7 Indian Dresses for Wedding That You Can Always Count On!

Putting together an outfit can seem frustrating when you are trying to rush out of the door for work but when it comes to dressing for formal occasions; we all get excited and want to look our best. It requires careful planning, choosing the right colours, materials, matching accessories and striking the right balance. You don’t want to look like you turned up in your pyjamas or at the other end of the spectrum seem too desperate to steal the spotlight. While that is one issue which can be addressed by a personal stylist or your own common sense, there is a matter of having too many formal occasions to attend. Sometimes you get an invitation too close to the event; leaving you with not enough time to buy a new outfit. At times like that, all you need is to know which 7 Indian dresses for a wedding you can mix and match even if you repeat your black georgette saree or everyday cotton salwar kameez.

We have compiled a list of 7 Indian dresses for wedding that will keep you at par with what’s trending this year.

Net & Tulles Indian Dresses for Wedding

Unlike your typical cotton sarees, net & tulle sarees are made of translucent texture which gives them a unique look. For most of the women, it reminds us of our childhood days when we could wear net & tulle dresses and feel like a princess. The key to donning a net or tulle saree is only to wear minimal jewellery; maybe chandelier or loop earrings.

Net sarees are weaved by knotting the yarn at intersections which creates a repetitive pattern of tiny holes in the fabric, giving it a sheer appearance. The net was introduced in India by western traders and was initially used to create veils or dupattas. Almost two decades ago, designers started using net and tulle fabric in their designs and soon realized the potential of these fabrics.

Designer net sarees usually have satin material attached to lower skirt like part as the fabric itself is too thin to provide modest covering. That is why most net and tulle sarees come with a completely different material blouse and petticoat; this contrast of fabrics makes them more attractive.

The reason we placed net sarees at the top of the list of 7 Indian dresses for wedding wear is that they come in a variety of colours and design variations. The weave of net sarees can be super fine; with tiny openings which adds opacity to the garment.

You can be as glamorous as you like when it comes to wearing a net or tulle saree. You may choose a design with embroidery or embellishments on the neckline; or a heavy border sporting intricate cut dana, lace, crystal or zari work. The trend this season focuses on net sarees with Swarovski ornaments along the neckline, pallu or border; giving a million dollar look.

Fusion Ensembles

Fusion is a great concept; it combines the best trends of the past with the present to create a completely unique look. If you are always striving to stand out from the rest and are always second guessing if somebody else might wear the same Indian wedding outfit as yours; then contemporary dresses will be your best option. You can choose from variations of half & half sarees, jacket suit or dhoti suit sarees.

You do not have to buy a designer fusion saree to wear this trend; you can experiment with sarees that you already have in your wardrobe. Add a jacket or bolero on top to give it a modern twist, stick to neutral colour palettes if you are afraid of taking too big a risk. To complement this look, you may wear chunky or quirky accessories or stick to minimalism if you prefer. A word of caution avoids wearing traditional jewellery or classic jewellery like pearls. Remember its all about mixing modern with classic trends so its necessary to strike the right balance.

Chikankari Lengha

A few years ago, nobody could predict that lakhnavi-chikankari would become so huge in 2019 that women would start wearing it to weddings. I am not talking about wearing a simple chinkari suit to your best friends’ reception; I am talking about chikankari lenghas that have become a treat for fashion mavens. They not only look super cute but are also bliss for comfort seekers. You no longer have to tolerate other itchy fabrics that are usually worn to weddings; chikankari is trendy and breathable. You can walk around the entire wedding without worrying about the loosening embellishments, tearing delicate fabrics or continuously adjusting your silk pallu.

Chikankari lenghas are a favourite among bridesmaids as they not only look elegant but are quite affordable as well, which is why there are in our list of top indian dresses for wedding. They come in all kinds of pastel hues which can be coordinated with pearl or ethnic jewellery. The fun thing about

chinkara is that it can be extended to the men in the family as well, so everybody wins.

Frilly Details

Until a decade ago, women’s wedding dresses were judged solely on how shining or dazzling, they were. Heavily embroidered lengha cholis, anarkalis adorned with heavy sequences, jewel embellished silk sarees were all the rage; being decked up from head to toe was a norm for Asian weddings. Fast forward to 2019; the trends have changed; women are opting for practical wedding attire that they can reuse again for other less formal occasions.

