HEIRLOOM WEDDINGS
Many brides add heirloom saris and jewellery in their trousseau, making their weddings even more memorable
When Britain’s royal bride Princess Beatrice married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on 17 July this year at a private ceremony, with just twenty families and close friends in attendance, she created quite the buzz around the world especially because of her trousseau. Princess Beatrice wore jewellery and dress she’d borrowed from the collection of her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The vintage dress, originally designed by Norman Hartnell, was altered for the princess; the Queen also loaned the bride the tiara she’d worn on her wedding day, back in 1919. But the trend that caught the eye of the world through Princess Beatrice’s wedding had already found its takers here in India with some diehard romantics ensuring nothing comes in the way of their special day, not even a pandemic.
Given customised intimate wedding affairs that fit into the pandemic narrative, many brides are ditching the extravagant over-the-top looks this year to opt for something more classic yet unforgettable.
Taking a cue from the idea of sustainable fashion, which includes reusing one’s haute couture wardrobe for special occasions, many millennial weddings have started designing their trousseau around sustainability by recycling clothes and jewellery, with a delightful mix of something new and borrowed in their trousseau. Brides, especially, seem to be more than ever fascinated with the idea of wearing family heirlooms on their big day.
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
For newlywed Priya Tuteja, recreating a unique memory with her mother was the sweetest takeaway for her June 2020 wedding. Although the pandemic restrictions ruined her grand dream wedding plans with a huge guest list, she considers herself blessed given the intimate experience around the wedding affair.
“My April wedding was looking like it would get postponed indefinitely owing to the pandemic, but after much deliberation, we decided to get married on 14th June 2020,” says Priya, whose wedding outfit was ready. “But my outfit for my mehendi ceremony was suddenly looking too heavy for the home setting, where the function would now be held. So a week before my mehendi,
I decided to get a new suit made. And instead of buying something new, I decided to get a local tailor to make something out of one of my mum’s old saris. I got two similar suits stitched, one each for my mum and me, which we wore on the day, with matching masks. It was my dream to wear an outfit like my mum’s, and it was a very emotional and special moment I got to celebrate with her.”
Hyderabad-based designer Savita Reddy gifted her daughter her jewellery and her mother’s jewellery for the big day, and then added to the theme of sustainable weddings by deciding to wear her wedding sari, a pink kanchivaram pattu sari, for good luck. “I gifted my mum’s and my jewellery because I wanted my daughter to carry forward the family blessing,” says an emotional Savita. “And the pattu sari I chose to wear that day holds a very special place in my heart. I feel it’s priceless to wear something old and preserved on extra-special occasions like these.”
THUMBS UP FOR UPCYCLING
Bridal fashion experts believe that the trend of loaning and recycling vintage apparels will gain steam especially because new-age brides love the idea of flaunting tradition with a twist of modernity.
Mohita Gujral, creative director at Sue Mue, explains why the trend of upcycling clothes and accessories is going strong in the bridal-wear segment this season. “Earlier ceremonies were bigger and brides needed exaggerated outfits to outshine the large gatherings, but during the lockdown, with a handful of guests at the ceremonies, many brides have come to us this season requesting for upcycled outfits from their mother or grandmother’s wardrobe,” says Mohita.
Mohita also points out a matching mask she designed for a bride’s trousseau using a vintage sari.
BORROWED BRIDAL GOODS
The pandemic and the subsequent lockdown left many brides in a lurch for they couldn’t even step out to shop. Gurugram-based teacher Aditi Bishnoi, who got married in the last week of July, was one such. So on her wedding day, she chose to borrow jewellery from her mother and sister.
“The lockdown completely ruined my wedding plans, and while I managed to buy a new sari, I couldn’t find matching accessories because everything was shut. In fact, I couldn’t even shop to buy my jewellery. So on the final day, I wore kundan bangles that loaned from my mother, a necklace set I borrowed from my sister, and handmade Assamese ornaments from my mother-inlaw,” says Aditi.
Boishali Sinha Sharma, who works as an art director, had always wanted to have a minimalistic wedding. So she had no qualms about being married during the pandemic.“I wore a borrowed red butidaar Benarasi sari from my mother’s wardrobe. The joroa (choker necklace) set and jhumka (ethnic bell-shaped earrings) I wore that day was a 150-year-old accessory from my great grandmother’s collection,” Boishali tells us rather happily. “I also loaned my mother’s chur (big bangles) and nath (nose ring) to complete the traditional Bengali bride look.