Pictures of Indian Wedding Dresses

About Indian Wedding Dresses

There are three basic types of traditional Indian wedding dresses:

• Sari: This is the most familiar type of Indian garb and consists of a cloth wrapped around the body and pinned or tucked into intricate folds.
• Gaghra Choli: This type of outfit includes a long, flowing skirt and a short blouse as well as a scarf draped across the chest.
• Shalar Chameez: This outfit consists of a long, heavily decorated tunic worn over coordinating pants.

Dress Details

Regardless of the specific style of attire an Indian bride chooses, her outfit will likely be very ornate with heavy beading, embroidery, linings, and intricate patterns. This is because a wedding day is a woman’s day to shine, and elaborate decorations demonstrate what a jewel and a treasure she is. Very expensive Indian wedding dresses may even include jewels sewn onto the fabric or threads of real gold and silver woven into the material.

Unlike American weddings, white is not a popular color for Indian wedding dresses because it is often considered a color of mourning. Instead, many Indian brides opt for red gowns that symbolize good luck and happiness. Other bright, festive colors are also acceptable and are accented with contrasting threads and beads. Fabrics are usually shiny to reflect light and accentuate the opulence of the attire, making silk, satin, and chiffon popular choices.

Indian Wedding Accessories

An Indian bride is not complete in just an ornamented gown, no matter how heavily decorated it may be. An Indian woman’s bridal jewelry frequently includes multiple rings, bangle bracelets, layered necklaces, and rich earrings to further accentuate her beauty and wealth. Many times, these jewelry pieces are family heirlooms that will be worn by many brides for luck and symbolism.

One of an Indian bride’s most familiar adornments is the henna decorations that are inked onto her hands before her wedding. These artistic patterns are highly symbolic and rich in history and cultural heritage. Some brides also have henna patterns added to their feet, ankles, wrists, and arms for even more detail.

Pictures of Indian Wedding Dresses

These pictures of Indian wedding dresses can give brides-to-be ideas for their own attire; click on each picture for more wedding-related information. For more information about Indian weddings, be sure to read these additional articles: Indian Wedding Aisle Runners, Indian Wedding Attire for Men, and Indian Wedding Dresses 101.

Red Formal Gown	Henna Hand Detail	Green Formal Gown
Teal Casual Dress	Blue Formal Gown	Pink Dress Detail
Burgundy and Blue Gown	Dress Hem Detail	Teal and Blue Embroidery