Did you just receive your first invitation to a South Indian wedding? Are you nervous about what to wear, what to bring, customs and traditions that you should be aware of? I’ve got you! I’m detailing everything that I researched and learnt from my friend. This way you can have an amazing time without feeling lost or out of place. I attended my first South Indian wedding in Chennai last November and I was prepping for months. I was looking into fabrics, accessories, customs etc. to ensure that I was more than prepared for that week. As this event is still fresh in my mind, I’m going to include some of my personal experiences and observations.
Weddings are a universal celebration of love, but a South Indian wedding is a tapestry of vibrant customs, intricate rituals, rich culture, elaborate ceremonies and history. With amazing foods, breathtaking florals, beautiful colours and incredible music, you are going to have a good time. No two Indian weddings are alike. They are all rich in their own customs but the family may have their own unique and symbolic approach.
Regardless if the wedding that you are attending is in India or the diaspora, start prepping as early as possible. I created a Pinterest board of outfits, accessories and blog posts to help me visualise the events. In sum, as a Nigerian, this was the most diverse wedding guest experience that I got ready for. If the opportunity came up again, I would do it in a heartbeat.
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How Long Is A South Indian Wedding?
A South Indian wedding is a long celebration and can last anywhere from three days to a full week, depending on the ceremonies. There are pre-wedding rituals that lead up to the main wedding event, so if you have received an invitation, make sure that you are wearing comfortable and flat shoes. Once you receive your “Save the week” flyer, make sure you note down the events which you have been invited to. Some guests are invited to all of the events whereas other guests may be invited to a couple or the main events.
South Indian weddings tend to take place early in the morning and this is symbolic to prosperous new beginnings and positivity for the bride and groom. Try to go to sleep as early as you can especially for the pre-wedding rituals. For the wedding that I attended, there were three to four back-to-back events with short windows in between them. I used the opportunity to take short power naps in between and then got ready for the next event.
What Colours Are Acceptable To Wear As A Guest?
In general, Indian weddings are vibrant in colour. However, there are three colours that you should avoid completely when attending a wedding. As in a majority of cultures, black is a no-go as this is traditionally linked to mourning and bad luck. White is another colour to avoid as it also signifies mourning, funerals and bad luck in many Indian communities. You may hear that white can be accepted, if the clothing is embellished. However, as a wedding guest, I recommend avoiding it completely. Red is often the bride’s colour and something that she would wear during the wedding events. You don’t want to outshine the bride. Place that colour on your non-acceptable list too.
South Indian weddings are joyous events, bright and rich colours are encouraged. This is the opportunity to wear a variety of colours, so feel free to pop out and show out. Personally, I’m a colourful babe and I wear colour all the time. It doesn’t matter what season it is where I live, there will always be a pop of colour on me. For my friend’s wedding, I wore a range of colours from blue all the way to yellow on the colour wheel. If a myriad of colours is something that you don’t usually wear, do it for the wedding. It is going to add to the atmosphere and vibe of the wedding. Have fun, engage in the events and take it all in.
It is best to dress conservatively and appropriately for a South Indian wedding. Avoid anything that has a low-cut neckline and is above the knees. If the couple ask you to wear something traditional, then you want to wear traditional Indian attire. Double check with the couple before buying anything or look at the wardrobe guide, if you received one.
Where Can I Buy Indian Wedding Clothing?
As Indian weddings are extremely popular in the diaspora, there are so many places both online and offline to buy traditional Indian attire. Whether you are linked to the bride or the groom, they may provide you with websites to buy the clothing. As the wedding I attended was in India, we were provided with online stores based in India such as Westside, Biba India, Fab India and Koskii.
However, I wanted to romanticise this whole experience. I used these websites as a reference along with my Pinterest board and decided to go into the stores themselves. Most of my Indian attire was bought while I was travelling in Canada. If you have big Indian communities in the country in which you live or neighbouring countries, there is most likely a Little India neighbourhood or street nearby. In a Little India, you are going to find a variety of shops, restaurants and cultural attractions. I suggest finding stores that have the pricing labelled on the clothing as some places may overcharge you.
If you live in or near London in the UK, Southall and Wembley have their own Little India communities. When I was in Toronto, I went to Gerrard Street East to do all my shopping. It is a very long street with several stores to choose from. You can also go to Brampton as they have a couple of stores there. In Switzerland, I haven’t personally been into the stores but I have heard that Interlaken is the closest area to a Little India in the country. There are so many Little India neighbourhoods around the world so hopefully you can find something near you.
