WHAT TO WEAR

Attire

For the wedding we encourage traditional Indian attire in bright, festive colours. You don’t need to be Indian to join in — we’d love to see everyone dressed for the occasion. Below are a few of the most common options to give you some ideas.

Please avoid pure white (worn for funerals), red & gold (the bride’s colours), and jeans. The Thursday events are more relaxed.

For the women

Woman wearing a green cotton sari
Sari

A length of fabric draped elegantly around the body over a fitted blouse (choli). Timeless and endlessly versatile — if you're new to draping, the shops below can help, and many offer tutorials.

Red and gold embroidered lehenga
Lehenga

A long, often embellished skirt worn with a cropped blouse and a flowing dupatta (scarf). A celebratory, festive choice that's perfect for the wedding.

Woman in a teal Anarkali suit
Anarkali / Salwar Kameez

A long tunic (kameez) worn over fitted trousers (churidar or salwar) with a dupatta. Comfortable and graceful — a lovely option if you'd prefer not to drape a sari.

For the men

Man wearing a cream kurta
Kurta

A long tunic worn over loose or fitted trousers (the kurta pyjama). Light, comfortable and easy to wear — ideal for the more relaxed Thursday events. Known as a Panjabi in some communities.

Men wearing cream sherwanis
Sherwani

A structured, knee-length coat worn over a kurta, often with fine detailing for a more formal look. A great choice to dress up for the wedding — a Nehru jacket over a kurta works beautifully too.

Where to find it

IN CAPE TOWN

Shahzadi — Home of Indian Attire — 65 Ernest Road, Rylands. The Rylands & Athlone area is the hub for eastern wear, with several boutiques worth a browse in person.

ONLINE (SHIPS WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA)

IMAGE CREDITS: Sari (Yann, CC BY-SA 4.0); Lehenga (Iwaqarhashmi, CC BY-SA 4.0); Anarkali (Brendan, CC BY 2.0); Kurta (Fowler&fowler, public domain); Sherwani (Pk041, CC BY-SA 3.0).