There are few events in the world more deservedly extravagant than an Indian wedding. It’s a time for two families to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime union meant to last for many happy years.
The wedding day is also a time for your community to come together. With brides living outside of India and a diaspora of 18 million, planning the perfect traditional Indian wedding presents challenges.
Countless little and large details lead up to the wedding ceremony. Organizing these takes months on end, complicated by the accessibility and availability of certain details. One pain point for some brides searching for the best wedding dress is the hunt for the ideal traditional bridal wear.
For Indian women, decisions around their big day can form quite the checklist.
Lashkaraa knows that while traditions have stayed the same, they also subtly evolve with each coming generation. For this reason, we have dedicated ourselves to creating both strictly traditional and modernized designs for Indian wedding dresses.
Let’s review the best bridal dresses for every Indian wife-to-be.
What Type of Ceremony is Right for You?
The first point of contention is deciding what ceremony you may have. Hindu, Islamic, Christian, and other religious groups have particular traditions for the special day. On your own, you’ll need to decide with your partner which of these traditions you’ll follow.
One Western tradition that has entered many Indian weddings is the presence of bridesmaids. Engaging bridesmaids is a way to get more people involved in your wedding and to create elaborately matching or coordinated wedding outfits.
The type of ceremony is informed by your aesthetics and history and may also influence your choice of dress. After all, it’s your wedding, but it also signifies a step in a rich lineage. Choosing the extent to which you celebrate — whether a single day or a three-day-long bacchanalia — is your choice.
Your Options for Bridal Looks
The most challenging and immediate FAQ is how to choose the right wedding dress for you. For a series of days, you may find multiple “right” dresses. This depends on a variety of factors.
The first is your own culture. No culture in India has a single “right” wedding attire, and many are associated with multiple. For example, the Lehenga Choli has variants that are prominent across the nation. Sarees, on the other hand, are particularly associated with South Indian brides.
The type of dress primarily comes down to personal aesthetics. If you see a garment that appeals to you in particular, feel free to indulge in it.
Salwar Kameez
The Salwar Kameez is an especially beloved option. The shape of the garment allows for distinctive silhouettes and elaborate designs.
Salwar kameez are frequently the outfit of choice for Muslim brides as this garment tends to be more conservative. No matter what religion, these suits are loved by all and look fabulous in wedding photos.
Below we have three options ranging from pastel to striking saturated colors:
Hot Pink and Gold Embroidered Punjabi Suit
The first piece of wedding wear on our list is the Hot Pink and Gold Embroidered Punjabi Suit.
The net shirt features sheer arms with sequin work to help you glitter as you walk. Running down the shirt is a paisley motif, enhanced by intricate sequins and threadwork. Delicate embroidered laces and beads finish the hem and cuffs.
This cuff work echoed within the suit’s dupatta. The net dupatta has a bold, complex, interwoven handcrafted detail. It immediately draws attention to the woman who matters most on that memorable day.
Like all our other offerings, this Punjabi Suit is made and hand-checked in India. We do this to ensure quality and personal attention to every garment.
Blush and Dusty Blue Embroidered Georgette Anarkali
If you are looking for a traditional wedding gown to match elaborate floral decorations, consider the Blush and Dusty Blue Embroidered Georgette Anarkali.
Thread and dori embroidery form a cascade of flowers that weaves through the entire suit. A line of layered diamond shapes forms the waist of the piece and echoes the smaller glittering details on the top and bottom.
The dusty blue dupatta simply cannot be ignored when placed against the background of pale pastel hues. The blue fabric gracing the hem offers a unique continuity to a heavily detailed look.
The Blush and Dusty Blue Embroidered Georgette Anarkali, despite its classical imagery, is a surprisingly contemporary wedding dress. Shoulder cut-outs and an open circle back modernize an otherwise classical garment.
Royal Blue and Hot Pink Embroidered Punjabi Suit
We trade pastel colors for richly saturated ones to create the Royal Blue and Hot Pink Embroidered Punjabi Suit. The georgette top is embellished with zari, sequins, threads, and more. The top of the suit is a glimmering gem that shines brighter when paired with the understated shimmer of the santoon bottom.
The net dupatta, with interlaced gold-colored threadwork, reflects on the main suit. It provides a deep color contrast, enhancing the appeal of the overall look.
Pair it with sapphire or ruby-like jewelry for an instantly-iconic impression.
Lehenga Choli
Lehenga cholis typically feature exceptionally intricate embroidery and fabric that flutters wonderfully as it moves.
Surprising no one, the lehenga choli has become a favorite of Bollywood dancers. Wearing a lehenga choli accentuates your dancing with rustling skirts and a sleek fit. Below are our selections of wedding lehenga to match a variety of aesthetics.
Red Heavy Embroidered Net Lehenga
This lehenga is an instant perfect fit, thanks to a flattering figure, dramatic drape, and patterns to fit any taste.
It’s time to introduce Red Heavy Embroidered Net Lehenga! The net top and bottom create a beautifully balanced layer look over the santoon inner.
