Sangeet and Mehndi Outfits for the Bride: Dance, Laugh, Bloom

Ask brides which function they enjoyed most and you'll often hear "the sangeet" or "the mehndi". They are the days of music, laughter, cousins and very little sleep — and your outfits should let you be fully in every moment.

The mehndi: bright, light and practical

At the mehndi you'll spend hours sitting while henna is applied to your hands and feet — and then you can't use your hands while it dries. Choose for that:

• Colour — greens, yellows, corals, mint and peach, or florals. Mehndi is the most playful palette of the wedding.

• Fabric — light organza, georgette, cotton blends or soft silk, comfortable for sitting a long time.

• Sleeves — short or three-quarter, so they stay well clear of wet henna on your hands and arms.

• Silhouette — a skirt-and-jacket set, a co-ord, a light lehenga or a sharara. Avoid heavy dupattas you'd need hands to manage.

• Embellishment — gota patti, mirror work and threadwork are lovely; very sharp or heavy work can catch on your henna.

Browse our mehndi collection for ideas.

The haldi: easy and joyful

Haldi gets messy — that's the point. Pick something light and simple in yellow, cream or white that you don't mind getting turmeric on, and that is quick to change out of afterwards. See our haldi collection.

The sangeet: made for dancing

The sangeet is your stage. Your outfit needs to look spectacular under lights and move with you all night:

• Colour — jewel tones, wine, deep pink, metallics, or a bold contrast. Lights love shimmer.

• Silhouette — a crop top lehenga or a flared lehenga for twirls; a lehenga with a cropped jacket for something modern; a sharara for easy movement.

• Weight — lighter than your wedding outfit. Try dancing in the trial room; if you'd hold back, it is too heavy.

• Dupatta — pin it securely, or skip it for your performance and bring it back for photographs.

Browse our sangeet collection and our crop top lehengas.

Making the three looks feel like one story

Your mehndi, haldi and sangeet looks will sit next to each other in your album. They don't need to match, but they should feel like the same bride: perhaps one colour that threads through all three, or the same style of blouse in different moods. Our stylists love helping with this — bring your list of functions and we'll plan them together.

Want something made just for your sangeet?

Many brides customise their sangeet look — a different sleeve, more sparkle, a colour to match the theme. A designer prices the change while you're in the showroom, or designs it with you from the beginning. Read our bridal customisation guide; a made-to-order piece takes about eight weeks from design approval.