In India, a wedding is not only about the wedding day, but it also involves several functions before the actual wedding day, and each function is equally important and has a unique significance. Even though Indian weddings may be exhausting and taxing, the love-showering ceremonies, traditional customs, getting dressed up for even the tiniest occasions, and feasting on some lip-smacking delicacies are the finest parts.
One such important function is the Roka ceremony. It is the first function that takes place amongst many North Indian communities, and is also the start of the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’. According to our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and ancestors, the Roka ritual serves as a formal declaration of both the bride and groom's agreement to marry and begin the celebrations.
It denotes that the groom has been halted, i.e. saved for the bride, and vice versa. It can also be regarded as a pre-engagement ceremony, and some individuals use this occasion to exchange rings between the couple. But it is undeniably the first function before the wedding celebrations begin.
If you are about to get rokafied and are feeling overwhelmed because of all that is going on around you, don’t worry we have got your back. We have curated some tips and tricks and outfit ideas for you, that will help you while selecting the perfect outfit for your Roka ceremony.
No matter how important this function is, don’t go heavy on accessories, keep it for the wedding day.
It is preferable to select something that is light and not very hefty for these types of functions which tend to go on the whole day. Wear something that is comfortable, flowy and breezy.
If by chance, you decide to go for a heavy outfit, keep the makeup subtle and have minimal jewellery. And, if you go for a simple outfit, you can go for a bold makeup look along with minimal jewellery. Have a balanced look, save the ‘Over-the-top’ look for the wedding day.
Colours are really something with which you may have a lot of fun since now is the chance to stand out in terms of fashion. The list is endless, Blue, Pink, Green, Coral, Cream, etc. you can experiment with any colour that you want to.
Select the footwear that you are comfortable in. If you are comfortable in heels, go for heels, and if you are comfortable in flats go for them. Since you might have to keep standing for a lot of time, wear something that you feel comfortable in.
Before selecting the outfit, try selecting the backdrop and the decor that you will be going with. Do not buy your outfit in colours that will merge with the decoration, go for colours that are in contrast to it so that you can have a pop of colours, which will result in capturing better pictures of the ceremony.
Gown
For the millennial woman who doesn’t want to wear a traditional saree, suit or lehenga, you can wear a gown along with a simple dupatta for the perfect Indo-Western look. If you don’t want to wear a cream or beige coloured outfit, you can opt for colours like blue, turquoise, etc. You can complement the look by wearing statement earrings.
Silk Saree
If you are a millennial bride, who loves vintage vibes, you can wear a silk saree on your Roka for a complete traditional look. Jewellery Designer Miheeka Bajaj, who married popular South Actor Rana Daggubati, also wore a beautiful silk saree on her Roka. You can complete the look by pairing it with a minimal gold jewellery set.
Lehenga
If you are someone who loves to wear traditional, you can never go wrong with wearing a lehenga. Famous fashion blogger and social media influencer Kritika Khurana, a.k.a That Boho Girl, got Rokafied recently and looked like she had come out of some fairytale. She wore a beautiful mirror work lehenga in a cream/off-white tint to match with her beau. Just like her, you can complete the look by wearing a diamond choker set along with simple and elegant diamond bracelets.
Shirt and Lehenga
If you are someone who loves to look effortless, this is the perfect combination for you. You can complete the look by pairing it with a statement choker set and a statement bracelet.
Sharara
If you don't want to feel like a princess in a lehenga or be limited by the 6-yard garment piece, a stylish sharara is the best piece of clothing that you can opt to wear on your Roka. You can complete the look by wearing statement earrings and a statement bracelet.
Dark Monotone
If you are a bride who loves to look over the top, then a dark monotone lehenga or saree is definitely an outfit you can wear on your Roka. You can pair this outfit with a gold or a diamond choker set.
Quirky Colour
If you are a millennial bride who likes to wear quirky and unconventional colours, then choose colours like lime green, neon green, neon pink, etc. To complete the look you can pair it with a heavy statement choker set and a minimal maangtika.
Patiala Salwar Suit
If don’t want to wear an outfit that feels heavy, then wearing a simple Patiala suit on your Roka is the best option that you can go for. You can seal the deal by pairing the suit with matching bangles and statement earrings.
Kurta and Plazzo
If you don't want to deal with the difficulty of the above-mentioned clothes, Kurti and Palazzo combination with embellished Jutti is the right choice for you. Pair it with bangles and minimal jewellery to keep the look minimalistic and subtle.
Peplum Blouse with Lehenga
Peplum blouses are a relatively new fashion, particularly among brides and brides-to-be. Whatever your reason may be for choosing it, you can't deny the fact that it looks distinctive and adds a variation to your traditional appearance. Pair it with some bold earrings and a basic bracelet to keep the outfit simple