The sheer sleeves are dynamic, gradually becoming more opaque towards the wrist.
Of course, the lehenga itself deserves its own mention. Here, intricate thread work, sequins, and stones create a plunging see-through appearance. The result layers mesh beautifully together, creating a gown as harmonious as the newlyweds themselves!
Blush Pink Sequins Embroidered Net Lehenga
South Asian brides are famous for their love of the color red, but there are many more colors to choose from.
Our favorite example of an instant trend-starter is the Blush Pink Sequins Embroidered Net Lehenga marked by light, warm pastels to emphasize a gentle and pleasant figure.
The body of the kameez featured detailed sequins and lace, which offset a minimalist lower skirt. This helps provide a two-toned approach — the kameez looks like liquid gold, and the blush net bottom conjures up a floating cloud.
Saree
The Saree, or Sari, is a mainstay of South Indian weddings. The Saree has deep religious implications. During Ritu Kala Samskara, a coming-of-age ceremony, young girls are given their first Sarees.
Of course, the saree is not just a feature of South Indian celebrations. Anyone can wear a saree who wants to — and with these next pieces, everyone may want to. That’s why Laskaraa pre-drapes our sarees so that there is one less thing to worry about!
The choices we offer below mix elegance, class, and glamor to prepare you for any situation.
Deep Red Sequins Embroidered Saree
This luxurious saree will immediately have you ready for your wedding ceremony and for the red carpet. The Deep Red Sequins Embroidered Saree uses a combination of materials and embroidery for a complex, ravishing look. Red may usually be a good omen, but it has never looked so good while doing so.
The saree features a net lower with sequins running down the skirt and along the hem. The sleeveless blouse also reveals a deep neckline and plunging back for the bold brides among us.
The piece is also capable of being entirely one-of-a-kind, thanks to custom-tailoring. We offer the ability to order garments, in addition to traditional sizes, with custom stitching. From the neckline right down to the hemline, you have the final say.
Blush Pink Embroidered Net Saree
Here, we trade the glam from the previous piece for playful, in-vogue florals. Our Blush Pink Net Saree features intricate zari and dabka work.
When you enter the room, your guests will gaze at the elaborate nature motifs in shades of silver, gold, and rose. The intricate work is concentrated on the hem of the garment, never overwhelming the sheer net. These sophisticated elements combine for a look of pure luxury.
The tulle daman also features these motifs along the hem, completed with fine lace. The piece matches all sorts of jewelry, metal tones in particular. The pink coloring complements silver, gold, and rose gold, and the neckline and sleeves offer ample opportunities for accessorizing.
Bridal Jewelry for Indian Brides
You’ve picked the groom, your gown, and the venue. Now, it’s time to pick the ultimate jewelry to accessorize your look. Indian bridal jewelry can be just as elaborate as the dresses or can be as subtle and delicate as henna.
Bangles and gold jewelry can present well with nearly any article of clothing. You may also want to, at this time, wear jewelry with familial or personal significance.
Most brides at this time will seek out bangles, necklaces, earrings, rings, and more. Many will also seek out nose rings and a veil, though not all follow these traditions.
The women in your life might have different opinions on what jewelry you should choose. Some pieces have been in your family for generations, rich with significance and meaning. New jewelry can be totally yours — your style, your color, everything.
Heirlooms or brand new, designers know that traditional Indian bridal apparel calls for
There are still a few extra considerations. For example, if a bride is having a traditional wedding, this love-filled event can last up to three days, depending on religion and local cultural practices. This means additional outfits and more to plan as well.
Next, we’ll propose garments to wear through some of the ceremonies leading up to the wedding.
What To Wear to Your Mehndi Ceremony
South Asian brides might partake in the Mehndi ceremony, an event traditionally hosted by the bride’s side of the family.
During this ceremony, brides and their loved ones will be decorated with henna. Consider special clothing for this special ceremony.
As one of the more relaxed moments throughout the celebration, a variety of dresses are acceptable (and encouraged). Many brides are partial to something that mixes the casual with the regal would be appropriate at this moment.
Need some fashion inspiration? Consider the Mehendi Green and Maroon Organza Lehenga as a top contender here. Organza is the perfect canvas for intricate zari, thread, sequin, and stonework. The various embellishments only grow richer as they cascade down the lehenga, right down to the maroon hem.
The dupatta provides subtle contrast — the sequin-shining maroon net fabric appears almost matte in comparison to the brightness of its hem and accompanying dress. For a ceremony that is focused on elegance, this powerful dress makes an equally focus-drawing statement.
Choosing the Right Attire For Every Occasion
If you only need to find yourself one dress, then you will hopefully have a comparatively easy search. If you have to find multiple, you may have to balance different tones to meet every occasion on your calendar. From the humble to the glamorous to floral to the paisley, the only limit is your imagination.
At Lashkaraa, we wanted to make sure that today’s brides can enjoy the artfulness of modernity alongside the workmanship of traditional clothes. This way, we can help keep traditions alive, including those that matter most.
Sources:
Indian Diaspora Hits Record-Breaking Numbers | World Economic Forum