Renting South Indian Wedding Attire
Sometimes you don’t want to buy Indian wedding attire especially if you know that you may not have the opportunity to wear it again. Luckily, there are sites where you can rent affordable options and sell Indian attire. This is something that I plan to do with the outfits that I bought with the rental site, ByRotation. All Borrow, Borrow The Bazaar, and Glamour Rental are other alternatives.
Do I Need Multiple Outfits or Can I Mix and Match?
If you are invited to multiple events, you will need one outfit per event. From what I observed at the wedding, everyone was wearing a different outfit every event. If you choose to wear a saree or a sharara (flared pants) multiple times, you can mix and match them with other clothing and change up the accessories for a new look. As some events such as the meet and greet dinner and the main wedding event are big events, you want to have two completely different outfits for those events. From what I was told from my friend and my Indian family member, it is recommended to have one outfit per event. Moreover, no repeat outfits on consecutive days. You wouldn’t do it at a regular wedding or a regular day.
Will I Be Able To Understand What Is Happening?
In some cases, yes you will be able to understand but in most cases, no. That’s the beauty of attending a South Indian wedding. There are so many family members both on the bride’s and the groom’s side that are willing to explain what is going on during the ceremonies. I was constantly asking the bride’s cousins and friends and the groom’s sister about the significance of certain rituals and customs i.e. the swing ceremony. If anything, they are honoured that you want to learn more about their culture. Feel free to talk to the other guests and ask them.
What Should I Bring As A Gift To A South Indian Wedding?
If you are looking to gift something meaningful as a wedding gift, gift something that is going to help them in the beginnings of their marriage and their new journey together. I like to gift practical and sustainable that they can use multiple times. Here are some recommendations:
- Personalised artwork to decorate their home.
- Customised decor such as cushion covers or towels embroidered with their names and/or initials.
- Cookware or special utensils related to the culture.
- Immersive experience gifts such as a cooking class or a private pottery class.
- Tech gadgets to upgrade their lifestyle.
In most cases, a card or a cash gift will do if you can’t think of another gift. When it comes to cash gifts, don’t gift them a rounded number such as $100 or a hard number such as $76 and $25. This is considered as bad luck. You always want to add $1 to the rounded number as a sign of good luck. For example, $101 or £201.
Miscellaneous Things To Know
Here are some miscellaneous things to know to elevate your ultimate guest experience at a South Indian wedding.
- When it comes to accessories, aim to buy Indian jewellery, bags and shoes to go with your Indian attire. It really elevates your entire look.
- If you choose to go to a store for your clothes, it’s important to specify that you are attending a Hindu wedding.
- Pack as many safety pins as possible especially if you are wearing a saree.
- If you choose to wear a saree, there will be someone to assist you with the draping.
- For the big events, you want to wear your most glamourous and stunning outfits.
- Carry a portable fan with you at all times as it can be quite humid in and out of the wedding venue.
- Steam and lay out your clothes the night before. With a South Indian wedding taking place in the mornings, you don’t want to rush.
- For the Mehendi, wear a 3/4 length sleeve as long sleeves can be inconvenient.
- If you want your henna to last for the week, don’t get the area wet for at least 18 to 24 hours.
- If the henna is on your hands, have plastic gloves and cotton pads on deck to take off your makeup.
- Popular styles of clothing include lehengas, sarees, sharara sets, salwar sets and kurta suits.
- If you are travelling to India for the wedding, bring the official invitation with you as you may need it for immigration.
Final Thoughts
Overall, have fun! I was replaying the entire experience in my head for weeks. It was such an amazing and rich opportunity to participate in a wedding from a different culture. I feel like I had an immersive guest experience because I made sure to engage in every aspect of the wedding. The families of the bride and groom will also encourage you to do the same. Get out of your comfort zone and don’t take this experience for granted.
Happy New Year confident people! I hope that you are having a great start to 2026 and enjoyed the holiday season. I am back with something enjoyable for you on this first Sunday. What are some of your tips for attending a South Indian wedding? Let me know in the comments below. I hope that this upcoming year is filled with joy and amazing opportunities for all of you. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to join the community and never miss out on a post. Find me on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok for more powerlifting and wellness content.
Until next time,
Folakemi
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