20 Indian Wedding Reception Outfit Ideas for the Bride

Your wedding reception look needs to be given as much importance as your wedding look because it is a very important event with a huge guest list. This event is the last of your wedding celebrations and as a newly wed couple your reception look must be stunning and elegant to steal all the attention on your special day.

If you are a regular on this blog you might have noticed I am doing a series of sorts on outfit ideas for various Indian wedding related events. The memo for mehndi is fun and vibrant, for sangeet it is flowy and light. You need to wear something very traditional for your atual wedding but for something like your wedding reception choosing and dress can be very tricky. you need to aim for sophistication for the wedding reception look and you have the freedom to opt for something more contemporary like a gown or lehengas with modern cut blouses.

20 Indian Wedding Reception Outfit Ideas for the Bride


Today I will be taking you through the latest trends in bridal fashion this season, bringing you a collection of Indian wedding reception dress ideas. You can go through this list and pick what suits your personal style best to decide for your final wedding reception look and steal the spotlight.

#1 Indo Western fusion gowns

You will be wearing a sari or a lehenga for your actual wedding so it makes sense to try a different silhouette at your wedding reception. An indo western fusion gown is a contemporary outfit option which has a bit of traditional touch to it. If you are looking to try something breezy and more modern after a flurry of traditional looks at your pre wedding ceremonies and wedding then a gown is what you should opt for.

#2 Floor length anarkalis

if you want something more traditional floor length anarkalis are the perfect bet. These anrkalis are available in various designs these days and a bit of styling tweak and a modern dupatta drape can make your anarkali outfit reception appropriate. Make sure you choose an anarkali which has work all over the anarkali and not just the bust area because you will be mostly standing at your reception and your whole frame will be extensively photographed. Bipasha Basu wore a Sabyasachi anarkali at her wedding reception and looked like a dream dancing the night away. 


#3 Cape gowns

Cape is a trend which is here to stay and they actually make for gorgeous Indian wedding reception outfits. If gowns are what you prefer then make your outfit a bit more special and trendy by choosing a gown with a cape overlay. You can find cape gowns in variety of styles these days, from short capes to long or sheer capes this dreamy silhouette will give your reception look a feminine chic vibe.

#4 Traditional Lehengas with  contemporary styling

Lehengas are what brides prefer to wear at weddings and pre wedding functions and they actually look regal and give you the traditional bride feels. Since you may already be wearing a lehenga for your wedding or sangeet , keeping the styling more contemporary for your wedding reception works best. Like Anushka Sharmas Mumbai wedding reception look you can go for a traditional sequined lehenga with a belted dupatta drape or skip the dupatta altogether like Mira Rajput did. If you are not the experimental kinds then try a different lehenga style like a silk lehenga and opt for fresh new colours for wedding reception like sea foam grey, icy blue or peach pink. 


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#5 Peplum lehengas

Lehengas with peplum style blouses are surest way to grab attention without upsetting the conservative in-laws . 

#6 Anarkali with lehengas

This outfit idea is inspired from pakistan and fits the bill perfectly if you are a muslim bride having a reception cum valima. Even if you arent a muslim bride if you are going for the regal old world charm with a jhoomar kind of a look from mughal era a floor length anarkali with a huge middle slit paired with a lehenga looks gorgeous and elegant.


#7 Western ball gowns

If you are going to wear ethnic and traditional outfits for all your wedding ceremonies then it is time to switch things up a bit and go all contemporary for the big wedding reception night. Fancy western ball gowns are quiet a hit in India for wedding reception and if you arent wearing a gown for your sangeet or engagement then more reasons for you to opt for a gown.


#8 Fusion sari gowns

Popularized by designer Gaurav Gupta the architectural sari drape gowns are a cross between gowns and saris making for trendy Indian wedding reception dresses for bride. if you cant decide wheather to wear a gown or a saree for your wedding reception take the easy way out and opt for the fusion version which both classy and sophisticated. Many celebrity brides like sherry shroff and Kishwer Merchant wore something like this for their own wedding reception nights.




#9 Lehengas with cape sleeves

If you want to wear a lehenga with modern twist try the striking new cape sleeves trend. This trend is kind of difficult to carry off but for a bride who is treated like royalty cape sleeves are a great option. You will spend most of your reception night standing on stage, smiling away and cape sleeves look uber wow when you are giving the standing pose. 


#10 Asymmetric layered lehengas


#11 Half saree style lehengas

This one is for the traditional indian brides. Drape your lehenga the half saree way for a stunning wedding reception look but make sure to tweak the styling to give it a more classic and contemporary feel. Avoid layered necklaces and go for bold brows and smokey eyes.

#12 Lehengas with capes 



#13 Pre draped  dupatta silhouettes


#14 Lehengas with long jackets



#12 Reception sarees

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#13 Lehenga with fringe detailed blouse 


#14 Vintage minimal florals

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 #15 Lehengas with a train 



#16 Sharara suits

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#17 One shouldered cape blouse with lehenga


#18 Ethnic gown with sequinned long cape



#19 Ruffled or layered lehengas




#20 Sarees with a contemporary twist 

If you really want to wear a saree for your wedding reception, then consider giving it a contemporary twist. You can try a modern saree drape like adding a belt or the can can saree drape. Adding a floor length jacket also is an interesting idea especially if you are having a winter wedding. for more modern saree drape ideas visit here


Styling Tips for your Wedding Reception:

  • Wedding reception outfit is something you can experiment with and go all contemporary. Look your best but try to bring in variety in all your wedding looks, if you are going all traditional for your pre wedding ceremnies then definitely consider a modern styling for your wedding reception.
  • Keeping things contemporary doesnt mean you go all western, even a simple modern twist to your traditional outfits work well. Saris with a modern drape, lehengas with a fringe blouse or even anarkalis with sheer capes. Make sure the outfit matches your personality and the theme of the wedding reception.
  • Colour co ordination with the groom is very important for the wedding repetion as you both will share the stage for majority of time at your reception. Consider co ordinating with your new hubby in subtle ways and rather than going all matchy matchy try complementing or contrasting. Pocket squares for groom in same colour of your lehenga or blouse is a great idea. A colour co-ordinated couple makes for comprehensive wedding reception photos which are going to make for life long memories.
  • Most wedding receptions these days are a gigantic party, more like a dance celebration post wedding. If your wedding reception is going to be something similar then choose an outfit which is comfortable so you can dance the night away. You can also go for flats instead of heels or just have a pair of flats kept somewhere close to change up when the dancing madness begins.
  • Weddings are all about bright colours and sparkly makeup but for your wedding reception you can try something like a smokey eye look and pale or nude lips which work well with contemporary outfits.
  • Your wedding will have all gold jewellery to complement your traditonal outfit but for the reception go for diamonds. Most brides these days opt for delicate diamonds for the wedding reception for a sophisticated vibe.
  • Even if you are planning to wear traditonal gold jewellery , go easy on ti an d skip the nose ring, matha patti raani haar and maybe even the tikka. Add just one or two statement pieces like huge jhumkas with a jhoomar . If you want to wear layered necklaces then ditch the choker and add a huge coctail ring to the mix.
  • Pay special attention to your hairstyle for the reception because unlike the wedding your hair wont be covered with a dupatta. A soft low bun or open hair with voluminous curls work well for the wedding reception. hair accessories like a side matha patti, jhoomar or a comb clip look gorgeous for a wedding reception.
Opt for a more casual and relaxed styling for your wedding reception and enjoy the last of your wedding celebration to the full.

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