What should I wear to come shopping?

Something easy to change in and out of — leggings, a fitted top, athleisure. You will likely try on several things, and it makes the visit much quicker. Flat shoes you can slip off help too, especially if you are trying saris. One heads-up on colour: Indian celebrations run brighter than most Western dress codes, so come open to emerald, magenta, mustard and gold rather than navy and black.

What do I wear as a non-Indian guest to an Indian wedding or event?

Choose a modest, colorful outfit — a sari, lehenga, salwar kameez, sharara, or gharara. For weddings, avoid white and black (mourning colors) and avoid red unless you are the bride. For Diwali or garba, brighter and bolder is welcome. Come in, tell us the event, and you are out the door in 20 minutes.

Do you carry red bridal lehengas?

Not many. Traditional bridal red, maroon and burgundy is not what we stock deeply. What we do have: bridal lehengas in plum, emerald, navy, ivory and gold, and sarees in red with unstitched blouses you can have made to any shape you want.

What's a reasonable budget for a wedding-guest outfit?

Most guests spend $150 to $250 on a complete outfit — sarees, salwar kameez and lehengas all sit in that range, with the simpler pieces at the lower end. Individually: sarees from $150, salwar kameez from $100, lehengas from $200. Kids outfits are $50 to $125. No pressure, no upselling.

How long does a fitting take?

Many customers walk out in 20 minutes, brides included. You come in with a problem, we solve it that day. We are an efficient in-and-out store, not a two-hour bridal appointment atelier. Made-to-measure wedding party orders are the exception — those are placed online and take about three months.

Do you carry kids' and menswear?

Yes to both. Kids outfits for boys and girls run $50 to $125, with most between $50 and $75. Menswear: kurta pajamas $75 to $125, sherwanis from $250, jodhpuri suits and Indo-western outfits $250 to $350, vests from $100, bridal stoles around $100, and shoes $75 to $100.

Can I buy just a dupatta, blouse, petticoat, or accessory on its own?

Yes — we sell almost everything a la carte. Petticoats are $15, sari falls are $3, and turban cloth (pagri) is about $3.50 a yard. We also sell dupattas, skirts, blouses ready to wear in a range of sizes, fabric for tailoring, artificial jewelry, bangles, tikkas, and other accessories. Come in whether you need a whole outfit or just one missing piece.

Where are you located and when are you open?

18507 Pioneer Boulevard, Artesia, California 90701 — in Little India. Free rear-lot parking. Open Tuesday through Sunday until 6:45 PM. Closed Mondays.

Do you ship or offer virtual fittings?

For everyday shopping we are an in-person store — the point of visiting is trying things on, and you can DM us on Instagram beforehand so we set options aside. Wedding parties are different: bridesmaid and groomsmen outfits are made to measure and ordered online through our order forms, with about three months of lead time.

How much do mens Indian outfits cost?

Kurta pajamas are $75 to $125. Sherwanis start at $250. Jodhpuri suits and Indo-western outfits are $250 to $350. Vests start at $100, bridal stoles are around $100, and mens shoes are $75 to $100. Come in and try things on — most men are dressed in about 20 minutes.

Can you dress my whole bridal party — bridesmaids and groomsmen?

Yes. Bridesmaids choose a pre-draped sari or a pant suit, $150 to $200 each. Groomsmen get a kurta pajama with a vest, or just the vest. Everything is made to measure in one colour picked from our 294-thread card, so the whole party matches. You order online through our wedding party order forms and we confirm every line with you before anything is made.

How far ahead do I need to order bridesmaid and groomsmen outfits?

About three months. These are made to order and come from our supplier in India, so we will not promise a wedding date we cannot hit. If your date is closer than that, come into the store — we carry saris, lehengas and menswear in stock and have dressed whole parties off the floor in an afternoon.

Gifting at an Indian Wedding — How Much, and Why It Ends in 1

September 12, 2026

Cash is the default gift at an Indian wedding, and the amount matters less than the ending digit. Here’s what to give, how much, when to hand it over, and the few things worth avoiding — so you can stop second-guessing and enjoy the party.

The 30-second version:

Cash is standard and always welcome.
End the amount in 1 — $51, $101, $151, $251. The extra dollar is the point.
Put it in an envelope or shagun card, not loose.
Skip: alcohol, leather, anything black, and knives.
Not sure? $101 per person is a safe, gracious default.

