A North Indian wedding rarely begins with the wedding. It begins two days earlier, with a haldi in the morning, a mehendi in the afternoon and a sangeet at night. Three functions, three different moods, often in the same house. Many men who come to us before a wedding ask one thing: do I really need three kurtas?
The honest answer is two or three, depending on the family. Here is what each function asks of your clothes, and a simple way to pack for all of them.
The haldi: morning, bright and messy
The haldi is about turmeric, marigolds and affection, and the paste will find your kurta. So the kurta for it should be bright, easy to move in and ready to be stained. Yellow is the classic, because the paste disappears into it. A stripe, check or print hides a mark better than a plain surface. The Golden Marigold Self-Stripe and the Mustard Geometric Print, both ₹1,900, are the two we show first. If you are in the groom's close family and want something more dressed, the Pale Yellow Butter-Gold Loop-Button, ₹3,999, is soft in daylight. See the haldi kurta collection for more.
The mehendi: afternoon, soft and seated
The mehendi is slower. People sit on cushions, hands are busy with henna, and the light is soft. This is the time for pastels, pinks, peaches and greens, in easy fits. The Coral Pink Self-Stripe, ₹1,900, and the Sage Green Floral Printed, ₹2,485, suit the afternoon well. For a closer relative, the Rose Pink Woven-Trim, ₹3,999, with a churidar, steps up without becoming heavy.
The sangeet: night, rich and made for dancing
The sangeet is the party. Deeper colours, work that catches the light and a fit you can dance in. The Deep Maroon Scroll-Panel, the Emerald Gold Brocade Loop-Button and the Teal Dobby-Dot Loop-Button, all ₹3,999, are made for it. Test the fit by raising both arms and taking a few steps of the dance before you order. For more, see the mehendi and sangeet collection.
A packing plan for two or three functions
If you want to buy three kurtas, buy a bright one for the haldi, a soft one for the mehendi and a rich one for the sangeet. If you want to buy two, pair the haldi and mehendi with one mid-tone, such as a deep rose or a sage, and keep one rich piece for the sangeet. If you want to buy one, choose a mid-tone with some work and change the pajama colour and the accessories between functions. Keep the pajama white or off-white for all three so you only pack one colour.
Check the theme before you buy
Many families now give each function a theme colour: yellow for the haldi, green or pastel for the mehendi, a jewel tone for the sangeet. Ask the host before you buy. If there is no theme, keep to the mood of the function and avoid showing up in black or white at the haldi.
Shoes and the small things
Wear old chappals to the haldi and juttis to the mehendi and sangeet. Leave good watches at home for the haldi. Our guides to which shoes go with a kurta and how to accessorise a kurta help with the rest. If you are dressing the groom's side, see the groom's brother's outfit for every function and our groom's family collection.
Sizes and ordering for the whole family
Online sizes run 38 to 44, and every product page lists the real chest, length, shoulder and sleeve. Both our shops also carry plus sizes up to 6XL and kurtas for boys and babies, coming online soon. If a whole family is dressing for the same three functions, message us on WhatsApp with the dates and sizes and we will help match the set.
Questions we hear at the counter
What should men wear to a haldi?
Something bright and easy in yellow, mustard or marigold, ideally in a stripe, check or print that hides turmeric.
What should men wear to a mehendi?
A light kurta in a soft colour such as peach, coral, pink or sage, in an easy fit for sitting a long time.
What should men wear to a sangeet?
A richer kurta in a deeper colour with some work, in a fit you can dance in.
Do I need a different kurta for each function?
It helps, but two can be enough. Choose a mid-tone for the day functions and a rich piece for the sangeet.
Can I wear white to a haldi?
You can, but expect it to be stained yellow. A print or an off-white is a safer choice.
Also see: yellow kurtas and pink kurtas.