Who doesn't love wedding season? The wedding season in India typically peaks in November and December when auspicious calendar days meet a gorgeous climate. I recently attended my cousin's wedding in India and loved the full week's worth of festivities! But, true to my core, my favorite part of the whole trip was actually the pre-wedding shopping! There is always so much to do and shop for- especially when the wedding is in the family. It's the perfect reason to dress up and have a great time.

Selecting what to wear to an Indian wedding can be a daunting task. From Anarkalis to Sarees to Lehengas- there are a plethora of options each providing their own look. While I thought about wearing a sari for a traditional and elegant look, I ultimately decided to go for a lehenga because they are much more comfortable and maintain their form through the 4-6 hour wedding ceremony. For my cousin's wedding, I opted to shop in India in-person instead of online or at a boutique in the USA because I really wanted to find something different from the lehengas I already have. As soon as I saw this Lehenga, I knew it was everything I wanted.

This lehenga design is known as Phulkari which is the traditional embroidery work of Punjab. Phulkari, meaning "flower work" is a specific type of embroidery done with silk thread on cotton fabric. Incorporating intricate pink and green flower embroidery into an orange cotton base, this lehenga is a beautiful example of phulkari style with colors that add a pop perfect for a festive atmosphere. Many lehngas usually have a contrast to them that can be in 2-3 colors; but for this outfit, the wrap-around pink dupatta (stole) complements the orange and delicate pink flowers. I decided to have a simpler plain blouse in orange to keep the focus on the heavily embroidered skirt. The small golden border adds the perfect little sparkle which I also used as my guide to wear golden jewelry to tie in the look.

A few notes when buying a Lehenga:

When looking for a lehenga it is always ideal to pick one that has only 2-3 major colors. Going above 3 can seem colorful and fun however, it can also turn into a messy affair when it comes to accessories and make up ideas. There are many options out there that can be daunting, thus I always stick to this rule when shopping for lehengas to narrow down my choices.
If the bottom skirt is heavy with embroidery or embellishments, keep your blouse and duppatta simple and stylish to keep the focus on the detailing of the skirt. The opposite can also be true: for a simple or "sober" skirt, spice it up with a more detailed blouse or duppatta.
If the lehenga has any gold, silver, rose gold work, that is usually a good way to pick your jewelry and accessory options.

General Thoughts:

There are many outfit options for an Indian Wedding. Don't forget to pick the style that's most comfortable for you. For example, while I would love to wear a sari to an Indian wedding, I find a sari hard to keep on for so long. For others, the added weight of a lehenga makes it more uncomfortable.
Lehengas come in many options and colors. Picking one that is bright is a good choice for any Indian wedding. Some weddings have color restrictions (i.e. not wearing white or black), so it is a good idea to find out if that is the case for you as a guest.
Generally younger females stay away from wearing too much red, as it is reserved for the bride.