Indholdsfortegnelse for October-November-December 2025 i Brides Today

Once intimate and instinctive, weddings today have evolved into grand spectacles — curated, choreographed, and often colossal in scale. What was once a gathering of loved ones has become a multi-day production where excess is mistaken for expression, and scale for significance. Multi-day family festivities now rival large-scale productions, set against palace backdrops and curated down to the smallest detail. From bespoke couture and imported blooms to choreographed performances and cinematic documentation, ostentation has become the new language of celebration. And, of course, hiring the masterji, to make the entire family dance to medleys of Bollywood beats. This year saw a host of mega weddings, one outdoing the other. In this issue, we go behind the scenes and bring exclusives from one of India’s most-talked-about weddings, held recently in Udaipur.…

The father of the bride had one simple brief: “My daughter has to look incredible.” For stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania, these words were music to her ears. All hearsay aside, Netra Mantena made for a beautiful bride, pretty and poised on occasion, vibrant and exuberant on others. And much of her appeal was thanks to Anaita’s impeccable styling prowess. Every single piece was one-of-a-kind, and deeply sentimental — the result of countless meetings with designers, exploring innumerable looks till the vision felt right. THE BRIDE’S DIRECTION “As a bride, Netra told me early on that florals weren’t her thing. So, we kept them to a minimum,” Anaita points out. “The only exception is the lotus in her haldi outfit. Even in the Elie Saab reception gown, the florals were bold…

Architecture is one of the most fascinating mediums of storytelling, and the length and breadth of India — replete with forts, palaces, temples and havelis — provide fodder aplenty that whisper tales of creativity, handiwork, craft, and exceptional skill. It’s in these timeless structures that Indian couturiers now seek inspiration. Carved arches, latticed windows, mosaic floors, and the sheer symmetry of design are making their way to bridal ensembles, rendering architecture more than just a backdrop. ROYAL RAJPUTANA Rajasthan remains Anita Dongre’s eternal muse. The connection goes back to her childhood, when she’d spend summers at her grandparents’ house in Jaipur. That’s perhaps why her designs are so heavily inspired by the vibrant state. Her collection, ‘Meher,’ which translates to grace, kindness or a blessing in Persian, is a nod…

In India, gold jewellery isn’t merely worn — it is inherited, cherished, and passed down the family like a quiet blessing. A grandmother’s wedding necklace travelling through generations to rest on a modern bride’s shoulders becomes a story in itself. Across royal households and traditional families, temple jewellery pieces are handed down generation after generation — worn at weddings, festivals and occasions that mark rites of passage — making them some of the most enduring heirlooms in Indian culture. Long before the style became a bride’s favourite, temple jewellery had a rather fascinating history. Dating back to the 9th-16th centuries, the Chola, Pandya, and Vijayanagara period, these jewels were presented as sacred offerings to idols in temples. Artisans would sculpt intricate ornaments using gold and precious gemstones to adorn Gods…

A ARTISTRY: It’s about enhancing someone’s natural features artfully, not masking them. Always reach for textures that blend seamlessly and feel like second skin. B BLENDING: The only technique that matters in makeup — it softens edges, fuses tones, and creates that seamless fluidity that even the best products can’t achieve on their own. C CONTOURING: When done right, contouring can softly sculpt and enhance the natural shadows of your face, shaping and lifting your features. D DRAMA: A larger-than-life, confident expression of yourself through smoky eyes, bright-hued lips, sculpted features, and the like. E EVERYDAY: Everyday staples are the quickest way to look polished without trying too hard. A defined eye and fresh flush instantly bring life to the face. F FOUNDATION: The perfect base must be seamless, breathable,…

SARTORIAL SHIMMER Moody jewel tones, delicate florals and understated opulence define designer Bhumika Sharma’s latest venture, ‘Noura,’ an autumn/winter sub-capsule collection fronted by Bollywood actor Khushi Kapoor. Rich with hand-worked embroideries, zardozi, pearls and tassel detailing, the edit showcases a black lehenga set paired with an embroidered V-neck bustier, a fluid rose saree with contemporary accents, a red sculpted corset set adorned with metallic florals, and a green, multihued embroidered anarkali that reimagines traditional craftsmanship for the modern muse. STITCHED IN SPLENDOUR The latest collection by design doyens Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, unveiled at Art Mumbai recently, is a beautiful take on stories from A Thousand and One Nights. The showcase unfolded across five distinct collections — ‘The Divine Dancers,’ ‘The Muses,’ ‘The Devotees,’ ‘The Seductresses,’ and ‘The People…

The vibrant floral backdrop brings the bustling studio to life, where in the organised chaos shines our cover star. Her comfortable camera presence makes the photo shoot a breeze, her experience in pageantry coming through in every frame. Radiant in contemporary bridalwear, Manushi Chhillar is every bit a Miss World, the crown that catapulted her to international fame in 2017. Today, as she makes her way through the whirlwind world of Hindi cinema, she makes one thing clear: she doesn’t understand fear, and only pursues things that bring her immense joy. In conversation with Brides Today, Manushi lets us in on the lesser-known aspects of her life, and the factors that keep her driven. Brides Today: You’ve had quite the stage-to-screen journey since being crowned Miss World 2017. Tell us…

