For decades the groom’s brief was simple: beige sherwani, don’t upstage anyone. That era is over. Grooms in 2026 are co-leads — coordinating palettes with the bride, layering heritage textiles, and treating each function as a distinct style statement.
Here is the modern groom’s guide to sherwani trends, function-wise outfit planning and the accessories that finish a look.
Colours Grooms Are Actually Wearing
Ivory and cream remain the classic base, but 2026’s standouts are deep teal, wine, forest green, charcoal and dusty pastels like sage and powder blue for daytime events. The strongest looks coordinate with the bride’s palette without matching it exactly — her lilac lehenga with his deep plum bandhgala reads intentional, not costume-y.
Silhouettes and Trends
The sherwani has quietly modernized.
- Shorter, sharper sherwani cuts with tapered trousers replacing heavy churidars
- Bandhgala suits and jodhpuris for receptions — the most photographed groom look of the year
- Layered drapes and stoles in contrast textiles (a banarasi stole over solid ivory)
- Tonal-on-tonal embroidery instead of heavy metallic all-over work
- Kurta-jacket sets for haldi and mehndi — comfortable, stylish, turmeric-sacrificeable
Function-by-Function Outfit Plan
A practical wardrobe map: a light cotton or linen kurta set for haldi (it will be stained — plan accordingly), a colourful bundi jacket over a kurta for mehndi, an embellished indo-western or bandhgala for sangeet, the full sherwani with safa and layered necklace for the wedding, and a sharp tuxedo or jodhpuri for the reception. Five looks, escalating formality.
Accessories: Where Good Becomes Great
The safa (turban) should complement, not match, the sherwani; a well-chosen kalgi elevates it instantly. Add a single statement layer — a pearl mala or polki brooch — rather than stacking. Footwear matters more than grooms think: quality mojaris or loafers you have actually broken in, because you will stand for six hours. And carry a pocket square logic into Indianwear with a contrast stole.
Timelines and Budgets
Order custom sherwanis 3–4 months ahead with a fitting at 4 weeks and 1 week out. Quality off-rack sherwanis run ₹15,000–50,000, designer pieces ₹75,000–2 lakh, and couture beyond. Rental is excellent value for the reception tuxedo and sangeet indo-western — outfits worn once, photographed briefly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colour sherwani is trending for grooms in 2026?
Ivory remains classic, but deep teal, wine, forest green and dusty pastels like sage are the trending groom colours of 2026 — ideally coordinated with, but not identical to, the bride’s outfit palette.
How many outfits does a groom need for an Indian wedding?
Typically four to five: a casual kurta for haldi, a bundi-kurta set for mehndi, an indo-western or bandhgala for sangeet, a sherwani for the wedding ceremony, and a tuxedo or jodhpuri suit for the reception.
Should the groom’s outfit match the bride’s lehenga?
Coordinate rather than match. Pick a colour from the bride’s palette or a complementary tone — matching outfits exactly tends to look staged, while coordinated palettes photograph as intentional and elegant.
Final Thoughts
Great groom style is coordination, comfort and one memorable detail per look. Avsar Eventz offers couple styling consultations so both partners walk in looking like a set — not a coincidence.
Written by Mayuri Patel for avsareventz.com/ — your partner in modern Indian wedding planning.