Ruffled sarees with frills along the pallu can instantly uplift your look; during events where you do not want to wear heavy indian designs. Ruffle sarees look glamorous even if they are in one colour; you can be sure to receive a few compliments. Styling such a gorgeous attire needs only one or two statement pieces like a trendy clutch bag and tassel earrings.

Traditional Sarees

Sarees are the national dress for indian women, and they are recognized around the globe as an Indian attire. If you think wearing traditional sarees is a passe; maybe you haven’t seen all the Bollywood actresses supporting the “traditional look” this year. Indian women love their traditional sarees, and what’s not to like? They are available in hundreds of colours, designs, textures and prints which can be worn on a day to day basis or on special occasions.

Women have worn them for a long time in India, which is why sarees now have many regional variations in style. Designers have been experimenting with traditional sarees for decades and always trying to bring something new to the design. If you are afraid of trying a traditional saree because you don’t know how to drape it, then newer designs are ready to wear. You do not need to worry about learning how to pleat your saree anymore as ready to wear sarees offer no wrapping hassle. You simply put on the sari and tuck the pleats in place.

Sharara Suits

Sharara suits come with a wide bottom palazzo and a short or long length shirt. These are originally Pakistani in origin but are a favourite among Indian women too. The sharara suits have been around for the last three years now, and the trend seems to keep going. They are an ideal choice for Asian weddings because they look stylish and are comfortable to wear.

You can accessorise these with chandbalis, jhumkis or ethnic earrings to look more fabulous; choose your favourite and complete your look with platform heels.

Banarsi Sarees

One cannot talk about Indian dresses for wedding and not mention the Banarsi saree. As a wedding, guest-a Banarsi saree must be one of your top choices; a classic that you cannot go wrong with. These sarees are made in Varanasi city and are the most exquisite sarees around. Banarsi sarees do make you stand out which is why more recently Banarsi lenghas have become a hot trend on the wedding day.

Banarsi sarees were first introduced during the Mughal era by Muslim artisans who used to weave silk Banarsi sarees. The unique feature of these sarees is their Mughal inspired designs; intricate floral motifs. Depending on the complexity of their design, a Banarsi saree can take anywhere from 15 days to almost six months to complete.

Banarsi sarees are available in four types of fabrics including silk, organza, georgette and shattir.

Tips for Taking Care of Wedding Dresses/Sarees

Every year women plan for months to buy their favourite Indian dresses for weddings; whether they are getting married themselves or attending a close friend/relative’s big day. The amount of excitement Asian women feel when buying clothes for weddings is something exclusive to them. They have a variety of designs to choose from with amazing colour palettes in every fabric imaginable.

So, after the wedding season has passed what happens to those expensive dresses/sarees? They usually end up on the top shelves of our wardrobes as we know we won’t need access to them any time soon. These dresses/sarees only see the light of the day if there is an event to attend that is so close that it’s impossible to go shopping for a new one. By that time, either that dress has faded in colour, the embellishments have come loose, or the fabric has been damaged. We end up regretting our decision to buy such an expensive outfit and immediately vow to ourselves that we would never make the same mistake again.

But what can we do in the first place to avoid all the heartache? Well for starters you can give your dress/saree the respect it deserves; fold it neatly and put it in a plastic bag in the wardrobe. If you intend to use a garment cover, make sure you do not hang your silk dress on a metal hanger. This can sometimes damage the fabric and cause stains. Use a plastic hanger and do not put any naphthalene balls. Instead, opt for odour neutralisers that are widely available in retail shops.

Remember, sunlight can damage your embroidered dresses if they are regularly exposed to it. Similarly, if your dresses remain packed; they will start to smell, so it’s important to let them out every once in a few weeks and expose them to fresh air.

Finally, when washing your wedding dresses, always read the instructions on the label. Most of them would not allow you to put them in the washing machine; you will need to handwash them. Make sure to check the labels carefully as some dresses strictly ask you to dry clean them. If you try to wash them yourself; I can guarantee that you will damage them. If you happen to get a stain on your dress or saree, do not leave them in the back of your closet for long. Make sure you get them dry cleaned as soon as possible to avoid leaving a permanent stain on them.

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