Who better than the bride herself to give advice on making your wedding memorable? We got 20 cool brides to share their most important learning:
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Kirat Bhattal
Actor and television presenter
Bhattal remembers delving too deep into the little details. “People don’t notice them.” She was determined to go with a rustic, country-inspired theme featuring pastels, wooden furniture, candles and flowers. “Nothing wrecks a wedding like gaudy decor. Avoid bright combinations or blue and red lighting; it’ll ruin the photographs. Stick to warm, flattering tones for your functions.” For the sangeet, for example, Bhattal opted for a walk-through archway using dried willow twigs for a whimsical effect.
Pro tip: “Avoid unpleasant decor and coloured lights.”
Anushree Jasani Jindal
Entrepreneur
It was imperative for Jindal to stay true to her personality. “Some brides are classic, others are experimental. Either way, do what’s closest to your style.” Jindal points out that she has always been a fan of lehengas and picked this silhouette for most of her functions. “Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla designed all my Indian outfits.” Also partial to Lebanese designers, it was natural that she chose Zuhair Murad and Ziad Nakad creations for the black-tie parties. She also kept the venues and decor in mind when planning her outfits. “I wanted my looks to ‘belong’ to their backdrop in a small way.”
Pro tip: “Pick designs that are closest to your personal style.”
Nainika Karan
Fashion designer
One of the memorable things about her wedding, Karan declares, was the understated decor. “When you’re having an intimate ceremony, it’s important to make the space welcoming.” Karan wed at her home, which made the whole task less challenging. She describes the decor as a classic, ethereal, all-white setting. “Small ceremonies need refreshing, good quality flowers and scented candles to transform the ambience.” This type of decor, she believes, is ideal for couples who prefer hosting elegant, low-key affairs.
Pro tip: “Find a florist that is acquainted with small-scale weddings.”
Image: Hormis Antony Tharakan
Natasha Poonawalla
Director, Serum Institute of India
Poonawalla hardly needs an introduction. Her bold sartorial choices have put her on all the best-dressed lists in the country. Although she’s a connoisseur of one-of-a-kind luxury pieces, she believes in sticking to tried-and-tested silhouettes for the bridal trousseau. “Brides should pick shapes that are flattering to their body type. Whether it’s high-waist, backless or off-shoulder, ensure that it’s highlighting your strongest features. You should try and meet designers for guidance.” With jewellery, she opted for traditional, versatile patterns that could also be used in the future. “A big day like this calls for outfits that are both comfortable and memorable,” says Poonawalla.
Pro tip: “Stick to classic colours and silhouettes.”
Image: Suresh Natarajan
Kulsum Shadab Wahab
CEO, Hothur Charitable Trust
Fitness is a significant part of Wahab’s hectic lifestyle. She credits her flawless figure to a strenuous routine at the gym. “A bride needs to dedicate at least six to eight months to transform her body. Strength training, TRX and workouts that increase your heart rate are excellent methods of fat-blasting.” That, in combination with frequent body massages which boost blood circulation, works wonders, says Wahab. “I also matched my workout regimen according to my wedding dresses. If you’re wearing a strapless outfit or a midriff-baring choli, you should work harder on areas that will be exposed.” Wahab also opted for a gentle skincare regime that comprised warm water and argan oil.
Pro tip: “Do high-intensity exercises to burn maximum calories.”
Mitali Sagar
Fashion blogger and image consultant
“My wedding lehenga was a voluminous, high-waist skirt designed by Sabyasachi Mukherjee but not from his bridal line. Brides feel obligated to wear bright colours and extremely heavy outfits but I went for an icy mint tone, which was a refreshing change. There are no rules anymore.” Sagar found it impractical to spend an exorbitant amount on ensembles or jewellery that would lie in her closet for posterity. She continues, “The lehenga has a removable can-can underneath. Plus, I can team the embellished blouse with a contrasting skirt or even find a new way to wear it. My cocktail ensemble, too, was a work of art by Shantanu & Nikhil. It’s a dramatic, elegant emerald gown that I’ll always cherish.”
Pro tip: “Pick a look that you can de-construct and wear again.”
Dipika Pallikal Karthik
Squash player
“I wanted the best photographer in the business and Stories by Joseph Radhik exemplifies just that. Joseph and his team capture breathtaking visuals that are almost other-worldly. I knew my budget would shoot up but it didn’t matter at all,” says Karthik. She and her husband had several discussions and realised that these were going to be their memories of the wedding. “It’s extremely important to invest in a talented wedding photographer. Now we look at the pictures and it was so worth it.” If you’re working with a new photographer, she asserts on meeting them in advance. “You want them to know all the important people that need to make it to your wedding pictures.”
Pro tip: “Introduce your photographer to your closest circles.”
