In a world where social media pretty much dictates fashion and lifestyle trends, one segment of the fashion industry that is majorly governed by what the celebrities are wearing and showcasing on their socials, is wedding wear. Social media handles of the stars, particularly Bollywood actors, have been crafting a modern bridal mood board. t2 looks back at some recent weddings that showcase the modern bridal mood.
Kiara Advani: The Shershaah actress tied the knot with Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra at an intimate wedding at Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer last year. She looked gorgeous in a beautiful light pink and ivory-toned lehnga by Manish Malhotra, embellished with Swarvoski crystals. She opted for a beautiful choker and a pair of studs in diamonds and emeralds, perfectly complementing her bridal attire. She completed her look with bangles encrusted with the same precious stones and choodas in pink and white. Her soft glam makeup with gently contoured cheeks and sleek hair tied into a bun, adorned with dark pink roses, made her look as fresh as a daisy. What stole our hearts were the cute connotations embedded in Kiara’s personalised kaleeras.
Alia Bhatt: The national award-winning actress was a vision to behold at her wedding to Ranbir Kapoor in Mumbai in 2022. The Rocky aur Rani kii Prem Kahaani actress ditched the conventional red and opted for a Sabyasachi ivory organza sari featuring fine tilla work. She redefined the wedding trousseau for upcoming brides, and what took the crown was her handwoven embroidered tissue veil raining down alongside her open hair with loosely flowing curls. She chose a bohemian hairstyle, which was a statement in itself. A cute little red bindi elegantly sat amidst the subtle makeup. Her stunning bridal jewellery with uncut diamonds and hand-strung pearls was from Sabyasachi Heritage Jewellery.
Katrina Kaif: The Tiger actress looked straight out of a fairy tale as she walked down the aisle with actor Vicky Kaushal at Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan in 2021. She looked regal and was out-and-out knitted out by designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. While her Christian wedding stood out in sharp contrast to her all-red look at her Punjabi wedding, few would know her wedding ensemble was a tribute to her mother’s culture. The old-world charm of her ivory-toned floral embroidered tulle sari and an accompanying trailing veil matched the English wedding gown effect, with freely flowing tresses, coordinated jewellery and a pared-down makeup look.
Parineeti Chopra: The Ishaqzaade actress joined the ever-growing roster of Indian brides choosing an understated bridal look last year. It filled our hearts with joy as she engaged in good-natured banter right before taking the vows with politician Raghav Chadha in yet another minimalism-inspired look at Udaipur’s The Leela Palace. She found her muse in a champagne-toned Manish Malhotra lehnga that she perfected with a rather simplistic mehndi and a sunkissed makeup look. What grabbed a lot of attention was perhaps that she ditched the ethnic bindi, a must for most Indian brides.
Rhea Kapoor: Producer Rhea Kapoor’s wedding was all about a fairytale charm as she sealed the deal with long-time beau, producer Karan Boolani, in an all-white ensemble in Juhu in Mumbai in 2021. She was the epitome of beauty in those enviable winged eyes and blushed yet fuss-free makeup and long, straight hair.
While the red versus ivory bride debate rages on in the wedding fashion industry, there’s no denying the fact that an alternative mood board to the traditional Indian bridal look has clearly emerged slowly and gradually, ever since Anushka Sharma set the ball rolling in her pink Sabyasachi lehnga at her dream Tuscany wedding to cricketer Virat Kohli. For some, however, red rules on the D-day. From Bollywood beauties Yami Gautam to Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, many of them have showcased how the sari or simply the colour red has the last say at weddings.
Speaking to t2, designer Khushboo Bagri said: “For other rituals like haldi and mehndi functions, a lot of brides are opting for pre-stitched/ draped saris and skirts with heavily embroidered blouses in contemporary designs. Vibrant hues like fuchsia and purple are getting more popular by the day.”
Avishekk Naiya, Khushboo Bagri
Designer Avishekk Naiya does not agree celebrities dictate ensemble choices. “Pastel is the in colour right now. If we look at things strictly from the perspective of trends, culture plays a vital role. More and more brides from the North Indian belt are taking to these trends. But the majority of Bengal and the southern part of India are sticking to their traditional palettes, as far as the wedding day is concerned. Maybe people are getting into the alternative mode on reception day or at other wedding-related rituals, but the main day is all about following traditions, speaking from my experience.” said Avishekk.
Designer Sandip Jaiswal is on the same page. He said: “This nude-based makeup and silhouettes in pastel shades are increasingly getting popular among the non-Bengali crowd. Having said that, people are slowly willing to step out of that cultural comfort zone. It would be safe to say 95 per cent of Bengali brides are still keen on wearing red and pink-toned bridal looks. The most eye-catching trend modern brides have picked up in recent years is lehnga and gowns on the day of reception, ditching the ethnic sari, which was the only choice until a few years back. Georgette Benarasi with silver zari work can be a great alternative to the traditional choices.”