It’s crazy that in many cultures people can only choose ONE outfit for their wedding. They will be seen in all their wedding pictures in the same colors, hair, make-up, jewelry, everything! Lucky for you…you’re a Indian bride! It’s great to be able to wear different outfits to your multiple wedding occasions, however you have to be slightly strategic about your style for each event. Shopping for Indian Wedding Clothes
Most families prefer to travel to India, Pakistan, or wherever they’re from to get their wedding outfits. This si a great idea because you have a wider selection, lower prices, and custom tailoring. Even if you don’t have the time or ability to travel abroad for shopping, the Indian wedding clothes shopping advice is the same. Always go shopping with at least one other person whose opinion you value so that they can give you input on how you look from the outside.
Try on EVERYTHING! You will get tired of taking these heavy outfits on and off and wrapping saris, etc., but you have to try on anything you remotely like. Don’t buy anything the first time you see it. Take a camera with you to take pictures of everything you try on. Go home, look through the pictures and go back to the shops for the outfits that you really like. Also, have fun trying on the plethora of clothes, colors, and styles!
Indian Mendhi Party Outfit
The mendhi (or henna) party is celebrated many different ways depending mostly on family traditions. In Gujrati culture, traditionally just women participate in the Mendhi party and all get together for dinner, laughter, and mostly to get their mendhi done by a professional artist. In Punjabi culture, traditionally the groom’s side and bride’s side have separate mendhi parties, but both men and women are invited to both. Men in Punjabi culture also get mendhi done as small keri (mango) designs on their hand, back of their neck, or head.
As the bride, you will most likely be the first to get your mendhi done, it often takes 3-5 hours depending on the artist and how intricate your design is. So, outfit-wise, this definitely means you need to wear something super comfortable and not anything too itchy with embroidery all over it. Usually the bride will wear a fancy Punjabi or pant-suit for her own mendhi party.
Bright colors are a big at the mendhi party and pictures turn out beautifully when you wear bright colros to contrast your dark mendhi. Another thing to keep in mind with your outfit is that if you plan on leaving your mendhi on overnight, you may want to wear something with a zipper back so that it’s easier to change before you go to bed.