Indian Groomsmen Outfits — and Dressing the Wedding Party
Coordinating a wedding party is the difference between photos that look intentional and photos that look like a uniform. Here’s how to do it — how far ahead to start, how to handle a group with different sizes and budgets, and the three approaches that actually photograph well. If some of the party have never been to an Indian wedding before, send them our guide to a first Indian wedding — the events in order, and what happens at each.
- Start 2–3 months out if the party is more than four people.
- Pick a palette, not an outfit. Same color family, different silhouettes.
- Let people choose their own cut. Sizes and comfort levels vary; the color ties it together.
- Send us photos or swatches and we’ll match across the group.
- DM us to start — group orders are easier over Instagram than email. Or fill in the bridesmaid outfit order form or the groomsmen order form and we will come back to you with everything confirmed.
What do Indian groomsmen wear?
Most groomsmen at an Indian wedding wear a kurta pajama, usually with a Nehru vest over it. That is the standard, and it is what we put most parties in. It photographs well as a group, it suits every body type in a way a fitted sherwani does not, and it stays comfortable through a long day.
The groom is the one in the sherwani. Groomsmen who match him too closely flatten the photographs — the point is that the party frames him rather than blending into him.
- Kurta pajama in one color across the party. The simplest approach and the hardest to get wrong.
- Kurta with a vest. One level dressier. Either the vest carries the color and the kurta stays quiet, or the other way round.
- Mixed cuts, one palette. A mix of kurtas and Nehru jackets in one color family reads better than six identical sherwanis where two do not fit properly.
- Save the sherwani for the groom, and for brothers if the family wants them a step above the rest.
What Indian groomsmen outfits cost
Made to measure through our groomsmen order form:
- Kurta pajama — $100 to $110 each
- Nehru vest — $100 each
- Color picked from a card of 294 threads, so the whole party matches exactly
- About three months from order to collection, 50% down to start
A party of six in kurta pajama and vests lands around $1,200 to $1,260 for the group. If the wedding is sooner than three months, come into the store instead — we keep men's sizes on the floor and we have dressed whole parties off the rail in an afternoon. The men's guide covers what each piece actually is if any of the party are new to this.
Three ways to coordinate
1. Tonal
Everyone in the same color family at different depths — pale mint, sage, deep emerald. The easiest to pull off and the most forgiving when someone’s fabric arrives slightly off.
2. Neutral
Champagne, ivory, dusty rose, silver, taupe. Photographs beautifully, never competes with the bride, and works across a wide range of skin tones and body types.
3. Contrast
Two strong colors set against each other — marigold with maroon, teal with gold. Bold, and it works best when the couple wears a third color so the party frames rather than blends into them.
The rule that matters most
Coordinate the palette. Don’t mandate the silhouette.
A group of six women will not all feel good in the same cut. One wants a sari, one has never worn one and would rather have a sharara, one is pregnant, one wants sleeves. If they’re all in the same color family, the photos look cohesive and everyone is comfortable — which shows.
Same for the men: a mix of kurtas and Nehru jackets in one palette reads better than six identical sherwanis where two don’t fit properly.
Timing
- 2–3 months out: pick the palette and have the bride or a point person come in first to see colors in person. Screens lie about color.
- 6–8 weeks out: get everyone fitted. Out-of-towners can send measurements, but in-person is always better.
- 3–4 weeks out: final fittings and any alterations.
- Custom orders from India need longer — start 4–6 months out if that’s the plan. Made to measure through our order forms runs about three months, with 50% down to start. If the wedding is sooner than that, come into the store instead. We keep stock on the floor and we have dressed whole parties off the rail in an afternoon.
Practical things people forget
- Budget honestly, early. Ask the group what they’re comfortable spending before you fall in love with a palette. Nobody enjoys being the person who says it’s too much.
- Different events, different outfits. If the party is in the mehndi, the sangeet, the ceremony and the reception, that’s multiple outfits per person. Plan the budget across all of them.
- Think about the venue. Outdoor summer sangeet? Keep it light. Winter indoor reception? Something with more weight and a little sheen photographs richly.
- Consider movement. If there’s a choreographed dance, everyone needs to be able to move. Shararas and lighter lehengas over heavy bridal-weight skirts.
- Order a spare dupatta or two. Someone always spills.
How we help with group orders
Send us a photo of the bride’s outfit or a color swatch and we’ll pull matches across the floor. If your party is spread across cities, one person can come in, pick the palette, and we can guide the rest by photo.
We’ve done this for parties of four and parties of twenty. The main thing is starting early enough that nobody’s scrambling the week before. If you already know the color and the head count, the bridesmaid outfit order form is the quickest way to start — a pre-draped sari or a pant suit, made to measure, $150 to $200 each. The groomsmen order form covers kurta pajama at $100 to $110 and a vest at $100. Both put the whole party in one color, picked from a card of 294 threads, and every line is confirmed with you before anything is cut.
Walk-ins welcome, but for a full party DM us first so we can set aside time and floor space. Free parking in the rear lot. 18507 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA. Tue–Sun, until 6:45 PM. Closed Mondays.
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