Anarkali Suits for Mother of the Bride & Groom

Paulmi and Harsh ivory jamavar jacquard anarkali with cape — quiet, considered and made for the mother of the bride.

The best anarkali suits for the mother of the bride — and the mother of the groom — do three things at once: they flatter, they stay comfortable through a very long day, and they look festive without competing with the couple. The anarkali has done all three for generations, which is exactly why it remains the first choice for mothers at an Indian wedding.

A fitted bodice, a flare that falls from a high waist and a floor-length hem create a long, graceful line that skims rather than clings. There is no pleating to manage and no drape to re-pin between functions — just a piece that looks as composed at the last dance as it did at the first photograph.

Below, six made-to-measure anarkalis from Nidhika Shekhar, Angad Singh, Nitika Gujral and Paulmi and Harsh, grouped by the function they suit best. For more ideas for the wider family, read our guide to family wedding lehengas — or see how one of our clients wore a bespoke anarkali in our client diaries.

Why the anarkali suits the mother of the bride and groom

A mother's wedding wardrobe works harder than anyone's. She greets guests, performs rituals, sits through ceremonies, dances at the sangeet and appears in almost every family photograph — often across three or four days.

The anarkali is built for that. The flare gives freedom of movement for sitting cross-legged at a puja or stepping onto the dance floor. Sleeves offer coverage without adding weight. And because every piece here is made to measure, length and fit are cut to you rather than to a standard size — which is where most off-the-rack anarkalis fall short.

For the sangeet

The sangeet is the night to wear colour. Teal and a rich purplish blue both read as celebratory and photograph beautifully under evening lights, while the anarkali's flare moves well when the family takes the floor.

Nidhika Shekhar — sangeet

Teal Green Chiffon Anarkali

Light chiffon in a jewel-toned teal — easy to move and dance in, and flattering on almost every skin tone.

Nidhika Shekhar — sangeet

Purplish Blue Wrinkle Anarkali Set

A textured, crinkled fabric in a deep purplish blue — rich in colour, forgiving in wear and practical to travel with.

For the wedding day

On the wedding day itself, raw silk is the fabric to choose. It holds its shape through long ceremonies, has a subtle sheen that looks rich in daylight, and gives the anarkali a more structured, formal line. Both picks here come from Angad Singh.

Angad Singh — wedding day

Blush Pink Raw Silk Anarkali Set

Soft blush pink in raw silk — elegant and gentle, and a colour that sits beautifully beside almost any bridal palette.

Angad Singh — wedding day

Red Raw Silk Anarkali Set

Traditional red for the mother who wants the most festive look of the day. Check the bride's colour first so the two sit well together.

For the puja, the welcome party and the after party

The smaller functions call for something lighter. A pastel georgette suits a morning puja, while an anarkali pants set gives the welcome dinner or after party a more relaxed, modern feel.

Nitika Gujral — puja

Pastel Green Georgette Anarkali Set

A fresh pastel green in light georgette — calm, comfortable for sitting through rituals and right for a daytime ceremony.

Paulmi and Harsh — welcome party or after party

Purple Silk Anarkali Pants Set

Embroidered silk worn with pants rather than a churidar — polished enough for a welcome dinner, relaxed enough for the after party.

Mother of the bride or mother of the groom — does it change the choice?

Not the silhouette, but it may change the colour. Many families coordinate the two mothers so they complement each other in the main photographs rather than match exactly — one in blush pink and the other in a deeper jewel tone, for example.

The simplest rule is to find out the bride's colours first, then choose a shade that sits well beside hers. If you are coordinating several family outfits at once, the video call is a good moment to talk it through — it is how we brought four bridesmaids into one palette for Caomie's wedding in Dublin.

Explore our wedding family anarkali collection, read our guide to family wedding lehengas, browse real weddings in our client diaries, or return to the Fabilicious journal.