The sangeet is the loosest and the most enjoyable of the big wedding functions. It asks for colour and personality, and it asks for something you can dance in for three hours without regretting it by the second song. Those two demands pull against each other more than most people expect, which is why so many men end up sitting down early in a beautiful outfit. We cut sangeet clothes at Sellers in cloths and shapes that look festive and considered while still letting you move.
The main sangeet options, and who each one suits
For the groom at his own sangeet, it usually comes down to three: a kurta and churidar in a strong colour, deep teal and emerald are popular right now; a Nehru jacket over a plain kurta in a complementary shade; or a bandhgala in something semi-formal like raw silk or a structured cotton. All three give you far more movement than a sherwani while still being clearly dressed for the evening.
For guests, the code is colourful semi-formal. A kurta and churidar in a bright or saturated colour, staying off white and near-white, which belong to the groom's side of the room. A Nehru jacket over a coloured kurta. Or, if you're younger and want to say something, a well-cut printed kurta. The sangeet is the one function where dressing with personality is actively welcomed, so use it.
Cloth and cut that survive the dance floor
The dancing dictates the cloth. Heavy brocade and stiff silks restrict the arms and turn uncomfortable fast under the lights. Lighter silks do better: raw silk, Chanderi, fine silk blends, all of which have enough fall to move with you. Cotton-silk blends in a structured weave are the practical favourite, festive in character but lighter and far more breathable, which matters in a hall full of people in Chennai.
The churidar needs some give. A cotton-lycra or a fine silk-lycra blend is far kinder over three hours than a pure silk with no stretch in it. Cutting it for you means it can gather correctly at the ankle while still leaving room through the seat and thigh to actually dance. A ready-made churidar that fits the thigh but binds at the seat will decide how long you stay on the floor, and not in your favour.