A wedding shopping list for the groom covers an outfit for each function, the wedding accessories, footwear, a small grooming kit and a few new clothes for the days after. The accessories depend on the region: a safa and sehra in Punjab, an angavastram in Tamil Nadu. Most grooms need three to five outfits.
Order the main wedding outfit 2 to 3 months ahead, because a stitched sherwani needs at least two fittings.
The groom's list is shorter than the bride's. It still goes wrong in the last week more often than anyone admits, usually over a missing button or a mojari that pinches.
Outfits by Function
| Function | Common outfit for the groom |
|---|---|
| Roka, sagai or nichayathartham | A bandhgala, a kurta with a Nehru jacket, or a silk shirt with veshti |
| Haldi | An old white kurta and pyjama, or a cotton veshti and shirt that can get stained |
| Mehendi and sangeet | A bright kurta set, or an Indo-western jacket |
| Wedding | Sherwani, or the regional wedding dress (see below) |
| Reception | A suit, a tuxedo or a bandhgala |
| The days after | Two or three new kurtas or shirts for visits and the temple |
Get the wedding outfit stitched by a tailor you trust, or buy it ready-made with time for alterations. Keep one spare white shirt or kurta in the car on the wedding day.
What Does a South Indian Groom Wear?
South Indian grooms usually wear the traditional white or cream silk dress of their region for the muhurtham.
| Region | Wedding outfit |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Silk veshti with a zari border, a silk shirt and an angavastram on the shoulder. Brahmin grooms wear the panchakacham style |
| Kerala | Mundu with a kasavu (gold) border, with a shirt or a jubba, and a neriyathu on the shoulder |
| Karnataka | Panche (dhoti), a shirt or silk jubba, and often a Mysore peta (turban) |
| Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | Pancha (dhoti) and a kurta or shirt, sometimes with a shawl |
Buy two veshtis or dhotis. Not one. The first often gets wet during the rituals, or the knot gives way. A good belt hidden under the veshti saves embarrassment.
Regional Groom Outfits in the North, East and West
| Region | Wedding outfit |
|---|---|
| Punjab and Delhi | Sherwani with a safa or pagri, a kalgi on the turban and a sehra of flowers or pearls |
| Sikh groom | Sherwani or achkan, a pagri, and the kirpan |
| Rajasthan and Gujarat | Sherwani or bandhgala with a colourful safa |
| Maharashtra | Dhoti or kurta with a pheta, and the mundavalya (strings of pearls) on the forehead |
| Bengal | Dhoti and panjabi (kurta), with the white topor on the head |
| Muslim weddings in North India | Sherwani with a sehra, often a cream or gold achkan |
These are the usual styles, and families change them all the time. Ask your own elders what the wedding photos in the family look like. That is the custom you are dealing with.
When Should the Groom Buy His Sherwani?
Buy or order the sherwani 2 to 3 months before the wedding. A made-to-measure sherwani needs at least two fittings, a week or two apart, and tailors get very busy from November to February.
If the groom is trying to lose weight before the wedding, take the final measurement about three weeks before the date. Not earlier.
Accessories Checklist
- Safa, pagri or pheta, tied by someone who knows how, or a ready-tied one
- Kalgi (turban brooch) and sehra, where the custom has them
- Angavastram, shawl or stole for the shoulder
- Mala or a pearl necklace, if the family custom includes it
- Brooch and buttons for the sherwani
- Cufflinks, a tie or bow tie, and a pocket square for the reception suit
- A watch that suits both Indian and western outfits
- Wedding ring and the engagement ring
- Gold chain, if the bride's family gives one by custom
- Handkerchiefs, at least four
- A small bag or pouch for the phone, cash and the ring box
Gold rings and chains should carry the BIS hallmark. Hallmarked gold carries three marks: the BIS logo, the purity (such as 22K916) and a six-digit HUID that you can check in the BIS Care app, as BIS explains on its site.
Footwear
- Mojari or jutti for the sherwani, a size that is not tight
- Kolhapuri chappals or plain leather sandals for a veshti or dhoti
- Formal shoes for the reception suit, with new socks
- A pair of slippers for the haldi and for walking around the hall
Wear the mojaris at home for a few days before the wedding. New juttis bite. They are stiff, and the baraat can involve a long walk. Many families also keep a cheap spare pair, because the bride's sisters may hide the groom's shoes during the joota chupai ritual.
Grooming Kit
- Face wash, moisturiser and sunscreen the groom already uses
- Razor, shaving cream and aftershave, or a trimmer for the beard
- Hair gel or wax, a comb and a small mirror
- Lip balm, deodorant and a perfume that is not too strong
- Nail cutter
- Blotting paper or tissues for a hot muhurtham under lights
- Basic medicines: an antacid, something for a headache, and his regular medicines
Get the haircut about a week before the wedding. It needs time to settle. A fresh cut the day before often looks too sharp in the photos.
Printable Checklist
Copy this into a notebook or the phone's notes app, and tick each line as it is bought.
- Wedding outfit (sherwani, or veshti, mundu, dhoti or panche set), with a spare
- Reception suit or bandhgala
- Engagement outfit
- Haldi, mehendi and sangeet outfits
- Two or three outfits for visits after the wedding
- Safa, pagri or pheta, with kalgi
- Sehra, mala or angavastram, by custom
- Wedding ring
- Watch, cufflinks and pocket square
- Mojari or jutti, formal shoes and sandals
- Belt, socks, handkerchiefs and innerwear
- Grooming kit and medicines
- A small pouch for the ring, phone and cash
Put a price ceiling against each line in the wedding budget planner. The full timeline for both families is in our wedding planning checklist, and the bride's list is in the wedding shopping list for the bride.
For a groom still at the proposal stage, the photo on the biodata is the first outfit anyone sees. A plain shirt or kurta works well, and you can make his biodata here. More guides are in our wedding planning section.
Common questions
What Is on a Wedding Shopping List for Groom?
An outfit for each function, the wedding accessories such as the safa, sehra or angavastram, footwear, a wedding ring and watch, a grooming kit and a few new clothes for the days after the wedding.
How Many Outfits Does a Groom Need?
Usually three to five: the engagement, the wedding, the reception, and one or two for the haldi, mehendi or sangeet, plus a few kurtas or shirts for visits.
What Accessories Does a Groom Need?
A turban (safa, pagri or pheta) with a kalgi, a sehra or mala where the custom has one, the wedding ring, a watch, cufflinks, a brooch and handkerchiefs.
What Does a South Indian Groom Wear?
A silk veshti or mundu with a zari or kasavu border, a silk shirt or jubba, and an angavastram or neriyathu on the shoulder. In Karnataka, many grooms also wear a Mysore peta.
When Should the Groom Buy His Sherwani?
Two to three months before the wedding, so there is time for two fittings.
Sources
Related Guides
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