Image: Bikramjit Bose
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni
Jewellery designer
Sahni is not unfamiliar with meticulous organising and planning. “When I got married 10 years ago, I was extremely systematic with the whole process.” Despite limited options, she was able to enlist people to complete various wedding tasks. “There’s definitely a lot to do—planning your trousseau, the decor, the make-up, the guest list and soon.” Create mood boards, print out references and explain your vision. You may want a specific kind of flower or fabric but it’s not feasible for a bride to run around sourcing these things. Leave it to others to help you with this.” Another important lesson is to delegate tasks within the family. “You’re getting married, this time is all about you. Get everybody to help out.”
Pro tip: “Hire a good wedding planner and put a system in place.”
Image: Hormis Antony Tharakan
Bhawna Sharma
Model
“I find that the idea of an intimate wedding is often overlooked.” Sharma believes that couples should be able to interact with their closest friends and family during this special time. She continues, “Huge weddings aren’t a bad thing but there’s also a major disadvantage. It completely loses that personal touch. No one gets to talk to each other properly. We had 150 people at our wedding and spent a lot of time with them.” Sharma insists that if you have a choice, you should go with a limited guest list. “People travel long distances to be with you and feel lost if they’re left unattended. You make more concrete memories if it’s a smaller gathering,” concludes Sharma.
Pro tip: “Go with a small guest list.”
Image: Samir Rana
Ambika Anand
Television anchor
“Purchasing heavily layered diamonds or an expensive jadau set is unrealistic these days,” says Anand. She maintains that a professional scenario doesn’t encourage ornate jewellery. “Many women shop for extravagant pieces that are inevitably kept in a safe and remain unused. They are also too OTT to wear when attending anyone else’s wedding.” Anand proposes that brides choose classic styles that can be worn every day—a custom bracelet from Cartier or a signature bracelet from Bulgari. “Such designs are more sensible and wearable.” The other thing brides can adopt from the west, she suggests, is the concept of a wedding registry. “It’s more useful when couples receive utilitarian gifts. You can be assured that they’ll appreciate it.”
Pro tip: “Invest in practical jewellery.”
Image: Ashima Narain
Namrata Soni
Make-up artist
When it comes to bridal make-up, few know better than recent bride and artist Soni. “I constantly tell my brides to keep it minimal. Don’t pick an artist just because they’re currently the best in the market. I only confirm appointments when I really understand the bride’s vision.” Soni believes that “it’s very easy for a bride who knows what she wants” but for the others, she says a make-up trial is the best way to judge if the artist’s style works for you. “This goes for outfits too.” She advises going to every store and trying on multiple silhouettes and colours—even shades that one wouldn’t normally choose. “A lot of brides wear colours they don’t love because they don’t know better.”
Pro tip: “Set your make-up looks well in advance.”
Aparna Badlani
Curator and co-owner, Atosa
With photographers and video artists constantly filming close-ups of brides, it’s crucial to have impeccable skin during the wedding, finds Badlani. Consulting a nutritionist and eliminating foods that cause bloating or breakouts is the first step to skincare, she says. Hydrating, Badlani claims, helped her immensely. “Planning a wedding can be stressful. Dehydration can lead to lacklustre skin. Exercise is another way to boost blood circulation. I’m a fitness enthusiast—a combination of functional training, yoga and running made all the difference.” Badlani also recommends fixing an appointment with a dermatologist. “There’s a plethora of options—go for a six-month plan that includes skin polishing and clean-ups. It’s an efficient method to get that bridal glow.”
Pro tip: “Give your skin the attention it needs.”
Image: Prabhat Shetty
Shaana Levy-Bahl
Producer and digital marketing consultant
“I couldn’t have planned my wedding without Pinterest. It contains fabulous inspiration for outfits and decor. My mother and my maid of honour pinned relevant references to my secret boards.” Most of us are influenced by our mothers’ aesthetic and Bahl is no different. “My mother’s inputs are invaluable to me. Along with Shane Connolly, our London-based florist, we highlighted the natural grandeur and beauty of our venues.” Another way to find decor inspiration is to look through several runway images online. “I loved the vibe of the Chanel ‘Paris-Bombay’ show in 2012. For the sangeet, we were inspired by the abundance of marigolds locally. Shane created curtains of these local flowers to beautifully juxtapose the statuesque, ancient Mehrangarh Fort of Jodhpur.”
Pro tip: “Don’t dismiss the Internet for great wedding ideas.”
Image: Samir Rana
Karishma Jhalani
Creative director and co-founder, 1701
“I had a few very strong pre-requisites for our invitation: it had to be personal and had to give back to at least one community.” Jhalani recruited BrewHouse to stitch the ideas together. “We had a small invitation, which doubled up as a matchbox with matches. The package went out with a candle by Niana Candles in a Moroccan teacup with two fragrances, a pot of organic honey from Under The Mango Tree (a social enterprise that promotes beekeeping), a customised mixture of our favourite teas by Sancha Tea and flowers.” The paper was recycled, and the packaging was block-printed newspaper made by an NGO. “Some people still have our wedding invitations, plus, three communities ended up on the receiving end of monetary funds.”
