The invitation says "nikah, Saturday, 2 pm" or "walima, Sunday, 7 pm" and nothing else, and now you need to know what
that means for your wardrobe. Each Pakistani wedding event has its own dress code, and guests who get it right look
like they belong in the photographs. This is the event-by-event guide for women guests, with what to wear, what to
avoid, and what to do if you want something made for you.
What to wear to a nikah as a guest
The nikah is the marriage ceremony. It is often in the daytime, sometimes at a mosque, sometimes at home or in a hall,
and it is the most modest event of the week.
Wear: a long shirt with trousers or a sharara, in a soft colour: pastel pink, sage, lilac, powder blue, peach,
ivory with colour. Light handwork: pearls, resham, a worked border. Bring a dupatta you can put over your head if
the ceremony is in a mosque or the family is traditional.
Avoid: anything sleeveless or low-cut, heavy sequins in daylight, and bright white if the bride is wearing white.
Red is the barat's colour and looks out of place at a nikah.
If it is a nikah plus dinner: go one step more formal: a worked long shirt in a deeper pastel, or a light lehenga.
What to wear to a walima as a guest
The walima is the reception the groom's family hosts, usually the evening after the barat, and it is elegant. Think
evening wear: polished, formal, and softer than the barat.
Wear: a formal long shirt with trousers, a saree, a maxi, or a lighter lehenga, in ivory-with-colour, champagne,
gold, dusty rose, sage, navy, wine or emerald. Handwork in pearls, sequins, crystals or fine dabka. In winter, velvet.
Avoid: plain white or ivory if the bride is wearing it (many walima brides do; ask), the bride's walima colour in
general, and very heavy barat-style zardozi. A walima guest is elegant, not loud.
Shoes and jewellery: heels and a clutch; one statement piece of jewellery rather than a full set.
What to wear to a mehndi as a guest
The mehndi is the night before the wedding: music, dancing, henna, and the loudest colours of the week. It is the
event where guests relax.
Wear: bright colour. A sharara or gharara set in yellow, green, orange, pink or mint; a short shirt with gota
work; a cotton-silk or chiffon suit with mirror work. Multicolour is welcome. Flat shoes or low heels: you will be
dancing on a lawn or a marquee floor.
Avoid: heavy handwork and delicate fabrics (the mehndi paste stains), long trails, and white, which shows every
mark.
Jewellery: flowers, bangles, jhumkas. The mehndi is the one night where more is more.
A quick table
| Event | Colours | Weight | Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikah | Pastels, ivory with colour, sage | Light | Low heels or flats |
| Mehndi | Yellow, green, orange, pink, multicolour | Light, dance-ready | Flats |
| Barat | Jewel tones, anything but red | Formal | Heels |
| Walima | Champagne, dusty rose, navy, emerald, velvet | Elegant | Heels |
If you are a western guest
You are welcome in Pakistani clothes and the family will love it. A long shirt with trousers and a dupatta is the
easiest first outfit for any of the three events; choose the colour by the table above. If you stay in western dress,
a long dress in a rich colour with a wrap works for the walima; a bright midi or maxi dress with sleeves works for the
mehndi; and for the nikah, something covered and soft.
How many outfits do you need?
If you are invited to all events, guests usually plan three: a bright mehndi outfit, a formal outfit for the barat, and
an elegant outfit for the walima, with the nikah outfit doubled from one of the lighter pieces or borrowed. Close
family dresses for every event separately.
Having a guest outfit made to measure
Ready-made guest outfits come in a few standard sizes and are often not quite right in the sleeve or the length. We
make guest outfits, formals and party wear to measure in our own workshop in Pakistan, by hand, in your colour, and
ship them to the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. A piece takes 8 to 12 weeks, so start early for a wedding season
event. See party wear and formals for the kind of pieces we
make, and how it works for the steps.
Questions guests ask
Can I wear the same outfit to the nikah and the walima? If the nikah is in the daytime and the walima is at night, it is better not to: the mood is different and the photographs will show it. A nikah outfit can be worn again at a dholki or an Eid.
Is black acceptable? At the walima and barat, black with gold handwork is elegant and common among guests abroad. Avoid an all-black plain outfit, and avoid black at the mehndi, where colour is the point.
What if I do not know the bride's colours? Avoid red at the barat and white or ivory at the walima, and you are safe.
How formal is "formal"? For the barat and walima: handwork, a dupatta, heels, jewellery. For the mehndi: colour, comfort, flats.
Tell us the event, the date and the colour you like, and we will suggest the piece:
WhatsApp Omar Arshad Couture.