Why the extra dollar

Round numbers are considered incomplete — an ending. Adding one rupee, one dollar, one unit makes the number auspicious: it can’t be evenly divided, so it symbolizes continuity and growth. It’s called shagun.

So: $51, $101, $151, $251, $501. Never $50 or $100 flat. This single detail signals that you understood the tradition, and families notice it.

How much shagun to give

There’s no fixed rule, and nobody is auditing you. Rough guidance based on closeness:

Coworker or acquaintance: $51–$101
Friend: $101–$251
Close friend or extended family: $251–$501
Immediate family: varies enormously — often gold, jewelry, or a significant cash gift

Attending as a couple? Combine into one envelope. Bringing kids? No adjustment needed. If this is your first Indian wedding, here is what happens at each event, including where the envelope actually changes hands.

If you want a single safe number: $101 per person. Gracious, correct, done.

How to give it

Use a shagun envelope — the decorative money envelopes sold at any Indian store, often with a real coin attached. A plain card works too.
Write your name on it. The couple will be opening dozens; help them thank you.
There’s usually a box or a table at the reception entrance. If not, hand it to a parent or sibling of the couple, not to the couple mid-ceremony.
Crisp bills are traditional but nobody will inspect them.

Traditional Indian wedding gifts

Cash is the default, but physical gifts are welcome — especially from close friends and family. The classics:

Gold coins or small gold items — the traditional close-family gift.
Silver — small silver items are considered auspicious.
Sweets or dry fruits in a nice box — traditional and always appropriate.
Something for the home — the couple is usually setting one up.
A dupatta, shawl, or fabric for the couple’s mothers. Genuinely lovely and often overlooked.

What to avoid

Alcohol — many families don’t drink, and at a Muslim wedding it would be a real misstep.
Leather — cows are sacred in Hindu tradition; leather goods can offend.
Black items or black wrapping — inauspicious for celebrations.
Knives or anything sharp — symbolizes severing a relationship.
Amounts ending in zero. See above.

Gift etiquette by ceremony

Hindu wedding: Cash in a shagun envelope is the standard. Give it at the reception, not mid-ceremony.
Sikh wedding: Cash gifts are welcome too — hand over the envelope at the reception rather than during the Anand Karaj ceremony itself.
Muslim wedding: Cash in a nice envelope is always safe. Skip alcohol entirely — at a Muslim wedding it would be a real misstep.

When in doubt, the envelope works everywhere.

A note on gifting clothing

Giving an outfit — a sari for the bride’s mother, a dupatta for a sister, fabric for a family member — is one of the warmest gifts in Indian culture, and it’s common between families. If you want to do this and aren’t sure what to pick, come in and tell us who it’s for. We do this constantly and we’ll keep you well inside the customs.

Walk-ins welcome. Free parking in the rear lot. 18507 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA. Tue–Sun, until 6:45 PM. Closed Mondays.

Book a visit DM us on Instagram

Frequently asked questions

How much money do you give at an Indian wedding?

$101 per person is the safe, gracious default. Closer to the couple? $151–$251. Always end the amount in 1 — never a round number.

What is shagun?

The tradition of ending a cash gift in 1 ($51, $101, $251). Round numbers are considered incomplete — an ending. The extra 1 symbolizes continuity and growth, and families notice when you get it right.

Do you give gifts at a Sikh wedding?

Yes — cash in an envelope, same as a Hindu wedding. Give it at the reception, not during the Anand Karaj ceremony.

Can I give a physical gift instead of cash?

Yes, especially if you're close to the family. Gold, silver, sweets or dry fruits, home goods, or a dupatta or shawl for the couple's mothers are all traditional.

What should I avoid giving at an Indian wedding?

Alcohol, leather goods, anything black, knives or sharp objects, and amounts ending in zero.

Where do I put the gift envelope?

There's usually a box or table at the reception entrance. If not, hand it to a parent or sibling of the couple — not to the couple mid-ceremony. Write your name on it.

Related guides

Come try it on in Artesia

Everything here is on the rack at 18507 Pioneer Blvd. Walk in any day except Monday — or book a time and we will have options pulled and waiting for you.

Book a visit

Back to blog