Bridesmaids' Style Guide: Indian Edition

Indian weddings are known for their vibrant, colourful, and elaborate celebrations, with wedding attire that reflects the cultural diversity and grandeur of the occasion. Bridesmaids' outfits are often coordinated with the bride's, typically wearing Indian saris of the same colour or pattern, or lehengas. The bridesmaids' dresses are usually just as vibrant and colourful as the bride's, but not as elaborate.

Lehenga choli

When it comes to styling, there are many options to choose from. For a timeless look, a Banarasi lehenga with its rich fabrics and intricate zari work is a classy choice. You can add a contemporary twist with a contrasting blouse or a stylish dupatta drape. To further accessorise, a decorated potli bag or Indian clutch can be added to the traditional look.

For those who want to stand out, there are also multicoloured printed lehenga cholis available. Additionally, different fabrics like art silk, net, organza, chiffon, and georgette can be chosen to create a unique look. The prices of these lehenga cholis vary, but they can be purchased online from sites like Amazon, Myntra, and Panash India, which offer a diverse collection and easy delivery worldwide.

When choosing a lehenga choli, it is important to consider the venue, season, budget, fabric, and body type. A-line or classic lehenga styles tend to suit almost all body types. Ultimately, the bridesmaid lehenga choli is meant to complement the bridal lehenga and make the bridesmaids feel special as they accompany the bride on her wedding day.

Sarees

Indian bridesmaid sarees come in a variety of fabrics, colours, and styles. Traditional Indian elements are often featured, with a range of contemporary twists. For instance, net, chiffon, silk, georgette, velvet, and shimmer sarees are all available options. These can be paired with contemporary blouses, such as a monotone saree with a contemporary blouse, or more traditional Indian jewellery.

Some specific saree styles include ruffled sarees, dhoti sarees, and pre-stitched sarees. For those who prefer a more classic look, there are also embroidered sarees with scalloped edges, laces, and metallics. Colours range from maroon, purple, and green to peach, yellow, and orange.

Online shopping for bridesmaid sarees is a convenient option, with custom tailoring and worldwide shipping available from some retailers. This can save time and effort, especially for busy brides and those planning destination weddings.

Some examples of online saree collections include Panash India, which offers custom tailoring and worldwide shipping, and Utsav Fashion, which features a range of embroidered and printed sarees in various colours and fabrics.

Salwar suits

Classic Styles

Classic bridal Salwar suits showcase the all-time traditional charm of Indian culture. They feature intricate embroideries such as Zari and Resham on rich fabrics like silk. These styles often include traditional patterns like floral designs, paired with a dupatta, a type of scarf, that complements the outfit. The traditional bridal Salwar suit is famous for its delicate embroidery, rich fabrics, and traditional patterns.

Contemporary Designs

Contemporary bridal Salwar suits offer a fusion of traditional and modern elements, appealing to brides who desire a unique look. These styles experiment with different cuts and embroideries, sometimes incorporating elements from Western fashion, such as off-shoulder necklines or jacket-style tops. The contemporary bridal Salwar suit combines traditional elements with modern beauty, creating a magnetic design that appeals to modern brides who want to stay connected to their cultural roots.

Colour Combinations

Colour plays a significant role in Indian bridalwear, with different colours holding symbolic meanings. Bridal Salwar suits come in a variety of colour combinations to suit various preferences and wedding themes. Traditional choices include red, maroon, and gold, which indicate happiness, good luck, and prosperity. Modern brides often explore a wider range of colours, including jewel tones and monochromatic shades for a refined look. For daytime wedding functions, lighter pastel shades such as soft pinks, mint greens, and baby blues are preferred, while night wedding functions call for more abundant colour combinations like royal blue, emerald green, and regal purple.

Fabrics

The choice of fabric is crucial in determining the overall look and comfort of a bridal Salwar suit. Popular fabrics include silk, velvet, and brocade, chosen for their luxurious appeal and ability to ensure a desirable style. Other options mentioned include georgette, chiffon, net, organza, crepe, and lace.

Styles

There are several styles of Salwar suits to choose from, each offering a unique look and feel:

• Anarkali: Resembles royalty with its unique grace, sparkling work, and flowing layers of fabric.
• Pant Style: Combines comfort and fashion with straight-cut pants and a stylish top, perfect for brides who want ease of movement.
• Palazzo: Emphasises ease, style, and fashion appeal with its wide-legged palazzo pants.
• Jacket Style: Offers versatility with its customisable jacket that can be paired with different patterns and styles.
• Gown Style: Redefines bridal fashion by mixing gown-like components with traditional Salwar suit elements.
• Cape Style: Features a flowing cape linked to a stylish Salwar suit, making a lasting impression with its unique fashion appeal.
• Lehenga Style: Fuses the best of both worlds, offering the perfect blend of a lehenga and a Salwar suit with embroidered tops and beautiful skirt-like pants.

Indo-Western Dress

Indian weddings are known for their vibrant colours, rich history, and cultural diversity. For bridesmaids who want to blend tradition with modern elegance, the Indo-Western dress is a perfect choice. This style combines Indian and Western elements, infusing contemporary trends into ethnic wear.

Indo-Western gowns, for instance, are a stunning fusion of Lehengas with western silhouettes and styles. These gowns offer an improved fit that complements the body type of Indian women, with a variety of colours available to suit any occasion. Bridesmaids can also choose from a range of stylish jumpsuits, skirt sets, and fusion prints to stand out at the wedding.

For those who want to showcase intricate embroidery, elegant crop top sets with heavy work are a popular option. Voluminous skirts, layered gowns, and peplum dresses are also trendy choices for bridesmaids. The use of fabrics like georgette, silk, chiffon, and net adds a luxurious touch to these ensembles.

To complete the look, bridesmaids can accessorise with traditional jewellery, a stylish clutch, and neutral or metallic shoes. Shades like blush pink, mint green, lavender, gold, and silver are currently in trend for Indo-Western wear, offering a modern twist to the vibrant traditions of Indian weddings.

Whether it's a fusion gown or a stylish crop top set, Indo-Western dresses offer bridesmaids a unique way to blend cultural elegance with contemporary style, making a statement at the grand celebration.

Anarkali Gowns

Fabric Choices:

Colour Options:

Embellishments and Embroidery:

Dupatta or No Dupatta:

Some Anarkali gowns come with a matching dupatta, a long scarf-like garment that can be draped over the shoulders or around the waist. The dupatta adds a graceful and traditional touch to the ensemble. However, some modern styles may forgo the dupatta for a more contemporary look.

Length Variations:

Customisation and Sizing:

When choosing Anarkali gowns for Indian bridesmaids, it is important to consider the overall theme and colour palette of the wedding, as well as the comfort and preferences of the bridesmaids themselves. By blending traditional and modern elements, Anarkali gowns offer a stylish and elegant option for Indian bridesmaids, contributing to the vibrant and grand celebrations of Indian weddings.

Frequently asked questions