Best Sarees for Indian Weddings in the USA: A Guide for the Indian Diaspora

Planning an Indian wedding in the United States and wondering where to buy authentic handwoven silk sarees? This guide covers how to shop for bridal Kanjivarams, Banarasi silks, Paithanis, and trousseau sarees from India — including how video appointments work, what to expect with international shipping, and how to build a wedding saree collection without travelling to India. At The Saffron House, we serve the Indian diaspora across the US with direct shipping from our stores in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

By Meera, Founder & CEO of The Saffron House

Why Buying Sarees from India Still Matters

Whether you are a bride-to-be, a mother planning her daughter's wedding, or someone building a collection of authentic Indian textiles — you already know that finding genuine handwoven sarees in the US is challenging. Most Indian clothing stores in the India and US carry a limited selection, often at significant markups, and it is difficult to verify whether a saree is truly handwoven or a power-loom imitation.

Buying directly from a trusted source in India gives you access to a far wider selection, authentic handloom quality verified at the source, and pricing without the international retail premium. The challenge has always been: how do you shop for something as tactile as a silk saree without being there in person?

How Video Shopping Works at The Saffron House

This is exactly the problem we built our video appointment service to solve. Here is how it works:

Step 1: Book a video appointment through our website or call us at +1 469-369-9100. Tell us the occasion (wedding, reception, engagement, festival), your colour preferences, budget range, and any regional weaving traditions you prefer.

Step 2: On the call, our saree consultant will show you sarees in real time from our store — holding them up to natural light so you can see the true colour, drape, and zari shine. You can ask them to zoom into the weave, the pallu detail, or the border.

Step 3: Once you select your sarees, we process the order and ship directly to your US address. International shipping typically takes 7–14 business days depending on your location.

This service has been especially popular with our customers in Dallas, the Bay Area, New Jersey, Virginia, and Houston — cities with large Indian communities planning weddings.

Building a Wedding Trousseau: What Sarees You Need

A traditional Indian wedding trousseau typically includes sarees for multiple functions. Here is a practical guide for planning your collection:

For the Wedding Ceremony / Muhurtham: A Bridal Kanjivaram in deep red, magenta, or gold is the most traditional choice for South Indian ceremonies. For North Indian weddings, a heavily embellished Banarasi silk is classic. Budget: ₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000.

For the Reception: A Brocade Kanjivaram or a Paithani in jewel tones makes a stunning reception look. Consider pastels if you want a softer, contemporary vibe. Budget: ₹30,000 – ₹80,000.

For the Engagement / Sangeet: A lighter silk like Banarasi Organza or a Tissue Kanjivaram pairs beautifully with contemporary jewellery. Budget: ₹20,000 – ₹50,000.

For Haldi / Mehendi: A vibrant yellow or green Cotton Silk or Bandhini saree is both traditional and practical for these informal, colourful functions. Budget: ₹5,000 – ₹15,000.

For Gifting (mother-in-law, sisters, close family): Curate a mix of Korvai Kanjivarams and Banarasi silks in the ₹15,000 – ₹30,000 range. Saree gifting is a cherished tradition, and genuine handwoven sarees from India make a much more meaningful gift than anything available locally in the US.

For the Heirloom Piece: If you want one saree that becomes a family heirloom passed down generations, consider a Patan Patola or a Collector's Edit Kanjivaram. These are investment pieces that appreciate in value as the weaving traditions become rarer. Budget: ₹80,000 – ₹2,00,000+.

Shipping to the US: What to Expect

The Saffron House ships directly to addresses across the United States. Sarees are carefully packaged in premium boxes to protect the silk and zari during transit. International shipping is calculated at checkout based on the destination and package weight. Delivery typically takes 7–14 business days. For urgent orders (wedding deadlines), we can arrange express shipping — contact us directly at +1 469-369-9100 or care@thesaffronhouse.in.

We also offer eGift Cards — perfect if you want to let the bride choose her own sarees.

Cities We Serve Across the US

While we ship nationwide, we have a particularly strong customer base in cities with large Indian diaspora communities: Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New Jersey and the Tri-State area, Northern Virginia and the DC Metro, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Austin. Many of our customers discover us through word of mouth within their community or through our Instagram.