
Project Runway · Vogue · Marie Claire · XS–3XL
Turn up in colour.
Sandhya Garg is a Los Angeles boutique creating limited-edition artisanal dresses in original hand-drawn prints, hand embroidery and heritage textiles. Sizes XS–3XL, shipped from Scottsdale within 1–3 days.
Congratulations on your success on “Project Runway”!!! Sanohya, your creations are magnificent…just like you are!!!🌺🌿🌺🌿🌺🌿🌺🌿🌺🌿🌺🌿. Love, Joy🌺
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