Mehndi Dress for Men in Pakistan and How to Style It
Most men wear a kurta pajama or shalwar kameez to a mehndi, usually in yellow or green, and that's the base of almost every mehndi dress for men. The groom often goes a step further with an embroidered waistcoat, while guests keep it plain. You'll likely be dancing until late, so pick something you can move in.
How Mehndi Dressing Differs From the Barat and Walima
The barat belongs to the groom's sherwani and deep, rich colors. The walima is calmer, and many men wear a suit to it. The mehndi is the opposite of both. It's the loudest night of the wedding, with music, dancing and bright decor, and the clothes are meant to match that mood.
Some families hold one combined mehndi, while others hold separate ones for the bride's and groom's sides. Either way, lighter clothes and cheerful colors are the norm. If you're planning the later functions too, our guide to choosing a walima dress for men covers the reception.
Mehndi Dress for Groom
Most grooms choose between three looks. The best mehndi dress for men depends on the venue, how formal your family wants the night to be and how much dancing is planned.
Mehndi Kurta or Mehndi Suit
A mehndi kurta is cut like any other kurta but made to stand out, usually in a strong color with embroidery at the neck, placket or sleeves. Pair it with a pajama, shalwar or churidar and you have the look most grooms go for.
Shops also sell what they call a mehndi suit. Usually that's a kurta and bottom cut from the same fabric, and some sets include a waistcoat. A ready set saves you from matching separate pieces.
Kurta With an Embroidered Waistcoat
For a complete mehndi look, we recommend a kurta with a waistcoat. Some men pick a waistcoat in the same color as the kurta, and others go for a contrasting one, such as green over yellow. Both give the outfit a graceful, finished look. Waistcoats come plain or embroidered, and in our experience, grooms mostly choose the embroidered ones, while plain ones suit brothers and guests. For a winter mehndi in a hall, a mirror-work waistcoat over raw silk, like the olive green outfit pictured below, carries more weight.
JEEM's Canary Yellow set takes the tonal route. It's a light yellow cambric cotton kurta with rouleau loop buttons and geometric embroidery, worn under a matching cotton waistcoat that's embroidered all over. We think it suits a daytime or outdoor mehndi, where a heavier fabric would feel too warm. The kurta is also sold without the waistcoat, and our other men's kurtas are in the same collection.
Light Sherwani or Prince Coat
At a combined mehndi, or one your family treats as formal, a light sherwani or a prince coat in a festive shade is another option. Go easier on the embroidery than you will at the barat. Otherwise the two nights blur together in the album. If you're not sure how the two differ, our guide to formal dress for men compares the prince coat, achkan and sherwani.
Mehndi Color Dress for Men
Yellow and green are the traditional mehndi colors, but tastes are shifting. Younger men shopping for a mehndi now mostly ask for black and deeper green shades. Preferences also change from region to region, so what looks standard at a mehndi in one city can feel different in another.
| Color | Works well for | Pair it with |
|---|---|---|
| Mustard or turmeric yellow | Grooms, and families going with a yellow theme | A green, maroon or off-white waistcoat |
| Bottle or emerald green | Evening mehndis in a hall | A gold or cream waistcoat |
| Black | Younger men and evening mehndis | An embroidered waistcoat or a bright stole |
| Parrot green | Daytime and outdoor functions | A white kurta or a yellow stole |
| Rust or orange | Guests who want color without matching the groom | Cream or beige |
| White kurta | Guests, or anyone who prefers a simpler look | A brightly colored waistcoat or stole |
| Pastels such as mint, peach or sky blue | Daytime mehndis and smaller gatherings | A slightly deeper waistcoat |
A lot of families now pick a color theme for the mehndi, and pastel themes have become a common sight. If yours has one, wear it, even if only your waistcoat or stole carries the color. A multicolored bridal outfit is harder to work with, so borrow one shade from it and leave the rest. Our post on color combinations for men has more pairing ideas.
What the Groom's Brothers and Friends Wear
At the mehndis we've seen, the groom's friends often dress in one color, particularly if they've rehearsed a dance. They don't need identical outfits. One color, in either the kurta or the waistcoat, is enough to make them look coordinated in photos. The groom keeps his own shade, and the heaviest embroidery stays on him.
