Wedding diaries
CONTEMPORARY JEWELLERY. FASCINATING THEMES. CRAZY DESTINATIONS. AN ECO-FRIENDLY D-DAY. HERE’S YOUR GUIDE TO PLAN THE TRADITIONAL GUJARATI WEDDING WITH AMODERN PUNCH.
Your guide to the traditional Gujarati wedding with a modern punch.
he modern day Gujarati wedding is going global. Literally. Be it choosing the photographer or décor, world cuisine or live counters over a traditional patra and undhiyu or going beyond panetars and bandhanis, Gujarati couples are experimenting more. While theme weddings are all about recreating everything from the classic Arabian Nights to extravagant Las Vegas, the latest trend is an eco-friendly setup.
TSHOP TILL YOU DROP
Although every Gujarati wedding today has a touch of modernism, there are still many couples who want to retain their traditional roots. For some, it has an emotional value, whereas for a few others (including NRIs), it is all about sticking to one’s culture. This season, visit the narrow alleyways of the Bangdi Bazaar, in the old part of Rajkot and you will be greeted by colourful riot of bangles in every shape and colour.
The Kutchi Bandhani, Gajji silk or Jamnagar’s Ghat Chola is still made in its purest form. In Bandhani, different colours convey different meanings and red stands for the bride. Pick up your traditional patola saree or add bandhej shawls and odhnis in your trousseau. The odhnis are also decorated with mirrors, gota and tassels to give it a richer and more decorative look. For fabrics, one can head to the Ratan Pol market or Dhalgarwad in Ahmedabad where you can find dress materials, saris and suits. You can also find the best imitation jewellery at very low prices here. Surti saris and dress materials with cotton base are very popular as well. For Islamic weddings or nikah, Sindhi market in Ahmedabad or Surat’s wholesale market are the best options. Muslim community prefers bling in their clothes during their weddings and thus Manekchowk in Ahmedabad is the best option for buying sequinned cloth or mukaish and dabka work shararas. Traditional jhoomars with pearl and kundan work can also be found here. Shops like Chhabra 555 in Bhavnagar keep traditional bridal range, featuring all velvets, brocades, silks and satins with a dab of heavy embellishments. Why look for haute couture from Paris and Milan when your roots have the similar richness to offer with lower price tags?
BEYOND LEHENGAS
Gone are the days when wedding attire was all about the bride. The modern-day groom does a lot to ensure he dresses up according to the latest trends. This season, men
APPLYING ALTA ON THE
BRIDE’S FINGERS IS CONSIDERED AUSPICIOUS should stick to the tried-and-tested high fashion with some well-crafted designer sherwanis, jodhpuris, dhotis, kurtas and Indo-westerns. JadeBlue, the exclusive men’s fashion store launched its Wedding Collection 2013 recently. According to Siddhesh Chauhan, executive director (design), JadeBlue, “The colours that are in this year are bold and eclectic. You can choose from a purple neo classic sherwani with minimal brocade and handwork details or a beautifully crafted green sherwani that revives the Mughal era”. You can choose from a traditional angarkha style long coat with sharp cuts and smart styling, which can be paired with a black trouser for a subtle look. Then there are bandhgalas, which can be worn to receptions and dinner parties. Make sure your wear them with polished patent oxfords. Also back in fashion are Nehru jackets—the iconic Indian style that has achieved global recognition. For women, Aishwarya Design studio has come up with a new range that exhibits a line of ornate luxurious silhouettes embellished
with intricate embroidery in its contemporary style. Aishwarya has a huge range of ethnic anarkalis as well along with gota patti lehengas and heavy embroidered outfits. Pick up Kanjeevaram silks for an ethnic touch in your wardrobe as well. But always remember not to overdo it and that balancing always plays a key role. Where All Jade Blue Outlets in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot; Aishwarya Design Studio, Iskcon Circle, S.G.Highway, Ahmedabad Tel 079 26468800, 07926861217
BEAUTY, SKIN DEEP
Every bride has a picture perfect image in her mind for her big day and make-up artists work hard to make that dream come true. “This year, bridal makeup trends have seen a shift from heavy eye makeup to darker lip colours,” says Neha Khanna, makeup artist, Avon India. However, shimmer and heavy eye make-up will never completely go out of vogue since weddings are all about bling. “We need to keep in mind her attire, jewellery and most importantly, the need to highlight her natural features. This is how we create a look that suits her best,” adds Khanna. A bright red shade will suit a bride with fair complexion, a deep red would look nice on a medium/wheatish skin tone and a muted red or maroon would suit darker skin tones. HEAVY EYE MAKE-UP IS HOT THIS SEASON
Experts suggest that brides should follow a beauty regime suitable for their skin type before their wedding.
THE MESSENGER
The wedding invitation has taken on a life of its own. It could even look like a large leather box like an antique-steamer trunk. Open it and you find an assortment of chocolates, gifts and, of course, the wedding card itself. To add to the regal touch on the inside of the lid, there is a sepia-toned print of the couple. That’s just one of the elaborate invitation cards in vogue this season. Starting from pop-up books to chic monogrammed diaries, comic books to Bollywood inspired designs, all seem to be in vogue for the big fat Gujarati weddings. Papers in different textures and fabrics are now being used instead of simple ones. Many go for satin for summer wedding cards; velvet and silk are reserved for winter weddings. But invitations that blend tradition and the contemporary are most in demand. Thus, traditional red and gold is still going strong along with an increasing number of people asking for cards in cream and gold. On the other hand, a preference for turquoise blue, fuchsia and deep purple is also in rage. Asha Poddar of Gift of Majai designs says “In Gujarat I have seen people going more for embellishments on wedding cards. People eager to spend more on invites opt for Swarovskis, gold and silver plating. Floral patterns, digital prints are in as well as