Like most Maharashtrian grooms, a CKP groom will not be dressed flashily or with heavily embroidered outfits. His outfits, while varied throughout ceremonies, will be simple, clean, and accented with accessories and colors as suits the rituals.
View the rest of the CKP Wedding Guide:
Pre-Wedding/Engagement Rituals
Groom’s Attire – You are here!
Photo via Gunjan and Karan’s Wedding
Kurtas
For most of the wedding rituals, the groom will wear a kurta. A dhoti kurta consists of a long shirt that hits below the knee and a pair of light, loose-fitting pants. Kurtas can be made of materials as extravagant as silk and as simple as cotton.
During the wedding ceremony itself, a CKP groom will a fancier kurta, perhaps made of a silk blend that appears shiny and more appealing than simple cotton. However, for the pre-wedding rituals, most of which are conducted at the home of either the bride or groom, the groom will opt for a simple, cotton kurta.
Photo via Vanita & Brian’s Wedding
The kurta may be embellished with embroidery for the wedding ceremony. However, the color scheme tends to be standard: the groom’s dhoti kurta is always a cream or off-white color. This color is of particular importance to the Hindu religion, as it symbolizes cleanliness, holiness, and devotion to the gods.
Formal Suits
For the formal wedding reception, held after the wedding rituals are completed, the CKP groom opts to wear a formal, Western two-piece suit and tie. Many grooms still choose to wear kurtas, however, and for the reception, they will wear silk kurtas decorated with bright scarves or embroidery.
Photo via Kerry & Jason’s wedding
The groom’s suit is usually of dark colors with a lighter colored, plain shirt underneath. The tie may be more decorated to match the bride’s attire to add more fun to the outfit.
Accessories
The groom also wears a mundavalya made of white pearls and flowers around his forehead like his bride does. This headpiece is worn only for the wedding ceremony itself and is removed before any post-wedding rituals.
Photo via Shilpa & Eguiar’s Wedding
A scarf, or piece of decorated cloth, is worn around the groom’s neck or shoulder during the wedding ceremony. This is tied to the bride’s sari pallu as the couple walks around the holy fire during the Saptapadi ritual.
Like the bride, the groom also wears a garland of white and red roses which is placed around his neck by the bride once their vows are spoken.
Photo via Priyanka & Sandesh’s Wedding
CKP grooms do not traditionally wear turbans or any other hair covering during any of the wedding rituals, but modern weddings sometimes include them. They often do not wear jewelry as well, unless gold chains are passed down from elder family members. The groom’s attire is always elegantly simple.