HERE COMES THE BRIDE
EVERY BRIDE WANTS TO LOOK HER BEST ON HER WEDDING DAY AND WHEN YOU FIND A DESIGNER WHO IS IN SYNC WITH YOUR VISION, YOU KNOW YOU WILL LOOK FANTASTIC
Mili Kale 27 Education consultant, Essai Education, San Francisco
Can you picture a coy, bejewelled bride, draped in a heavy lehenga when it’s a winter wedding with a summer vibe? A wedding where traditional rituals have a modern aesthetic and class and sass walk down the aisle hand-in-hand? Even before Singapore-born, San Francisco-based Mili Kale decided to tie the knot with her friend-turned-boyfriend Bharat Suri, she knew her wedding would do away with the rule book. “I knew that trying to be someone I’m not just wasn’t going to work,” says Kale, adding, “I didn’t use a single extension (on my hair or eyelashes) and refused to wear more than one necklace and a pair of earrings.” As for the celebrations, it was a three-day affair in Singapore in December with venues ranging from a members only club and a Greek restaurant to a hotel ballroom and the lobby of a boutique hotel.
The bridal story
“Anamika Khanna has always been my favourite. Her ability to mix and match colour, styles and textures in order to simultaneously modernise and celebrate Indian tradition is amazing,” says Kale. She ended up picking up an outfit she was told is typically worn by the sister of the bride. “To be honest, I didn’t really care. The mix of beads on the dupatta, the thread work on the blouse and the pop of red on the lehenga just spoke to me immediately,” she says.
Comfort meets style
“I was adamant that I needed something that I could easily move in. I was comfortable in my wedding outfit, it was not very heavy (had almost no can-can) and I wore one dupatta which was loosely draped on my head and shoulders.” To complete the look she wore the same necklace and earrings her mother wore for her wedding. “Once my outfit was finalised, I focused on the decor. I was clear that I wanted only flowers at each event. And the food had to echo a similar vibe. So, from mezze platters to local hawker dishes, we had it all,” she says. For any bride-to-be stressing about her wedding and the outfit, take a leaf out of Kale’s colourful handbook. Pick a designer that resonates with your sensibilities and remember to have fun.