Band Baaja Baraat in Bollywood style

The great Indian wedding season has kicked in. Every stakeholder (real & self-proclaimed) in the great Indian Shaadi bazaar is gearing up to make a killing. All kinds of exhibitions, trunk sales, curated pop-up markets are taking place in every city worth its salt to lure buyers with ceremonial clothing, accessories, occasion wear attire, pre-bridal beauty fixes and even cosmetic procedures to permanently fix a flaw or to alter a feature – everything is selling right now. But truly the real inspiration for weddings in India comes from Bollywood. Of course, the biggest contribution can be attributed to Rajshri films and the Yash Raj banner for glorifying weddings into an entire one-week affair with entire storylines revolving around various related ceremonies and events. So now we have Bollywood themed weddings replete with customised film posters with mugshots of bride and groom replacing the leading actors, red carpet entries, sangeets with full props and backdrops and now, of course, the pre-wedding music video shoots- weddings have turned into mini Bollywood blockbusters as everyone wants to dress and feel like a star. So which occasions can you make your own even if you are not the bride or groom:

Sangeet truly the only night that’s more about friends and relatives than any other wedding event. This is the night when a whole lot of relatives & friends take to the stage to perform choreographed musical medleys  to the best of their capacity, everyone wants to dress up for those two minutes on stage. Unless a dress code is categorically provided- a sangeet is the perfect occasion to dress Indian with a twist. Fusion wears like crop tops, Dhoti skirts, pre-stitched sarees, asymmetrical evening gowns (without fussy trains & stiff underskirts) look in trend and are comfortable enough to dance the night away. This is one occasion where shoes need to be comfortable and should be able to handle all the stress of drunk dancing- so look for kitten heels, block heels and avoid dainty barely there straps.

Mehendi A ritual that has truly metamorphosed- from being an intimate homely affair up to a decade back, Mehendi has turned into a full-blown event. Popularly held at brunch timings at open air venues or poolsides- Mehendi is the desi version of the uber glam Sunday brunch or a day at the Derby. Think breezy kaftans, chiffon sari with a bandeau blouse, mulmul skirt with a lightly embellished camisole. The most important component- oversized glam sunnies. Accessorize with interesting fascinators, conversation pieces like a chunky wristband or a statement ring. Don some blingy flats or metallic Kolhapur for the perfect comfort level.

Reception The culmination of all the partying and madness, a reception is truly the final hurrah. An occasion to go chic, runway glam and super stylish for a formal sit down. A great fitting dress, a beautiful heritage sari or even some embellished cigarette pants with a waistcoat are perfect options. Add a dressy box clutch or a quilted sling for some drama. Footwear you ask? Heels, heels,heels as this evening are less about dancing and more about saying goodbyes till the next shadi shenanigan hits the family.

So get ready to have fun and all the most especially because it’s NOT your wedding. It’s a win-win all the way!