Outfit Guide
Wondering what to wear for the trip? Here’s everything you need to know.
While traveling around India, follow the general guidelines below so you feel comfortable during your travels.
For our wedding, wear what feels right to you! Indian or Western.
Some events may suggest color schemes for inspiration (e.g., reds and oranges), but they are not a rule.
One small request: please avoid wearing plain black or white outfits to the wedding.
But first some definitions…
What is a lehenga, sari, salwar kameez or kurti/kurta?
Women’s Clothing
Lehenga: A flared skirt with a blouse and scarf, worn for celebrations.
Sari: A long 7-9 yard piece of fabric draped over a blouse and petticoat—can be formal or casual. You can also find pre-draped ones that wear more like a lehenga.
Salwar Kameez: A tunic/dress with pants and a scarf. Typically purchased in sets. There are different kinds like anarkali, & gharara.
Kurti: A shorter tunic, often paired with leggings, linen pants, or jeans for everyday wear. Very easy to find locally in any city market or even corner store.
Men’s Clothing
Kurta: A long tunic. Can be worn with traditional bottoms or jeans/linen pants for more casual wear.
Kurta Pajama: A kurta paired with loose trousers. Comes in a set, can purchase a scarf and/or jacket to pair with it for more formal occasions.
Anything formal we’d encourage to purchase before hand so you can get it tailored to fit correctly. Anything casual for touring around the country (like a kurti for women) can easily be bought in India. Brand/website recommendations below.
General - While traveling around the country
For Women: Avoid shorts, spaghetti straps, showing midriff, and tight clothing. Loose cotton or linen tops, pants, and maxi dresses/skirts are ideal. If wearing leggings, pair with a baggy top. In crowded areas (like the Taj Mahal), a kurta & pants is a modest, local option — easy to find for ~$10.
Swimwear: Women - Wear full-coverage one-piece suits. Swim only at nicer hotels or resorts (like the Pune hotel block or wedding resort or a nice beach resort in Goa). For men, swim trunks are fine.
For Men: Pants with a t-shirt or polo are an easy go-to.
Shoes: Sandals, sneakers and flip flops.
Local Style Tips: Weather is ~70–80°F & sunny in most of middle & northern India. In cities like Pune and Mumbai, shorts and tanks are fine around hotels and modern neighborhoods. Avoid revealing outfits in city centers or crowded areas. These guidelines work for most situations, aside from fancy dinners, which may require dressier attire.
Wedding
Plan for warm & sunny weather. Prior to each event at Malhar Machi, we will have drapers available to help with your scarf or sari. Avoid plain black or white.
Welcome Dinner: Casual - wear what you’d wear out to dinner on a Saturday night. Casual saris or salwar kameez, sundresses, dark jeans or trousers and a blouse or polo. No recommended color schemes.
Mehndi & Sangeet: Cocktail/Formal. Mehndi colors - reds, oranges. Midi length dresses, blouse and trousers, lehengas, salwaar kameez, saris for women & button down shirts & chinos (no tie necessary, short sleeves welcome), & kurtas for men. Think linens, silks & chiffons. We recommend short sleeves since mehndi is drawn on your hands! There will also be dancing at the sangeet, so wear something you’d be comfortable dancing in.
Wedding Ceremony: Formal. Midi length dresses, blouse and trousers, lehengas, salwaar kameez, saris for women & button down shirts & chinos (ties or no ties are ok), linen suits & kurtas for men. Think linens, silks & chiffons. Bright colors.
Reception: Formal. You’re welcome to keep on your daytime outfit, or change into something a little more formal like a suit, a maxi dress, or a more bedazzled kurta, lehenga, sari or salwaar kameez. Men can also add a jacket over their kurta to formalize their outfit.
Shoes: Sandals, heels, & loafers are an option. All events are entirely outside in lawns & gardens, stillettos are not recommended.
Mehndi & Sangeet inspo


























Ceremony & Reception Inspo




























Shopping Recommendations
There are several department store style websites that you can purchase many different brands from, but the second hand market is also great on Depop, Poshmark, or Facebook Marketplace often containing items that folks have worn once to an Indian wedding and are ready to sell. Often you can search some of the brands linked below on Depop or Poshmark (e.g. Lashkaraa lehenga). Etsy also has some made to order options. Make sure you check the size guides before purchasing, Indian clothing often has no stretch and fits snug.