Invited to a wedding in India this season? Here is what to book, what to pack and what to carry, from a team that helps Kiwi families do it every year.
At a glance: the Indian wedding guest guide from NZ
Indian wedding season runs roughly November to February. Book your flights the moment the dates are fixed, because wedding-week seats fill fast. Stay at least a week if you want the sangeet, mehndi, wedding and reception. Pack one outfit per function, keep jewellery in your cabin bag, and check your baggage allowance before you buy a heavy lehenga. Reference fares from Auckland to Delhi or Mumbai start from NZD $920 per person (checked 7 October 2026, prices change daily).
When to book: the moment the dates are fixed
Indian weddings are planned around auspicious dates, and the same dates are auspicious for thousands of other weddings too. Add the New Zealand summer holidays and students flying home, and November to February becomes the busiest time of year on New Zealand to India routes.
So the rule is simple. When a cousin confirms the week on WhatsApp, book. Do not wait for the printed card. Guests who book in October for a January wedding have a choice of airlines. Guests who book in December often get the last two seats on an awkward routing. If the day is still moving, book around the week and ask us about fares that allow a date change.
How long to go for: a week, or the whole run of functions
A traditional Indian wedding is a run of events over three to five days, and the wedding itself may fall mid-week. Here is how our guests usually plan it.
| Trip length | What you get to | Who it suits |
| 5 to 7 days | The wedding day plus a function either side. | Guests with limited leave. Friends rather than close family. |
| 10 to 14 days | The full run: haldi, mehndi, sangeet, wedding and reception, plus time with relatives. | Close family. Anyone with children. The most common booking. |
| 3 to 4 weeks | The wedding, a family circuit and a holiday on top. | Families using the summer school holidays. Students between semesters. |
Whatever you choose, land at least 48 hours before the first function. Nobody dances well on no sleep.
What to pack: an outfit for every function
Each function has its own feel and colour code. You do not need designer everything, but wearing the same outfit to the mehndi and the sangeet will be noticed by at least one aunty.
Function | What it is | What guests wear |
Haldi | Turmeric ceremony at home, usually in the morning. Messy and joyful. | Yellow or light colours. Cotton you do not mind staining. Flats. |
Mehndi | Henna afternoon with music and food. | Bright, floral or green. Light lehenga, sharara or printed kurta set. Men: a light kurta pyjama. |
Sangeet | The big party night. Family dances, dinner, late finish. | Your glamorous outfit. Lehenga, anarkali or embellished gown. Men: sherwani or bandhgala. Shoes you can dance in. |
Wedding | The ceremony itself. Can run several hours. Rituals vary by region and faith. | Traditional and rich. Silk saree, heavy lehenga or elegant suit. Men: sherwani, kurta with Nehru jacket, or a suit. Avoid white and plain black; avoid red unless you are the bride’s family. |
Reception | Evening dinner, often a day or two later, hosted by the groom’s side. | Smart evening wear. Saree, gown or cocktail outfit. Men: suit or bandhgala. |
- Jewellery goes in your cabin bag, always. Never in checked luggage. Keep it in a small pouch you can reach at security.
- Fold heavy outfits with tissue paper between layers and carry the dupatta flat. A garment bag inside the suitcase helps.
- Consider buying in India. Tailors in most big cities can stitch a blouse or alter a sherwani in a few days. It is often cheaper and saves baggage weight.
Flying from Wellington? Read our guide to flights Wellington to Mumbai for the connection advice.
Gifts, cash and baggage: 4 ways to carry it sensibly
1. Cash gifts are normal, but keep them modest
Many Indian families give cash in an envelope, often an amount ending in one. Both New Zealand and India set limits on how much cash you can carry without declaring it, so check the current rules and do not carry large sums. You can withdraw rupees from an ATM once you arrive.
2. Choose gifts that travel well
Manuka honey, merino, Kiwi chocolate and good skincare are popular and easy to pack. Liquids go in checked luggage. If you are carrying wine or spirits, check India’s duty-free limit for alcohol before you buy, because it is small.