Pro tip: “Make sure your wedding invitation card is not wasteful.”
Niamat Bakshi
Lawyer
“I’ve been to weddings in Phuket—you have to change flights and it’s not a great connection. It ends up being a logistical nightmare for the organiser and the guests, who reach the venue exhausted.” The key, she believes, is to find a location that doesn’t involve a complicated travel schedule. Secondly, she finds that a resort is far better than an urban city. “Cities will see guests heading off to shop and do their own thing; it defeats the purpose. Find a space that’s more contained so that guests can party together and attend all the functions.” Another important factor to consider while planning destination weddings is the weather. Bakshi advises couples to be ready with a contingency plan.
Pro tip: “Destination weddings should be easily accessible to guests.”
Nriti Shah Maker
Fashion blogger
The months leading up to Maker’s wedding didn’t involve an extreme beauty regimen whatsoever. “The appropriate workout for a bride involves 45 to 60 minutes of cardio exercises and strength training, combined with the consumption of a minimum of two to three litres of water every day.” Additionally, she advises brides to eat sensibly, avoid sugar and only allow themselves one cheat meal a week. For the skin, Maker went back to the basics. “Cleansing and toning in the mornings was a given. I also used a lot of homemade face packs and ubtan.” She says that her biggest mistake was a chemical peel that caused an irritation. “Don’t take any risks,” she warns, adding that “after that experience, I’ve turned into a firm believer of all natural skin remedies.”
Pro tip: “Don’t experiment with your skin in the run-up to your wedding.”
Image: Sagar Ahuja
Karishma Manga Bedi
Former country manager, Sephora India
A strong advocate of demos and make-up trials before the D-Day, Bedi believes that certain beauty trends don’t suit everyone. “Work with your make-up artist to accentuate your best features. No woman has ever had her routine down pat from day one.” Bedi tried on a variety of swatches to find the perfect nude shade. “Our skin tone alone doesn’t determine what works for us; facial structure and features also play a major role.” She adds, “In the run-up to your celebrations, watch what you eat.” Bedi swears by healthy, wholesome food for glowing skin. She also suggests exfoliating the skin with an ubtan because “your skin will feel as good as new.”
Pro tip: “Smoky eyes aren’t for everyone.”
Image: R Burman
Indrani Dasgupta
Model and television presenter
“Almond butter is a godsend for dry skin. (Leave it on for about 20 minutes.) Brides should also be more diligent about removing their make-up.” Dasgupta religiously used avocado mashed into coconut oil for her unruly curls. “Leave the conditioner on for an extra five minutes as well.” Dasgupta didn’t take her extraordinary genes for granted. “A bride definitely needs a 20-minute cardio session, combined with yoga, to feel good. When it comes to nutrition, the gospel would be to eat well and at regimented times.” She adds, “Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water. Coconut water is also a great source of electrolytes. Limit yourselves to a few alcoholic drinks before the events.”
Pro tip: “Natural ingredients should play a huge part in your beauty routine.”
Image: Bruno Dayan
Indukuri Mallika Reddy
Entrepreneur
Without panicking or micromanaging, Reddy handed over the responsibility of planning her wedding to her mother. “And I’m so thankful for it. My mehendi function in particular was visually stunning.” The invitations, sent out by Reddy’s mother, included Sabyasachi saris for all the guests. As everyone entered the venue, they were offered floral jewellery—earrings, necklaces and bracelets. “The theme was surreal and the freshly woven flowers contributed to the charm.” The traditional element was the renowned South Indian oddiyanam (traditional gold waistband) tied around the saris. Reddy vividly remembers being irritable about posing for photographs. “I regret that. You want to look your best, so be patient with the photographer.”
Pro tip: “Plan a different theme for each function for an unforgettable wedding experience.”
Kavi Ahuja Moltz
Co-founder, D.S. & Durga
Moltz credits her strong aesthetic influences to her Indian roots but she also knew that planning an Indian wedding in New York wouldn’t be a simple task. “I’ve always kept notes of what I liked.” She confesses to being a huge Tarun Tahiliani admirer. She also admits to a shopping trip with her girlfriends to Delhi and Mumbai before the wedding. When it came down to jewellery, borrowing vintage treasures from her mother’s closet was a no-brainer. “I haven’t even worn half of them yet. American events are definitely not as glamorous.” For brides living in New York City, Moltz recommends shopping at Indian stores in Jackson Heights, Queens and Edison, New Jersey for festive decor as well as bangles and bindis.”
Pro tip: “Hunt for Indian enclaves in your city.”
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