On a tighter budget, buy matching plain kurtas in one color and let everyone add a waistcoat or stole from his own wardrobe. You get the group look for far less than full new outfits. If you're the groom's brother, wear the same kurta as the friends with a richer waistcoat. It marks you as family without competing with the groom.
Mehndi Outfits for Male Guests
As a guest, aim for festive, not flashy. A colored kurta with a shalwar or pajama is the safest pick. A casual mehndi dress for men can be nothing more than a plain cotton kurta in a bright shade, waistcoat optional.
What about a white shalwar kameez? It's one of the most common guest looks at mehndis we've seen, usually with a colored stole, which makes it festive rather than everyday. Avoid anything that resembles the groom's outfit, heavy sherwanis included.
Mehndi Dressing for Boys and Teenagers
For younger boys, it's hard to beat a cotton kurta pajama with a small waistcoat for mehndi dressing. They look dressed up and can still run around the hall. Father and son outfits are popular too, and matching the kurta color is enough, so you don't need identical sets.
Teenagers are the tricky group. Many find children's sets too young for them, yet adult sizes rarely fit well. A plain, slim kurta with a bright stole or a simple waistcoat usually works, especially if they choose the color themselves. Buy for the size they are now. Sleeves hanging past the hands look sloppy in photos.
Fabrics for Summer and Winter Mehndis
Think about the dancing before you think about the fabric. For a summer or outdoor mehndi, go with cotton, cambric or lawn. Anything heavier and you'll be sweating before the dhol even gets going. Try the kurta on and lift your arms. If it pulls across the chest or bites at the armholes, it'll bother you all night.
A winter mehndi in a hall is a different story. You can wear a raw silk, jamawar or velvet waistcoat on top and keep a cotton kurta underneath, so you stay warm but can still move. Keep a shawl in the car for the walk in and out.
One practical thing: henna gets on everything, and some families add oil to the rituals too. If you're wearing white or anything delicate, stand back during that part of the night.
Shoes and Accessories for the Mehndi
Most men wear khussa, and it's easy to see why. They're comfortable and they look right with a kurta. An embroidered pair can pick up a color from your waistcoat. Guests who'd rather keep it relaxed often go for Peshawari chappals. Whatever you buy, wear it around the house for a day or two first. New khussa can be stiff.
If you buy one accessory, make it a stole or dupatta in a contrasting shade. It's also the cheapest way to match the groom's side if they've picked a theme. For the waistcoat, a set of statement buttons or a small brooch is plenty.
What a Mehndi Outfit Costs in Pakistan
Price depends on three things: the fabric, how much embroidery there is, and ready-made versus designer. Most high-street cotton kurtas, ours included, cost under ten thousand rupees. Add an embroidered waistcoat and the total climbs. Designer kurtas and hand-embroidered waistcoats run into the tens of thousands, and heavily worked designer waistcoats can go past a lakh. Sales can bring all of these down.
Ordering from abroad, say the UK, UAE, US or Canada? Order early. The mehndi comes first, so delivery and any alterations have to be done before everything else.
Quick Summary
Most men wear a bright kurta pajama or shalwar kameez, and the groom adds an embroidered waistcoat. Yellow and green are the usual colors, though a white kurta with a colored waistcoat is a simpler route. Brothers and friends can share a color without copying the groom. Guests should look festive, not flashy, and boys do best in a cotton kurta with a small waistcoat. In summer, stick to breathable fabrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color does the groom usually wear on the mehndi?
Yellow or green, traditionally. Mustard, turmeric and bottle green come up again and again. Plenty of grooms now follow the family's color theme instead, or pick up a shade from the bride's outfit.
Can men wear black or white to a mehndi?
Yes to both. A white kurta with a colored stole is one of the most common guest looks we see. Black has caught on with younger men, especially for evening mehndis. Wear it with an embroidered waistcoat or a bright stole so it still feels like a mehndi.
Is a waistcoat necessary with a kurta for the mehndi?
Not necessary. On a hot night, or if you're a guest, a good kurta on its own is fine. For a complete look, though, add one. Grooms usually go for an embroidered waistcoat.
What's the difference between a mehndi kurta and a regular kurta?
Mostly color and detail. A mehndi kurta tends to be brighter, with embroidery, mirror work or decorative buttons. Your everyday kurta is plainer.
What shoes go best with a mehndi outfit?
Khussa, if you want to keep it traditional. Peshawari chappals are a relaxed alternative, and plain loafers work if you'd rather wear neither.
