Indian Clothes for the Bride and Her Guests, Plus Sizes Too

Which Indian outfit suits which role

The names in Indian wear describe the cut, so knowing them makes a long grid quicker to read.

• Lehenga choli: a full, flared skirt with a fitted blouse and a dupatta. It is the classic bridal choice and the dressiest look a guest can wear; guests can browse our lehengas cut for guests.
• Saree: one long length of fabric draped over a blouse. Where a saree comes with a blouse, we stitch it to your size after you order, so only the drape is left to do on the day.
• Anarkali: a long kameez that flares from a fitted bodice, worn over slim trousers. It moves well and dresses up more than a straight suit; see our flared anarkali kameez styles.
• Long shirt with trousers: the straight suit many people call an Indian suit, with no drape to manage and easy to sit in for hours; compare our shalwar kameez cuts.
• Gharara and farshi gharara: wide trousers that flare to the floor, or in the farshi version trail behind, worn with a mid-length shirt.
• Open gown over a lehenga: a front-open gown layered over a skirt, for receptions and evening functions.

The bride usually wears the heaviest work, while bridesmaids coordinate in one colour or one cut; our matching bridesmaid looks make that easier. The bride’s mother tends to choose a longer shirt and fuller sleeves, as in our mother of the bride wear, and the groom’s side can start with our wedding sherwanis for men.

Plus size Indian clothing, stitched to your measurements

Standard sizes run from XS to XL. Above XL, or when your bust, waist and hips sit in different sizes, Custom Size is the better route: the outfit is stitched exactly to the measurements you send, and our team contacts you after you order to collect them in full. The workshop works in inches; centimetres on our size guide are for reference. Between two standard sizes, take the larger one.

Cut matters as much as size. An anarkali or a long shirt skims the body rather than clinging to it, and a lehenga with a longer choli gives more coverage at the waist. Sleeves can be lengthened and necklines raised: at no extra charge on guest designs where the change is feasible, and priced and agreed before work starts on bridal pieces.

Fabric and handwork, and what they change

Organza is crisp and holds embroidery sharply. Tissue silk has a soft metallic sheen and more body. Net is sheer and light, usually worn over a lining, and chiffon floats, which makes it the coolest choice for a summer guest. Velvet and raw silk are heavier and warmer, the natural pick for a winter wedding.

The handwork sets the character of a piece: zardozi and dabka are raised metal-thread techniques with a rich, heavy finish, resham is softer silk-thread embroidery in colour, and sequins, pearls and gota lace catch the light. All-over zardozi adds real weight, so if you will be on your feet for hours, border work on a lighter fabric is kinder.

Every design shows its price in pounds, and you can sort the grid from low to high. The silhouette, the fabric and the amount of handwork move the price most.

Bridal and guest pieces run on different timelines

Every delivery time is counted in calendar days from the day after you order and covers stitching and shipping.

• Bridal pieces: Normal Delivery takes up to 3 months and is free. Rush Delivery shortens it to up to 30 days for £59, and Super Rush Delivery to up to 14 days for £199.
• Guest outfits: up to 18 days. Rush Delivery and Super Rush Delivery are not normally available, so if your date is close, message us before you order.

Count back from your first function. For a wedding eight weeks away, a bridal lehenga needs Rush Delivery, while a guest saree can be ordered up to three weeks before. Addresses elsewhere in Europe get the same delivery times, priced in pounds sterling, with the delivery charge shown at checkout. Full terms are on our UK and Europe delivery details page.

Why choose Shadi Dress for Indian clothes

Shadi Dress has made bridal wear since 2013, and every Indian outfit we sell is cut and stitched in our own workshops: more than 25 of them across Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, with close to 200 people. No outfit is bought in ready-made from India or from other designers; guest outfits start from branded fabric we buy directly from Pakistani labels, so we can tell you exactly how a design is made and change it for you. While a bridal outfit is being made you can ask for progress photos and close-up videos, and you can ask for a full video of a guest outfit before it ships. More than 20,000 satisfied customers have ordered from us.

Questions about our Indian clothes

Are your Indian clothes made in India?

No. Every piece is made in our own workshops in Pakistan and couriered straight to you. The lehenga choli, the saree, the anarkali and the gharara are worn on both sides of the border, with the same cuts and much of the same handwork, so they are right for an Indian wedding as much as a Pakistani one.

Can I visit a shop in the UK?

No. Shadi Dress sells online only and has no walk-in showroom. In place of a fitting room, check your measurements against the size guide, send us any question about a design on WhatsApp, and ask for photos or a video of your outfit before it is dispatched.

Can I return an outfit if it does not fit?

No. Each outfit is stitched for one customer, so there are no returns or exchanges after delivery. You can cancel a bridal order within 24 hours, or a guest order within 12 hours, for a full refund; after that, until dispatch, 35% of the amount paid is deducted. Accurate measurements are the best protection.

Will I have to pay customs on delivery?

Not normally. Import charges are normally prepaid by us. If a courier ever asks you for customs, duty or tax, send us the receipt and we refund the verified amount. You can pay for your order by PayPal, card or bank transfer.