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Updated Dec 06, 202313 Vibrant Indian Wedding Dresses to Inspire Your Own Look
Plus, expert tips on how to style an outfit you love.
Indian wedding dresses are known for their vibrant colors, intricate patterns and ornate beading. With rich history inspiring the design, finding a traditional Indian wedding dress that represents your style and culture is of utmost importance. If you're planning your own Indian or fusion wedding, you might need inspiration to get you started with your gown search.
To help make your dress shopping experience as seamless as possible, we've tapped one of the industry's most well-known designers to explain everything you need to know about Indian wedding dresses. Whether you're in the market for a lehenga and saree set or you need some style inspiration, we break down all there is to know about the cultural significance of different outfit pieces, where to buy them online, and how to accessorize your look so it fits your personality. Plus, we've rounded up our favorite Indian wedding dresses from real brides for maximum inspiration.
In this article:
- The Tradition Behind Indian Wedding Dresses
- Where to Buy Indian Wedding Dresses
- How to Accessorize Indian Wedding Dresses
- Our Favorite Real Indian Wedding Dresses
The Tradition Behind Indian Wedding Dresses
Indian wedding dresses vary in color, design and shape—and it's for this reason that traditional looks vary across cultures. "There is no such thing as a standard traditional Indian wedding outfit, and that is the beauty in India's diversity," says designer Anita Dongre. "Every one of the thousands of cultures that make up our national identity has a different set of customs and rituals and different pieces to make up a bridal look."
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There are, however, commonly named elements of Indian wedding dresses that you'll want to familiarize yourself with before you shop. "The wedding look is broadly broken down into an outfit with corresponding pieces like sarees, lehenga, shararas, salwar suits and jewelry," Dongre explains. "Some cultures have a 'nath' (a large nose ring) and maang tikka (a piece of jewelry for the forehead), while others have bejeweled armbands and waistbands."
While your wedding day look is completely up to you, your culture can provide guidance on which ethnic pieces to pair together. "Every culture has its own story to tell and that's the beauty of India's rich and diverse cultural traditions," she says. "The one constant piece across Hindu traditions is the Mangalsutra in the north and Thaali in the south. It's a simple neck piece that the groom gifts his bride as a mark of marriage."
Cultural traditions may dictate the pieces you wear on your wedding day, but certain color palettes are similar for Indian brides throughout the world. "A lot of Indian brides wear red," Dongre shares. "In some cases, it's the whole outfit and in some others, it's the border or accessory. Red symbolizes the rising sun and is thus seen as the color of prosperity and fertility."
This hue is often seen in traditional Indian weddings for the good luck it's believed to bring—but red isn't your only color option. You can modernize your look by incorporating neutral tones or unexpected color pairings to make your bridal look feel more personal. "More and more Indian brides, however, are taking cues from nature and moving towards happy, breezy colors, especially in the summer," Dongre says. "You'll see lots of lime greens, corals, warm sunshine yellows, bright oranges and whites."
Something to keep in mind while dress shopping is practicality. "A mistake brides can make is not thinking about the weather when they're putting their look together," Dongre advises. "Whether this is with hair and makeup or the lehenga, discuss the location and weather and make practical choices. This is the best thing you can do to make sure you're having a great time and glowing through the function."
Another thing to remember is that your outfit should be a reflection of your personality—not anyone else's. "It's so important to remember that you wear the outfit—the outfit should never wear you," she adds. "I constantly tell brides that they shouldn't look at pictures from their wedding and feel like they're looking at a stranger. You can do that by making meticulous choices in each piece you wear from the lehenga to your shoes."
Where to Buy Indian Wedding Dresses
When you're ready to shop for Indian wedding dresses, start by gathering inspiration for your vision. "Given that each Indian family has its own cultures, most women look to their mothers and aunts for inspiration," Dongre says. "Another good place for inspiration is Pinterest. In the past, women would scrapbook their inspirations. This is a digital extension of that idea." You can also pull inspiration from Bollywood films and actresses, designer Instagram pages and real wedding photo albums.
Once you're ready to shop, start researching Indian wedding dress designers. Tools like Google and The Knot Marketplace can help you source local boutiques or stores for an in-person shopping experience—however, many designers have adapted their services for digital shopping as well. "Our teams speak to the bride in detail to understand what she wants once a bridal order is made," Dongre says of her brand.
Keep in mind, though, that some in-person contact is necessary to bring the look together. "We always encourage brides to come into one of the stores for a final fitting. So much of the experience has to do with the fact that we make sure what clients see online is exactly the outfit they have access to. We aim to transfer the experience of a store to the virtual world."
How to Accessorize Indian Wedding Dresses
One of the best ways to make your Indian wedding dress reflect your personal style is to accessorize thoughtfully. "Pick one hero piece and build the rest of your pieces around that," Dongre suggests. "If you're wearing large earrings, allow that to shine through without having to compete for attention with a neck piece or even your outfit."
