A Gujarati wedding is a two- to four-day sequence of rituals, each with its own mood, timing and unspoken dress code. Guests from outside the community often show up in the wrong weight of outfit – a heavy lehenga for a morning ceremony, or a plain kurta for the garba night. This guide walks through every major function, what happens in it, and exactly what to wear for each, for women and men.
Gujarati Wedding Functions at a Glance
| Function | When | Dress Code |
|---|---|---|
| Chandlo Matli / Gol Dhana | Weeks before | Traditional, medium |
| Mandap Muhurat & Ganesh Sthapana | 1–2 days before | Simple, auspicious colours |
| Pithi (Haldi) | Day before | Yellow, washable |
| Mehendi | Day before | Green, pastel |
| Sangeet / Garba night | Night before | Chaniya choli, festive kurta |
| Jaan (Baraat) & Ponkhvu | Wedding day | Silk, traditional |
| Pheras & Saptapadi | Wedding day (often morning) | Silk saree / kurta-sherwani |
| Reception | Wedding evening or next day | Glamorous |
1. Chandlo Matli & Gol Dhana (Engagement)
What happens: The bride's family visits the groom's home with a chandlo (tilak) and gifts; Gol Dhana is the engagement, where jaggery and coriander seeds are shared and the couple exchanges rings.
Women: a silk saree with a traditional border – Bandhani or Uppada silk are classic Gujarati choices. Men: a silk kurta set or a light kurta-sherwani.
Pick: Cream Uppada Silk Saree with Woven Lace Border.
2. Mandap Muhurat & Ganesh Sthapana
What happens: A puja at each home to invoke Ganesha and mark the start of the wedding. It is intimate and mostly family.
Women: a comfortable silk or handloom saree in an auspicious colour – red, yellow, green. Men: a simple cotton or rayon kurta in off-white or a soft colour.
Pick: Green Silk Handloom Saree; Off-White Embroidery Kurta Set.
3. Pithi (Haldi)
What happens: Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom by relatives, with plenty of singing and colour on everyone.
Women: yellow or mustard, in a fabric you can wash – modal cotton or handloom. Men: a yellow rayon kurta set.
Pick: Yellow Uppada Silk Saree; Men's Yellow Rayon Kurta Set.
4. Mehendi
What happens: Henna for the bride and the women of both families, usually on the afternoon before the wedding.
Women: green or pastel, sleeveless or short-sleeved blouses so the henna does not smudge. Men: olive, pista or sky blue kurta.
Pick: Sage Green Silk Saree; Olive Green Kurta Set.
5. Sangeet & Garba Night
What happens: The signature Gujarati function – garba and dandiya for hours. The whole family dances, not just the young ones.
Women: a chaniya choli or a flared lehenga you can twirl in; Bandhani sarees pre-draped and pinned also work. Men: a kediyu-style or embroidered kurta, or an indo-western if it is a mixed sangeet-garba night.
Pick: Traditional Banarasi Silk Lehenga Choli; Cherry Red Embroidery Kurta Set.
6. Jaan (Baraat), Ponkhvu & the Nose-Pulling
What happens: The groom arrives with the jaan; the bride's mother welcomes him with aarti (ponkhvu) and playfully tries to pull his nose – a reminder to stay humble. The groom then breaks earthen pots with his foot.
Groom: silk sherwani or kurta-sherwani set with a safa. Groom's side men: silk kurta sets or kurta-sherwani in a coordinated colour. Women: silk sarees with zari, jewellery in gold.
Pick: Green Kurta Sherwani Set.
7. Pheras, Saptapadi & Kanyadaan
What happens: The core ceremony – Gujarati weddings often take four pheras (not seven), followed by the saptapadi (seven steps). Many Gujarati weddings are held in the morning or early afternoon.
Bride: traditionally a red or white-and-red panetar saree (from her family) and a gharchola (from the groom's family) – Bandhani with zari checks. Women guests: silk sarees in rich colours – avoid red-and-white to leave it for the bride. Men: kurta-sherwani, silk kurta or a bandhgala.
Pick: Maroon Silk Saree with Mustard Blouse; Royal Blue Silk Kurta Sherwani Set.
8. Vidaai & Reception
What happens: The bride leaves her home (vidaai), and the groom's family hosts a reception, sometimes the same evening, sometimes the next day.
Women: tissue or crepe sarees, or a lighter lehenga – the reception is where you can be glamorous. Men: a suit or an indo-western.
Pick: Pink Tissue Saree with Zardosi Work; Maroon Double Breasted Designer Suit.
Gujarati Wedding Colour Etiquette
- Red-and-white and Bandhani gharchola patterns are bridal – guests choose other colours for the pheras.
- Black is avoided at the ceremony; fine for the reception.
- Yellow for pithi, green for mehendi, bright colours for garba.
- Morning weddings call for lighter fabrics and colours than evening ones.
Packing List for a 3-Day Gujarati Wedding
- Women: 1 washable saree (pithi), 1 pastel saree (mehendi), 1 chaniya choli or lehenga (garba), 1 heavy silk saree (pheras), 1 tissue or crepe saree (reception). Five outfits, or four if you repeat the lehenga at the reception.
- Men: 1 yellow kurta set, 1 pastel kurta set, 1 embroidered kurta or indo-western (garba), 1 kurta-sherwani (pheras), 1 suit (reception).
FAQs
What should a non-Gujarati guest wear to a Gujarati wedding? A silk saree or lehenga for the ceremony, something twirl-friendly for garba, and a light outfit for pithi. Follow the colour etiquette above and you will fit right in.
Is a lehenga okay for the pheras? Yes for guests, especially for evening weddings; sarees are more common for morning ceremonies.
Do men need a safa? Only the groom and close family typically wear one; other men can go without.
Shop Gujarati wedding wear at VJV Now: Bandhani, Uppada and silk sarees, lehengas for garba night and kurta-sherwani sets and suits.
