Lehenga for Your Brother's Wedding: An Outfit for Every Function

Your brother's wedding is one of the few times you'll need four or five special outfits in a single week. Planning them together, by function, saves last-minute stress and makes sure each look is right for its moment.

A plan, function by function

Haldi

Yellow or pink, simple and washable: a cotton anarkali, a sharara or a light lehenga. See haldi outfits.

Mehndi

Bright or pastel, easy to sit in: sharara, light lehenga or co-ord set. See sharara sets.

Sangeet

Something you can dance in, with sparkle. If you're performing, think about matching with your cousins. See sangeet lehengas.

Baraat and wedding

Your most traditional and festive look. A lehenga with a good flare and a secure dupatta, because you'll be dancing in front of the baraat. See the groom's sister's guide.

Reception

Your most glamorous look: a gown, a drape saree or a shimmering lehenga. See reception outfits.

Getting the balance right

• Don't wear red at the wedding itself, in case the bride does. Ask her colours if you can.

• Spread the heavy work. One rich outfit for the wedding, lighter ones for the rest.

• Think about re-wearing. Shararas, anarkalis and Indo-Western sets are easier to wear again.

Matching with the family

Coordinating with your mother, sisters and cousins makes beautiful family photographs. One palette per function is enough. Read matching outfits and mother daughter matching lehengas.

When to order

Order everything together and start about four weeks before the first function. If any outfit has heavy hand embroidery, allow about eight weeks from design approval.

Getting your outfits made

Start a bridesmaid and family order for yourself or the whole family. Each person sends her own measurements through her own link, there's no minimum group size, and everything is made for one delivery date.