One of the most important days of a woman’s life is the day she gets betrothed. This is the day when the bride has all eyes on her! It is a given that she would want to look her best on this particular day and so it should be. Irrespective of cast, creed or religion, every woman nurtures this desire. After all, a marriage is a wonderful union that will determine the quality of the bride’s life away from the loving care of her parents, as she steps into her husband’s home to be the homemaker.
Clothing culture :
In India, the wedding rituals and clothes make the wedding as much as that of the bride and her groom. Both look their splendid best in gorgeous clothes. Not just the couple, but the guests attending the family and the relatives are often seen dressed up to the teeth. The bride is dressed up in auspicious colors, whereas the bridegroom is dressed to exude a regale aura. The bridesmaids and best men are often dressed in par with the bride and the groom. But they are toned down a bit because the day belongs to the couple. All the folks attending the marriage are decked up with gold jewelry including the bride and sometimes the groom. The ladies are additionally adorned with henna patterns all over their palms, hands, forearms, legs and feet. Sometimes henna patterns are replaced with alta designs which are short lived and easily removable.
Significance of Bridal Wear :
A wedding is not only a union of two people but also their families. In earlier times, the union was between businessmen or two countries claiming peace. So the event comprises much fanfare and grandeur. Thus it is only right that the bride looks her stunning best at her wedding. A woman’s most coveted dream is to have all eyes on her on her most awaited day in life.
Over the years, brides continue to dress in a way that best describes their social status – always the most fashionable, with the richest and intricate embroidered materials money can buy. The less monetarily-gifted settle for ready made gowns available according to one’s budget.
It is natural that the wedding guests be judgmental about the material and overall appearance of the Bride as it reflects the social standing and the extent of the family’s wealth. Today, there are bridal dresses available in all prince ranges and to fit the taste of every individual. Bridal wear also is a fashion victim as it changes in accordance with the latest trend.
Hindu wedding:
Indian Hindu weddings continue for several days. India is a country that defines diversity and this is visible even in the wedding and its different styles. The ceremonies, the rituals, the formalities are all different between each region and culture. Unlike the Christians, Hindus wedding ceremony does not resemble the western marriages and are quite elaborate. In the North,Starting from the Tilak ceremony, each function has significance in the marriage. Tilak, Sangeet, Haldi, Baraat and the Shaadi, all necessitate the Bride and the bridegroom to wear new attire at each occasion.All these above ceremonies are known by different names in the other parts,e.g.:Simant puja in the west,or Mangalasnanam in the south and so on.But have got the same significance all over.
Bridegroom’s clothes:
Many communities of South,West and Eastern India still adhere to the traditional costumes,i.e. Dhoti,or sometimes Lungi,and Mundu by some communities of the South.Kurta or a shirt may be worn or sometimes just a Angavastram may be used to cover the chest. On the other hand in the Northern parts, bridegroom usually wears a Sherwani, Jodhpuri suit or a western suit. The groom’s face is covered with a veiled with a curtain of flowers which is called Sehra in the North,which is not the custom elsewhere. It is also customary to wear a Taqiyah all through the ceremony in Muslim marriages.
Many prefer to wear a Kurta.Kurta can be worn with Salwar,or Dhoti.
A dazzling series of ensemble for bridegrooms include majestic sherwani, blended Indo-western suit and ethnic Jodhpuri suit. The exquisite shirts, coats and jackets are designed with extra care and touch to bring out the magnanimity out of the bridegroom on the marriage day. Precious embellishments are studded into the collars and the cuffs of the bridegroom’s dress. Available both in simple cottons and splendid, royal raw silk, these Kurta Pyjamas are a preferred mostly by the bridegrooms.
Bride’s clothes:
The bride wears a saree or a lehenga according to the region. Red is considered to be the most auspicious color in among Hindus. While the saree is preferred as the bridal dress in South India, West, East India, most brides of other parts of India prefer Lehenga, Gagra Choli and Odni as bridal dress.
Christian wedding:
Christian marriage in India is mostly an adaption of western wedding ceremonies. Here the bridegroom wears a western suit or tuxedo. The Bride usually opts for a silk saree or a western gown.
Choosing the Right Bridal Wear :
In western countries, to-be brides opt for colors such as white or blue. White signifies virginity, and was thus chosen as the bride’s colour ages ago. But off late it is acceptable to choose your own custom made outfit. The color black is avoided as it is considered to be the color of mourning.
In our country and in the eastern countries like China and Vietnam they choose the color red as it signifies good luck and auspiciousness. Nowadays, though, it is common to see light cream colored saris with red or gold heavily embroidered borders. People who can afford to splurge can appoint a designer to make them a custom-made bridal outfit.
Also the choice of bridal wear is a very elaborate decision as it must compliment the skin tone of the bride. The jewellery, make up and hair-do must all be in accordance with the bridal outfit. Also, the bridal dress must stand out in the crowd and compliment the bride. The choice of bridal wear is important as it must look attractive in the wedding photographs as well.
It is utmost necessary that the bride looks perfect and not too gaudy or underdressed. So picking the right bridal wear is as important as picking the right life partner. Often wedding planners tend to care of this as well. But if you do not hire a wedding planner, it is recommended that you look at a few places before making the final decision.
After all, with the blessings of God, marriages are a one time affair and one must make sure that it is one of the most enjoyable affairs of life. So why not start by picking the right outfit and stun everyone who sees you in daily life as a “plain jane” and keep them gaping at your transformation! And at the same time, make your life partner proud of his most priced possession.
Reference : http://www.indiaparenting.com/indian-culture/294_3360/bridal-wear-of-india.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_wedding_clothes
