Your jewellery guide for each wedding function

A South Asian wedding is not one event with one outfit. It is four or five, often compressed into a few weeks, each with its own dress code, and, this is the part people miss, its own physical demands. You will be seated for one and dancing at another, your hands will be unusable for a whole afternoon and theother your head will be covered.

Jewellery that ignores this doesn't just look wrong. It gets in the way. So rather than organising this by piece, we've organised it by function: what you'll actually be doing, what to wear while you do it, and what to leave in the box.

1 MEHNDI

Seated for hours. Hands out of action. Every photograph is a close-up.

Mehndi is the one function where the jewellery brief is genuinely about logistics. You will be sitting still with your palms up while someone works on them, for anywhere between two and six hours. Anything on your hands or wrists is coming straight back off, and anything heavy around your neck will feel like a punishment by hour three, because you'll be leaning forward the whole time.

So we suggest earrings and a tikka because the camera lives at face level all afternoon, this is the function where earrings earn the most attention per pound spent.

It's also the only day where you can step away from gold without it looking like a mistake. Mehndi outfits run bright and very vibrant.

LEAVE IT OFF: Bangles, bracelets, punja's. The henna artist needs your wrists and ankles clear, and wet henna transfers onto metal. Whatever you were going to wear on your hands, wear it another time.

2 SANGEET

Dancing, performances, movement. Jewellery has to keep up.

Here is the rule nobody tells you: anything hanging below your collarbone moves independently of your body. On a dance floor that means a rani haar swings up into your chin, lands off-centre in every photograph, and needs resettling between every song.

Sangeet is choker territory. A fitted necklace sits high on the throat, stays where you put it, and reads clearly in low light because it catches the light close to your face rather than disappearing into your neckline.

Earrings can carry real weight tonight, they should, since the necklace is doing less work than usual, but keep the drop short. A long chandelier will tangle in a dupatta the first time someone spins you.

THE TWO-LENGTH RULE: Wear one necklace length, not two. Save the layered look for the ceremony, where you'll be seated and it can be arranged properly.

3 THE TRADITIONAL CEREMONY

The Nikah, Anand karaj, or the Saat phere. The one function that takes the full set.

This is where a full traditional set takes the shine. Tikka, choker, earrings, and a rani haar if your neckline has room for one.

If you are layering, layer in two clear lengths: the choker high on the throat, the harr long on the chest, and nothing occupying the space between. Two lengths read as intentional. Three reads as crowded, and in photographs the middle piece simply disappears into the other two.

Worth knowing before you spend: for most of this ceremony you will be seated, often with your head covered and frequently looking down. Your tikka and earrings will be visible in almost every frame. The lower half of a very long harr may not be. If your budget has to bend somewhere, bend it upward, toward the face.

BUY THE SET, NOT RANDOM PIECES: Matched sets will obviously flow much better and the stone placements and details will all co-ordinate.

The Sohani Bridal collection (below) has beautiful beads and vintage detail perfect for the traditional occasion. This range has many accessories and sizes to suit your look. View the full range 

4 RECEPTION

Standing, mingling, photographed head-on all evening. 

Receptions have drifted modern. Outfits are a fusion look, sometimes Western, and the room is usually darker. The instinct is to compensate by wearing more. Resist it, the ceremony was the maximalist day, and repeating it makes the two events blur together in the album.

You can go for something unique but ensure the jewellery is not overpowering the look. Here are a few great suggestions.

The Puravati range is influenced by Kundan-style designs, and incorporates colourful stones and cream pearls to give a unique look.
View the collection

The Adeema Collection has both traditional and fusion accessories making it versatile for multiple functions. The below bride Nazneen has gone for a modern look for her reception occasion. View the entire range

5 BRIDESMAIDS AND FAMILY
It's such a novel idea that the bridesmaids and close family wear co-ordinated pieces. We have a wide variety of accessories to suit various budgets so you can realistically achieve the look.

Here's a lovely example of the aunties wearing the same outfit and Kyles pendant sets.

6 THE GROOM

On the big day it's normally the bride that gets all the attention but let's not forget it's equally the groom's big day. We have a big selection of traditional accessories to ensure the groom looks regal and majestic. From Rani harr necklaces to turban klagi's for that final touch. View the full menswear range here.

This is just a simple guide and you can ofcourse break the mould and choose whichever pieces you adore. Speak to our stylists over a virtual appointment and let's design you the perfect pieces.