Indian Wedding Dresses
Rajni Sheth
January 15, 2008
Weddings in India are festivals. Highly ritualistic, Indians consider clothes and colours auspicious, symbolic of purity. Maintaining the tradition, Indian wedding dresses can sense the whiff of the western essence.
The latest craft on saris and blouses are sought with keeping the day wears subtle and the wedding reception with surprise fashion elements.
India is a mix of cultures and each wedding dress is related to the state. The 9 yard wrap or ´9 gajam´ of the south in maroon is now seeing combination colours in other hues of silk. The maharashtrian ´navvari´ is available in ready zip wears. Lehenga or sharara brings more fashion trends in rich colours, zardosi work, beads, pearl, shell embellishments or lace work. With wine and dine – cocktail parties happening in Hindu weddings too, the evening gown or corsets is an upcoming trend. At Parsi weddings, one can view a spectacle of age-old silks in off-white complimented with ancient jewellery.
Muslim weddings display an extravaganza of flowers to cover the face of the bride in a spectacle silk sharara. The Gujarati wedding sari originally red is being replaced with vibrant lehengas and chaniya cholis available in designer shops. Ethnically a dhoti kurta worn by a Gujarati groom also offers variety in tailored kurta suits.
The Christian nuptial white gown is being styled offering more variety in length and fabrics. Veils also come in charming designs. The men´s formal 3 piece suit and tuxedo will stay in fashion forever.
The joyful celebrations in a Punjabi wedding do have traces of western culture both in dress and occasions. Party wear here is seen rich with designer jewelery, complete with latest make up and trends in hair styles. Men´s wear is changing from achkan to fusion wear to create the Indo-western look.
Hindu wedding apparels for men is incomplete without a turban. Turbans and ladies shoes with diamond encrusted make a fashion statement. The flowers or ´sehra´ cover the face of the groom. Maharastrians wear a cap. South traditions insist on a bare torso with a short dhoti to cover the shoulders for men and a ´soman´ – silk dhoti during the rites.
Wedding receptions see a lot of colour like orange, ruby red, fuchsia, lilac and sapphires in rich lehengas for the bride and formal 3 piece suits or long kurta-churidar with dupatta for the grooms. Jewellery is the integral part to match the dress not just restricted to ladies. Before you call the wedding planner, make a promise to treat yourself to an extravaganza!
More on traditional salwar kameez and Indian fashion.
The latest craft on saris and blouses are sought with keeping the day wears subtle and the wedding reception with surprise fashion elements.
India is a mix of cultures and each wedding dress is related to the state. The 9 yard wrap or ´9 gajam´ of the south in maroon is now seeing combination colours in other hues of silk. The maharashtrian ´navvari´ is available in ready zip wears. Lehenga or sharara brings more fashion trends in rich colours, zardosi work, beads, pearl, shell embellishments or lace work. With wine and dine – cocktail parties happening in Hindu weddings too, the evening gown or corsets is an upcoming trend. At Parsi weddings, one can view a spectacle of age-old silks in off-white complimented with ancient jewellery.
Muslim weddings display an extravaganza of flowers to cover the face of the bride in a spectacle silk sharara. The Gujarati wedding sari originally red is being replaced with vibrant lehengas and chaniya cholis available in designer shops. Ethnically a dhoti kurta worn by a Gujarati groom also offers variety in tailored kurta suits.
The Christian nuptial white gown is being styled offering more variety in length and fabrics. Veils also come in charming designs. The men´s formal 3 piece suit and tuxedo will stay in fashion forever.
The joyful celebrations in a Punjabi wedding do have traces of western culture both in dress and occasions. Party wear here is seen rich with designer jewelery, complete with latest make up and trends in hair styles. Men´s wear is changing from achkan to fusion wear to create the Indo-western look.
Hindu wedding apparels for men is incomplete without a turban. Turbans and ladies shoes with diamond encrusted make a fashion statement. The flowers or ´sehra´ cover the face of the groom. Maharastrians wear a cap. South traditions insist on a bare torso with a short dhoti to cover the shoulders for men and a ´soman´ – silk dhoti during the rites.
Wedding receptions see a lot of colour like orange, ruby red, fuchsia, lilac and sapphires in rich lehengas for the bride and formal 3 piece suits or long kurta-churidar with dupatta for the grooms. Jewellery is the integral part to match the dress not just restricted to ladies. Before you call the wedding planner, make a promise to treat yourself to an extravaganza!
More on traditional salwar kameez and Indian fashion.