My last blog post about my first Indian wedding in America experience was a hit. Now, after attending my first Indian wedding in India, let’s dive into my adventures as a white person at an Indian wedding.
In this blog post, I share my experiences with hair, makeup, henna, haldi, and navigating the lehenga as a white person at an Indian wedding. From managing the heat wave of frizz from traditional hair styling to finding the right makeup balance for different skin tones, I dive into what worked, what didn’t, and offer tips for a seamless experience for fellow guests navigating cultural weddings.
Hair: In India, they went all out on my hair, using a super hot crimper straight from the 80s. It’s perfect for adding volume to luscious Indian hair, but on a blonde like me, it felt more like a heat wave of frizz. A little teasing would’ve sufficed. The next night, I kindly asked to skip the crimper, and voila, the problem was solved!
Makeup: At both Indian weddings I attended, I was offered a session with a makeup artist, however I wished I had been more specific about my makeup desires, instead of leaving it up to chance. Indian makeup artists love bold colors and styles that pop on Indian features. It’s all about drama, especially those mesmerizing brown eyes. But for me, with my already big eyes and warm skin tones, the heavy eyeliner was a bit much. I needed a warmer blush to feel like myself. If you’re adventurous or not too picky about makeup, you might adore the bold look. If you’re like me, ask for a trial or make sure there’s time for adjustments. Oh, and showing them a photo of what you want is a game-changer. On night two, I did my own foundation, asked for a subtle smokey eye, and rocked my favorite lashes from Lashify.
Henna: If you’ve had henna before, you know it’s a stunning souvenir that lasts for weeks. You can either bring a design or let the artist work their magic. They’ll ask if you want a full or partial design, so plan ahead (bathroom breaks and snacks, anyone?). The longer it stays on, the richer the color. After washing it off, it lightens initially and deepens over 24 hours.
Haldi: This blessing ceremony is all about yellow, from the paste to the attire. Just a heads up for Indian brides – turmeric can stain your skin yellow, so before you go all in, do a trial to see how it affects your skin tone, or request to keep it away from your face for a flawless glow.
Lehenga: If you’re wearing one of these stunning two-piece outfits, they have a lage skirt and a top which is what american’s would refer to ass “cropped”. It typically features a lower back, and has existing padding which is too much for a typical bra, so it’s usually worn without undergarments. I regretted not bringing sticky pasties for extra lift and shape underneath. It’s especially handy for those of us who appreciate a little extra support.
Let me know in the comments if this was helpful! Cheers!
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