To keep consistency among your jewels, pick a color palette to work around. "A rule of thumb I suggest is to stick to one metal in an entire ensemble," she adds. "I don't typically recommend pairing yellow metals with white. If you want to wear colored stones, pick a color from your outfit to highlight or contrast your jewelry against."
Another factor to consider is the style of your accessories. If you're itching to experiment with trends (but don't want to fully commit to it for your wedding look), incorporate them into party wear for additional wedding events. "Pick your most elaborate outfit for the wedding and reception and choose easier pieces for the sangeet, haldi and cocktail events," Dongre suggests. "Tulle skirts, printed lehengas, gowns and jackets are great choices for the prewedding events while sarees and intricately detailed lehengas and shararas are great for the wedding and reception functions."
Our Favorite Real Indian Wedding Dresses
So, now you know how to find and style your bridal look. For even more inspiration, we've rounded up our favorite real wedding photos of Indian wedding dresses. Browse these images to see how brides made their dresses uniquely their own with bold color palettes, modern silhouettes and extravagant jewels.
Vibrant red and shimmering gold are two of the most common colors to pair together in an Indian bridal look. This traditional lehenga features elegant gold details throughout, which is complemented by red and gold bangles, a gold necklace and statement earrings. The bride's cascading fishtail braid gives this ensemble a hint of modernity.
Pops of red accent this gold embellished lehenga, which the bride accented with statement necklace and gold and red earrings. Her sheer gold veil also features red beading and embroidery to match the gown, bringing the entire look together.
This bride's elegant long sleeve A-line wedding dress is covered in delicate embellishments, which enhance the off-white shade. Subtle pops of green jewelry add depth to her glamorous bridal look.
Indian wedding dresses don't always have to be extravagant to make a statement. This bride opted for a simple gold lehenga, which was paired with a matching saree. The outfit features delicate beading to add a subtle shimmer, which is enhanced with a sparkling necklace and a gold bangle.
You can experiment with color if that's fit to your style. Instead of wearing red, this bride opted for a bright pink lehenga with a matching saree. Both pieces are adorned with gold beading and jewels, while pink and gold bangles bring the ensemble together.
If you're thinking of wearing a lehenga choli (a short crop top), take inspiration from this bride. Her ivory top features a sheer neckline overlay, and the crystal embellishments match those on her bright red skirt. Ornate beading on her sheer red veil corresponds with her jewelry, including her red and diamond bangles that have hanging beads for an extra pop of sparkle.
Even with a stunning backdrop, it's hard to look away from this bride's wedding dress. The ivory bridal lehenga features boho floral embroidery, while her sheer saree drapes from her shoulders to the back of her hair to bring the look together. For those who want to incorporate color without committing to a bright base shade, this look perfectly marries vibrant hues with neutral tones.
Bright colors aren't needed to make a statement—take this bride's outfit for proof. Her captivating bridal look stands out for the intricate beading throughout, which makes every neutral shade pop. Plus, with a bold necklace that complements her earrings and veil, each element comes together to create one unforgettable look.
Don't forget that the back of your Indian wedding dress can be just as stunning as the front. The bride's sheer red veil showcases the back of the bridal lehenga, which features bold cutouts, gold beading and elegant embroidery.
Perhaps you're looking for reception dress inspiration. This bride traded a traditional lehenga for a simple white dress with floral embroidery on the bodice and skirt. The simple pattern brings bohemian flair to the look, while the embroidery on top is reminiscent of traditional Indian wedding dress style.
Indian wedding dresses with 1920s vibes? Yes, please. This bride's flapper-esque lehenga includes a cream top with sheer sleeves and minimal beading on the neckline, while her skirt has an art-deco pattern that's reminiscent of the Jazz Age. A pearl-and-crystal headpiece ties the entire vintage look together.
While lehengas often include loose, full skirts, this design shows that you can customize your look with any silhouette you love. This bride opted for a fitted, mermaid-inspired skirt to pair with her cropped top. The white fabric is adorned with silver beading, while the lace veil adds an elegant touch to this lehenga-inspired outfit.
If you can't get enough of the millennial pink color palette, you'll adore this elegant look. The bride's light pink reception dress has ombre beading that transitions from pale peach to deep maroon, making this an ideal option for brides who can't pick just one color to work with. The same design is mimicked on her saree, while small tassels down her back and along the bodice add vibrant dimension.
Go bold with a fuschia Indian wedding dress like this bride. When paired together, gold and fuschia deliver the wow factor that some hope to emulate. The shimmering pattern pairs perfectly with the bride's gold jewelry, while her chunky fuschia bangles finish off her bright look.
