20 Wedding Lehngas Under $520
by Raj Desai | 9/26/2020 | Shopping Guides
All outfits listed were in stock and priced as shown at the time this blog was written. Dulhan is not compensated for any of the following recommendations.
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If there’s one thing that we all know about Indian weddings, it’s that they’re expensive. Food and drinks for your parents’ dream (post-COVID) guest list. A cake that’s as pricey as it is mouthwatering. Decor that’s gonna look *amazing* in your TikToks but like a nightmare on your (or your parent’s) credit card bill.
Yes, weddings are expensive. And nestled among the never-ending costs that can blow your carefully calculated budget…are your wedding outfits. A designer wedding lehnga can easily cost several thousand dollars. Multiply that price tag by four? No, thank you!
Fortunately for you, I’ve spent WAY too much time scrolling through wedding hashtags and following every South Asian wedding account known to man. Which means that in addition to feeling like I live inside of a Bollywood wedding song, I’ve also come across beautiful outfits that happen to be *gasp* affordable.
And, because we shouldn’t have it any other way in a COVID world, each of these outfits can be shipped straight to your doorstep. Here’s a look at 20 budget-friendly bridal lehngas.
To Wear At Your Mehndi And Sangeet
That $520 cap? It was $500 – and then I saw some of the lehngas by Canada’s Luxie Couture (not to brag, but “breaking budgets” is a skill on my resume). Their colorful outfits have modern designs, traditional and form-flattering silhouettes, and reasonable price tags. It’s basically the best of every world. Take your pick from the feminine and pastel-hued Zelena and La’Rosa lehngas, or the vibrant Marigold lehnga.
Zelena
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $520
Designer: Luxie Couture
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La’Rosa
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $520
Designer: Luxie Couture
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Marigold
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $440
Designer: Luxie Couture
Buy it
If suits are more your style, scope out designs by the prolific Poonam’s Kaurture. My favorites include the the vivid yellow Noor Suit, the Ice Blue Anarkali (perfect for a winter wedding), and the sequined sage Riza Anarkali. Caveat: think twice about suits if you’re having mehndi applied on your legs during your event vs. before. Tight leggings and freshly applied henna? Not a good combination.
Riza Anarkali
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $485
Designer: Poonam’s Kaurture
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Noor Suit
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $430
Designer: Poonam’s Kaurture
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Ice Blue Anarkali
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $425
Designer: Poonam’s Kaurture
Buy it
You may be asking yourself, what, besides the name, does Purple Pink Couture have in common with Luxie Couture and Poonam’s Kaurture? Like all the other coutures before it, every outfit has a colorful design, a classic silhouette, and an economical price. I particularly love the Teal Green Embroidered Lehnga, the Pink Raw Silk Lehnga, and the Safina Heavy Thread Zari Lehnga.
Teal Green Embroidered Lehnga
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $445
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
Safina Heavy Thread Zari Lehnga
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $432
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
Pink Raw Silk Lehnga
Event: Mehndi
Price tag: $415
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
I’m enamored with the multicolored Bluebell and Wine O’ Clock lehngas. Bluebell’s jewel tones are rich and elegant (fall wedding, anyone?). And Wine O’ Clock is proof that simple monochromatic lehngas can be showstoppers. You can dress them both up with a heavy kundan set and that signature heavy Indian bridal glam, or tone them down with modern minimalist makeup, hair, and accessories. No matter how you choose to style these lehngas, you can’t go wrong with either.
Bluebell
Event: Sangeet
Price tag: $440
Designer: Luxie Couture
Buy it
Wine O’ Clock
Event: Sangeet
Price tag: $440
Designer: Luxie Couture
Buy it
The Kia Pale Mauve and Sage Blue lehngas – opposite colors, different styles, and both knockout choices for your sangeet night. I’m a sucker for the oh-so-trendy mauve color, gold borders, and intricate details on Kia Pale Mauve’s skirt. And Sage Blue’s simple silk blouse strikes a nice balance with its shimmering skirt.
Kia Pale Mauve
Event: Sangeet
Price tag: $405
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
Sage Blue
Event: Sangeet
Price tag: $375
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
To Wear At Your Ceremony And Reception
The most affordable outfit in the list is the navy blue and hot pink Kalyana lehnga from the UK’s Loukiya. Now, before you balk at ordering an outfit from outside of the US, know that I have *personally* ordered from Loukiya and found the online shopping experience to be seamless and the delivery expedient (shipped 2 days after I ordered it, arrived 11 days after it shipped). Plus, free shipping. The fact that the lehnga is drop-dead gorgeous – that’s just icing on the cake.
Kalyana
Event: Ceremony
Price tag: $175
Designer: Loukiya
Buy it
Imagine wearing the simple sophisticated Zari sharara under the bistro lights at your micromony. It’s not a lehnga but I couldn’t not include it. Perk for those of you who like to stay trendy: the sharara is a bridal style that’s rising in popularity. Fashionable, cost-effective, and elegant? Win!
Zari
Event: Ceremony
Price tag: $460
Designer: Luxie Couture
Buy it
Minimalist brides, the Leela lehnga is for you. It’s so beautiful. A vibrant shade of red, floral monochrome threadwork, and the right amount of sequin sparkle. Take it to the next level with jewelry that contrasts either in color (go with green) or style (heavy jewelry and lots of it). Worth breaking the budget for. Even if it’s only by eight dollars *wink*.
Leela
Event: Ceremony
Price tag: $528
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
The Mehreen lehnga is my absolute. Number one. Favorite lehnga on this list. The color is a surprising, elegant, and unexpected choice for a wedding ceremony. And then there’s the gold gota patti work *all* over the skirt. It’ll look gorgeous in person and in your wedding photos.
Mehreen
Event: Ceremony
Price tag: $439
Designer: Purple Pink Couture
Buy it
The Flesh Peach Banarasi Lehnga is another simple lightweight lehnga from Loukiya. It’s a great choice because you’ll A) look sensational in it and B) get to party without a heavy lehnga slowing you down.
Floral Peach Banarasi Lehnga
Event: Reception
Price tag: $240
Designer: Loukiya
Buy it
A close second to the Mehreen lehnga? It’s the Ankita lehnga. Foil print. A one-shouldered blouse. A deep, sumptuous shade of plum. It is an impressive lehnga – both in design and price.
Ankita
Event: Reception
Price tag: $420
Designer: Luxie Couture
Buy it
And last but not least, we have the Gold Thread lehnga. White thread work. Gold sequins. And right on budget! If you plan on dancing until the sun comes up, this is the perfect lightweight lehnga to do it in.
Gold thread
Event: Reception
Price tag: $520
Designer: Luxie Couture
Buy it
20 outfits from 4 stores? You’ve got a lot of options to choose from. But the best part is that they only scratch the surface of budget-friendly wedding wear. And with that I leave the rest of the discovery to you. Scrolling through affordable designs and envisioning yourself decked out in them for your wedding day…well, that’s 90% of the fun!
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Raj Desai
Founder & Chief Visionary, proud fur mom of 2, amateur artist, Netflix binger, wino, and chocolate addict.