Groom Wear for Weddings

Groom Wear — Buy Sherwani, Jodhpuri and Wedding Outfits for Men Online

The groom's outfit is the only piece of menswear in an Indian wedding that is looked at closely, for hours, from every angle, and photographed more than anything else in the room. That changes what matters about it: fit and structure carry far more weight than embroidery, and the mistakes are almost always in the tailoring rather than the choice.

What should a groom wear?

For the wedding ceremony itself, a sherwani — a long structured coat over a kurta and churidar, usually in ivory, gold, maroon or deep jewel tones. For the reception, a jodhpuri or bandhgala suit, or a tuxedo if the evening is western-formal. For sangeet, indo-western — draped kurtas, asymmetric jackets, and lighter fabrics you can actually move in. For mehndi and haldi, a simple cotton kurta you do not mind ruining.

When should a groom start shopping?

Three months before the wedding, minimum. A sherwani takes two to three fittings to sit correctly through the shoulder and chest, and the first fitting almost always reveals something. Leaving it to the last month means accepting whatever fits off the rack. Weight changes in the final weeks are common and are the other reason to leave alteration time.

What colour should a groom wear?

Ivory and cream are the traditional and most photographed choice, and they pair with almost any bridal red. Gold and champagne read richer under stage lighting. Maroon, wine and deep green are increasingly common and work particularly well when the bride is in a lighter lehenga. Black is a reception colour rather than a ceremony one in most Hindu weddings. The practical rule is that the groom's outfit should complement the bride's without matching it exactly — matching reads as costume in photographs.

Sherwani versus jodhpuri versus indo-western

A sherwani is the most formal and the heaviest; it is correct for the ceremony and uncomfortable for a long evening. A jodhpuri is shorter, cut like a suit, and the most versatile — it can be worn again with trousers, which a sherwani cannot. Indo-western is the lightest and most contemporary and belongs to sangeet and cocktail nights. Most grooms need two of the three, and the second is usually the jodhpuri because it survives beyond the wedding.

What accessories does a groom need?

A safa or pagri, tied on the day by someone who knows how. A dupatta or stole draped over one shoulder for the ceremony. A brooch or kalgi at the turban. Mojaris that have been worn in for at least a few hours before the day, because new mojaris and a four-hour ceremony do not mix. A pocket square and a watch for the reception. Keep the jewellery to two pieces at most — the outfit is already doing the work.

How should a sherwani fit?

The shoulder seam must sit exactly on the shoulder edge; this cannot be corrected later and is the single most important measurement. The chest should close without pulling at the buttons when standing straight. Length falls just below the knee. Sleeves end at the wrist bone with a centimetre of kurta cuff showing. The churidar should gather in three or four folds at the ankle. If the coat pulls anywhere when you raise your arms halfway, it is too tight for a day of greeting people.

Caring for groom wear

Dry-clean only, and do it soon after the wedding rather than a year later — sweat and food marks set permanently and are what ruin stored sherwanis. Store on a broad padded hanger inside a cotton cover, never plastic. Keep heavy zardozi from resting against itself in the fold, because the metal abrades.

See also: all menswear, wedding clothing, embroidered kurta pajama and bridal wear.