Indian weddings are an elaborate affair! Right from the first engagement ritual which is popularly known as ‘rishta pakka hona', ‘roka', ‘sagai' etc in different communities to the final wedding reception party, the bride-to-be has to follow the norm of looking presentable at all times. Her wedding attire is usually a product of such societal norms as well as the bride's own desires about her ‘dream lehenga' for the most special day of her life. Well as far as wedding shopping is concerned, such boundaries and desires together can leave you baffled and replacing the natural blush on your cheeks with a frown on your forehead.
To ease out things for all you gorgeous brides-to-be, we have some amazing tips to guide you for choosing the best bridal lehenga and be the best on your D-day.
1. Self-preference over social pressures
‘Too many cooks spoil the dish' is an old proverb. This holds true for choosing your bridal lehenga too! Amidst all the confusion about your wedding look you may be tempted to take suggestions from your friends who recently got married, the elders, the shopaholics around you and a whole lot of people. While taking a few suggestions may give you some good leads, expanding your circle of advisors won't help. On the contrary, you might end up buying something which is far less than what you actually wanted! So the best you can do is, listen to your own heart and mind. When your bridal lehenga matches your own preference, you will feel happier wearing it and therefore definitely look more beautiful!
2. Check on trending colours
With the growth of the digital world, this task has become easier! These days, you do not have to walk around in the market and step into multiple stores to know what's in. A few hours of surfing will give your amazing insights into the latest trends in bridal lehengas. Moreover, you can also take cues from recent celebrity brides like Sonam Kapoor, the trend-setting diva who wore a traditional red lehenga for her wedlock ceremony, Anushka Sharma who walked the aisle in a pink and cream wedding lehenga and other well known faces who opted for trending hues like pink and golden.
3. Know your skin and body type
While the colour palette of your outfit may be a blend of trends as well as individual choices, for the silhouette details of your outfit like the shape of the lehenga and blouse style should be finalized solely on the basis of your skin and body type. If you have sensitive skin, avoid fabrics that can cause skin irritation. For the lehenga and blouse styles, choose details that complement your figure. If you have a flab around your midriff, then opt for a longer blouse, if you have visible collar bones then pick a blouse that has cold of off-shoulder sleeves. These days there are plenty of lehenga and blouse variations available so make the most out of all these options!
4. Look for required add-ons
While the lehenga and blouse may be looking perfect, a lot of times the dupatta available with the set is not heavy. As a bride, you may need a well embellished dupatta for covering your head during the wedding rituals. So you can either buy a readymade designer dupatta which complements your set or get one customized.
Jewellery, footwear and clutch/ potli bag are other add-ons required for complete bridal attire. Plan your accessories well in time to avoid last minute rush and yes, stay away from stilettos for the wedding ceremony!
5. Dress according to the location
Now this is one of the most important things to be considered while finalizing your wedding lehenga. The garment which looks fabulous when you wear it for a 10 minutes trial in an air-conditioned boutique can become a total comfort-disaster when you wear it for hours during your wedding. If the rituals are to be performed outdoor, then you need to be extra careful about the fabric and amount of embellishments on your lehenga set. A light weight georgette lehenga or a silk lehenga with velvet border can work as smart wedding wear options for such events.
6. Fitting and trials
Once you have your wedding outfit in hand, it is always wise to try the entire ensemble before stocking it in the closet, ready to be worn on the final day. Especially if you've bought the lehenga months before your wedding, then it is important to try it again 1-2 weeks before the due date so that if there have been any changes in your size then the garment can be altered well in time for your D-day.
7. Getting good deals
While wedding is ideally a one-time event and given the grandiose vibes surrounding Indian weddings, you may be either tempted or compelled to spend a hefty sum on your wedding lehenga. But girl, it's always good to be a smart shopper! Look around malls at the beginning of the sale period, there are higher chances of getting amazing options at considerably reduced prices. If you're staying overseas or even in India, buying your bridal lehenga online is also a great way of saving resources. E-commerce portals usually have very good deals and a lot of websites offer video shopping services to their clients where you can see the garment in real time and discuss any customizations if required.
So dear bride-to-be, as you get ready to pick your attire for the most important day in your life, make sure that you follow all the about mentioned guidelines and be the most beautiful and happy bride!
Author Bio:
Ritu is a creative and marketing communications specialist, a devout reader and a passionate writer, who successfully manages an operations role with the popular ecommerce business Saree.com. Ritu is a trained textiles and weaves' connoisseur and an expert in bridal lehengas. Currently, Ritu is closely observing and studying the Indian ethnic wear fashion and design segment, as she goes about creating stimulating written and graphic content.
