Whaddaya wear to a wedding?

hfot2

What should Western guests of a certain age wear to a "formal" wedding in Delhi?

We'll be arriving the night before the ceremony, so we'll have to dress out of our suitcase.

flaker

thats easy i think.one would imagine that the same wear you would don in a western "formal" wedding would do perfectly.

Aishah

I checked your profiles and here is what I would suggest - Mrs hfot - if you own or have time to buy a nice highly decorated, colourful salwar kameez, or kurta set then i would wear that; otherwise wear what you would wear to a wedding in your own country. Delhi is modern and western attire will not be inappropriate. Lots of great jewellery never goes astray either!
Mr hfot - what you would wear to a wedding back home would be fine here - keep in mind if it will be hot or not. Many Delhi gents wear their good suits to weddings. Others pyjama with decorated kurta - all sorts of types. You are both going to fit in whatever you wear.

__________________
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

hfot2

Thanks for taking the time to look at our profile photos.

Unfortunately, we won't have time to shop before going to the wedding and on past trips I never bought salwar kameez or kurta sets. I tend to purchase loads of shawls instead.

Mr H wants to know if a black suit is an acceptable color to wear at an Indian wedding.

I've thought to wear a cranberry/maroon tailored long dress with a grey jacket and purple scarf. I never travel with jewelry and don't plan to now though I know I will look strange without any.

We've looked in at lots of weddings on our previous trips; this is the first one we've actually been invited to and we want to do it right.

distaff half

Aishah

Your outfits sound very nice and black is a very trendy colour for men here - I see filmstars on TV wearing black outfits - so that will be fine. Black is not thought as funereal which it is in NZ or Oz except for the little black dress which never goes out of fashion! Maybe one of your lovely Indian shawls would spice up your outfit instead of jewels!

Do you wear earrings - some flashy glittery types would certainly set your colours off beautifully, Mrs H!

hfot2

Thanks for the info on the black suit. He'll go with that and a white shirt. Now we have to go shopping for a tie to brighten it up, hopefully one with purple to co-ordinate with my scarf. He'll also use a maroon pocket square to complement my outfit.

Yes, one of my many Indian shawls would spice up my dress, but I can't fathom returning to India with a previously bought scarf. I do plan to buy more but that will be after the wedding [shawl lust is a disease Mr H says I have] No earrings in my jewelry box and as I said, no jewels travel with us, but it is a nice idea.

Thanks again for your help in planning our wardrobe.

Any ideas on a gift for a couple we don't know?
See our question here: http://www.indiamike.com/india/chai-...g-gift-t43996/

Off topic - what a coincidence to read Alexander McCall Smith's name amongst your list of favourite authors - Mr H is currently reading 2 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom.

Aishah

Don't worry about off-topic! I think you will both look really smart from your descriptions! Incidentally what month is the wedding? Will it be in winter because if it is you will be the most comfortable with suit etc.
Haven't read that one yet, must do - I just love his writing! Although i read one of the ones set in Scotland with main character Isabel and wasn't quite so keen on that. His No 1 Ladies Detective Agency books are wonderful!
Idea for gift? this is a hard one - many people give new looking money in an envelope and around here where such refinements haven't quite come in they just hand over the notes!! I think household items are always welcome and something from your neck of the woods would be prized. Don't bring any electrical appliances because of voltage differences - I think America and India are on different voltages or something and you would need an adaptor of some sort to cope.
I am intrigued that you have a camel for avatar - many camels around where I live!

hfot2

Thanks.

The wedding is in November in Delhi. We haven't yet received the invite [got it by phone first] and don't know the location [nor the couple - as you perhaps noted on our other question about a gift]

The book he's reading is a collection of three short books, themselves collections of short stories about a trio of German philologists, of all things. My husband found the first two stories to be pleasant diversions but little more. But in the third, he encountered a couple of paragraphs of travel writing that blew him away. He is now looking forward eagerly to the rest of the collection.

Profile photo of Mr H with the camels was at the Pushkar fair 3 years ago. Our avatar photo [Camel Lashes is its name] was taken there as well. Yes, we saw camels at Jaisalmer - I am a camel nut!

distaff half

Aishah

November should be cooler and fine for your outfits! Thanks for info re the book and camels - very interesting. I was just worried you might be coming soon and it is terribly hot at the moment, even in Delhi which is slightly cooler than here.