3. Weigh the suitcase before you leave home
Embroidered lehengas and sherwanis are heavy. Many fares on New Zealand to India routes include a generous checked allowance, but basic fares do not. We tell you the exact allowance when we quote, so you know before you shop. And leave room: you will come home with sweets, favours and gifts.
4. Keep valuables and documents with you
Passports, the Indian visa or OCI card, cash, jewellery and medicines stay in the cabin bag. New Zealand passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website well before you travel, and leave extra time in wedding season.
Destination weddings: getting between cities
More Kiwi guests are being invited to destination weddings in Udaipur, Jaipur and Goa. Beautiful, but they add one more leg.
- Udaipur: A short domestic flight via Delhi or Mumbai, or a drive from Ahmedabad.
- Jaipur: Fly direct from several cities, or train or road from Delhi, a half-day either way.
- Goa: A short flight from Mumbai, Bengaluru or Delhi. Easy to add beach days after.
Book domestic legs early, because every guest wants the same flights. Checked baggage on a basic domestic fare is often around 15 kilograms, far less than your international flight. Where possible, ask us to put the domestic leg on the same booking.
Taking the family: weddings and the summer school holidays
If the wedding falls between late December and late January, it lines up with the New Zealand summer break. Term 4 ends no later than Friday 18 December 2026, and Term 1 2027 starts between 28 January and 3 February 2027. That is roughly six weeks: long enough for the wedding, the relatives and a proper holiday.
The catch is that everyone else knows this too. Those weeks are the peak of the peak. If your wedding sits inside them, book now and stay flexible by a few days either side.
- Book everyone on one booking so you sit together and changes are simple.
- Children’s outfits can be bought in India in an afternoon, so pack light for them.
- Grandparents travelling? Ask us about wheelchair assistance and special meals at booking.
- Students and teachers: join MannPass for free. Verified New Zealand students, teachers, lecturers and education staff get NZD $25 off selected return flights between New Zealand and India. Valid 30 days from verification, renewable, and not combinable with other promotions.
Wedding trips add up once you count outfits and gifts. If you would rather not pay the full fare in one go, ask our team about flexible payment options.
Why book your wedding trip with Mann Travel?
Our team is based in Papatoetoe, Auckland. We speak Hindi, Punjabi and English and we are on call 24/7, so when the sangeet moves by a day, you reach a real person. We are group and family specialists. Ten guests, three cities, one booking is a normal week for us.
Let’s take you home for the wedding.
Search live fares at manntravel.co.nz/flights or call our Auckland team on 09 973 1940. Tell us the wedding dates and the cities, and we will plan the whole trip. You can also send us a message.
frequently asked questions
How early should I book flights for an Indian wedding?
As soon as the dates are fixed, ideally two to four months ahead for a November to February wedding. Wedding-week flights from New Zealand fill quickly, especially in the summer school holidays.
How long should I stay for an Indian wedding?
A week covers the wedding day and a function either side. Ten to fourteen days covers the full run from haldi to reception, with time for relatives. Land at least 48 hours before the first function.
What should a guest wear to an Indian wedding?
Light colours for the haldi, bright or floral for the mehndi, your most glamorous outfit for the sangeet, traditional and rich for the wedding, and smart evening wear for the reception. Avoid white, plain black, and red unless you are the bride’s close family.
Can I carry cash and gifts to India?
Yes, within limits. Both New Zealand and India require you to declare cash above certain amounts, so check the current rules and keep cash modest. Manuka honey, merino and chocolate travel well. Keep jewellery in your cabin bag.
How much does it cost to fly from New Zealand to India for a wedding?
Reference fares from Auckland start from NZD $920 per person return to Delhi or Mumbai, NZD $992 to Bengaluru and NZD $1,020 to Ahmedabad (checked 7 October 2026, prices change daily). Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown fares are quoted on request. December and January cost more.
Fares and availability change daily and depend on the airline, date and fare type. Baggage allowances, customs limits and visa rules change and are the traveller’s responsibility to check. Dress advice is general; follow the host family’s guidance for their region and faith. Always confirm live prices before booking.