In India, jewellery transcends the realm of mere adornments. It’s a language of love, lineage and lifelong bonds, where every region has its own emblem of union. Beyond the many avatars of the mangalsutra — be it the vati in Maharashtra, bottu in the Telugu community, or the tali in Tamil Nadu — varied pieces of jewellery quietly announce one’s marital status across cultures. We explore the many powerful symbols that women wear long after the wedding. TWINKLE TOES Toe rings don’t just make your feet look pretty — they also represent a woman getting a proverbial foot through the marital door. Women in Tamil Nadu and Kerala wear metti, or silver toe rings, as a symbol of their commitment. Telugu traditions involve the groom placing silver mettelu on the…

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Embodying Dior’s signature elegance, this coveted bag in Rose des Vents satin is embroidered with a multitude of beads in the house’s trademark cannage design. The top handles are crafted in tonal metallic lambskin, and D.I.O.R. charms in pale gold-finish metal are adorned with white crystals. The miniature style, with a removable chain shoulder strap, can be carried by hand or worn crossbody — the ideal evening companion for a bride or wedding guest alike.…

What does it mean to contemporise tradition in bridal fashion? Couturier Amit Aggarwal explains in a nutshell: “Indian textiles, weaves, and embroidery techniques hold centuries of cultural heritage, skill, and symbolism. In today’s world, however, these traditions must evolve to stay relevant — not by being diluted, but by being reimagined.” Adding hues of modernity to heritage textile and embroidery means striking a balance between timehonoured craftsmanship and new-age design sensibilities. It’s reinterpreting the past for the woman of today, rather than replicating it. How? The country’s top designers share the many ways in which they’re unifying timeless elements of fashion with modern sensibilities and silhouettes. ZEST FOR ZARI & ZARDOZI Developing new textile weaves, extrapolating zardozi and dori work, and crafting global silhouettes that can be worn effortlessly in…

Trends may come and go, and the changing times may have given way to a lot more references to the “modern bride.” However, amid these evolving aspects of weddings, there’s one that’s remained constant — the bridal trousseau. So much more than just material items, a bridal trousseau is a cornucopia of memories, heirloom pieces and objects that parents have waited a lifetime to buy for their daughter, filled to the brim with emotions. And who better than a legendary couturier to share the absolute essentials for a bride? Tarun Tahiliani shares his thoughts on how a bride can plan her trousseau, dipping into archives all while looking into the future. VARIED & VERSATILE “Beyond the wedding lehenga, a bride should have pieces that transition effortlessly from one occasion to…

Back in 2024, when the Ambanis wed their younger son Anant to Radhika Merchant, the world was left in awe at the sheer grandeur of the celebrations and the astonishing guest list, packed with both Indian and international heavyweights. Now, a year later, as reports of “the wedding of the year” emerged from Udaipur, it collectively evoked in us a similar sentiment of awe and bewilderment. The union of Netra Mantena — daughter of Padmaja and Rama Raju Mantena, the Orlando-based billionaire and CEO of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals — and Vamsi Gadiraju — a Forbes 30 Under 30 Indian-American tech entrepreneur — was testament to how every year, Indian weddings continue to get bigger and better. From their shy beginnings, after first crossing paths in New York during the US Open,…

Six events. Six jewels. One vision. Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju’s iconic wedding celebrations were conceptualised around the nine Navaratna gemstones, where every visual cue — florals, décor, palette, design language, — symbolises the chosen jewel and its hue. And Netra’s directive was clear: design the ceremonies with a global approach while being rooted in heritage. With over 10 lakh flowers, 800 florists, and 200 farms involved, Interflora India wove together what served as the floral foundation of every venue. Each celebration was drenched in blooms — the haldi unfolded in warm tones of burnt orange; the sangeet was bathed in dusty pink; the mehendi explored emerald green; and the wedding was sprinkled with pristine white, a touch of green, pinks and peaches. Purple alliums and vandas punctuated the haldi.…

The atmosphere on set is warm and exciting, the subdued clamour of the crew punctuating the air as we capture look after look. Amid this organised chaos is our cover star, Bhumi Satish Pednekkar, visibly enjoying herself in JJ Valaya couture that makes her shine. “Bridal couture carries a kind of magic that’s hard to describe. The craftsmanship, the grandeur, the textures, the theatre of it all…” she gushes. “Every look felt like stepping into a different story, a different mood. Although, a moment that stayed with me was seeing myself in the mirror for the first time in one of the heavier outfits. There was an unmistakable shift in posture, in energy. Even though it’s for a shoot, I realise that bridal couture evokes this quiet sense of celebration.…

My younger brother, a freshly minted high-school graduate, doesn’t hold me to standard in most regards. The exception: fashion. Perhaps it’s because I work in the industry. Or perhaps he trusts me to stop him from veering towards a style deemed “too feminine.” Like much of the older generation we know, Gen Alpha, too, is tuned to concede to the norms of conformity under the reductive eye of social media. Despite the algorithm’s best efforts to flatten fluidity — from fabrics and prints to embroideries — the groom of today marches down a rebellious path to reclaim menswear as an instrument of identity and expression. Entwining androgyny, vulnerability, self-expression, and the quiet luxury of leisure, the new discourse around so-called masculine fashion is nuanced yet inclusive. Through the eyes and…

A cursory glance at wedding fashion trends makes one thing clear: open chokers have brides and guests alike in a chokehold (pun intended). Dainty yet statement-making, they make for charming and stylish accessories that elevate an ensemble, without the added weight of traditional chokers.…

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