# Your first Indian wedding: a guide for guests from abroad

Source: https://www.marryloom.com/guides/indian-wedding-guest-guide

Publisher: MarryLoom (https://www.marryloom.com)

Updated: 2026-11-05

By MarryLoom Planning Team. Published 24 September 2026.

**In short:** An Indian wedding is usually several events over two or three days, and each has its own dress code. Wear bright colours rather than white or black, and cover shoulders and knees at religious ceremonies. If food comes on a leaf, eat with your right hand. Join the dancing. Money or a registry gift is the usual present.

## What happens at an Indian wedding?

Most Indian weddings are a series of events rather than a single day. A typical weekend might include a welcome dinner, a mehndi afternoon for henna, a sangeet night of music and dance, the wedding ceremony and a reception. The couple will tell you which ones you’re invited to.

## What should I wear?

- **Colour is welcome.** Jewel tones, pastels and prints all work well.
- **Avoid white and black** for the ceremony in many communities, because white can be associated with mourning. Kerala weddings are the exception, and cream and gold are traditional there.
- **Cover shoulders and knees** at temple, church or mosque ceremonies, and carry a scarf.
- **Try Indian clothes if you like.** A sari, a lehenga (long skirt and blouse) or a salwar suit for women, or a kurta or mundu (a cloth wrapped at the waist) for men, will be appreciated, but nobody expects it. We can arrange fittings when you arrive.
- **Wear comfortable shoes** you can slip off, as some ceremonies are barefoot.

## How do I join in?

- **Mehndi:** ask for a small henna design. It lasts a week or two.
- **Sangeet:** someone may teach you a short dance, and everyone is welcome on the floor.
- **Ceremony:** follow the family’s lead. You’ll probably stand and sit a few times, and you may throw flower petals.

## What about the food?

Expect a lot of it. In Kerala, the sadya, the traditional wedding feast, is served on a banana leaf and eaten with the right hand. If you’d rather use cutlery, just ask. Many dishes are vegetarian. Tell your hosts about any allergies in advance, and our team labels every counter.

## What gift should I bring?

Cash in an envelope is common, traditionally an amount ending in 1, such as 101 or 501. So is a gift from the couple’s registry. Avoid anything made of leather for a Hindu couple. And don’t feel you have to spend more than you’re comfortable with.

## Practical things

- **Visa:** most visitors need one, and many nationalities can apply online for an e-Visa.
- **Money:** cards work in hotels, but carry some rupees for markets and tips.
- **Health:** drink bottled or filtered water, and use insect repellent in the evenings.

## Questions

### Can I wear white to an Indian wedding?

In many communities it’s best avoided, because white can be associated with mourning. Kerala is different. Cream and gold are the traditional wedding colours there.

### How long is an Indian wedding?

Usually two or three days of events. The ceremony itself can take anything between half an hour and several hours, depending on the tradition.

### Do guests have to eat with their hands?

No. At a Kerala sadya many guests eat with their right hand, but you can ask for cutlery.