In January 2011, TheKnot.com announced 11 wedding trends of 2011. One among the top five was “Exotic Indian Inspiration.” As quoted by TheKnot.com, “From Katy Perry’s Indian wedding and Eat, Pray, Love to Nicole Richie’s exotic elephant as a wedding greeter, India will definitely be the “it” country for wedding inspiration. Think vibrant color palettes like purples, reds and golds, lavish décor elements such as beading and rich drapery, and exotic, spicy dishes.”
The Big Fat Indian Wedding
Traditional Indian weddings are nothing short of a festival, filled with celebrations and colours. The marriage ceremonies are a blended mix of religious rituals, values, traditions and family. With colourful representations of our culture throughout the wedding, it is no wonder that other parts of the world find Indian weddings larger-than-life and are fascinated enough to incorporate elements of it in their weddings. Rich hues of reds, golds, oranges and greens can make any wedding look regal and our religious traditions embody spirituality and mysticism to foreigners. With family being central to everything we do including our wedding, it is truly an inspiration to everyone.
Indian Art and Cultural Symbols
With so many visual representations of Indian mythology and culture, Indian art is a big attraction worldwide. Elephants, Lord Ganesh, serene Buddha, peacock, among several others, are some symbols of India (and neighbouring Asian countries) that find great favour worldwide. Decorative and cultural Indian accents are a hot trend, which can add Indian flair to any wedding and make it one-of-a-kind. Another Indian specialty gaining popularity among foreign brides is mehendi. Brides in white gowns with henna-adorned hands are becoming a common sight at Indian-inspired weddings abroad.
The Magic of Indian Attire
Saris are classic when it comes to adorning any female body. No other garment can do more justice to a woman and make her look more gorgeous than ever, than a sari. From its simplest form to the most magnificent with zari, beads, lace and other embellishments, sari is the ultimate Indian attire. Over the years, its fame has spread to other parts of the world and found several willing women to model it, from Julia Roberts to the William sisters. Once we get past the brilliance of sari, we have half sari, salwar kameezs, sherwanis, lehengas and cholis which are beautiful in their own right. Supermodel Heidi Klum renewed her vows with her husband Seal in the Indian tradition, where the bride, groom and all guests were attired in saris and sherwanis and feasted on Indian vegetarian food.
Beauty is in the Details
Indian-inspired weddings can be high on ethnic feel with just a few details sprinkled here and there. Indian-themed wedding favours, colourful wedding invites and flowers, heavy embroidery, Indian cuisine or spices-infused menu and colourful embellishments to the traditional white dress are some other ways worldwide brides are amping-up the Indian sensation at their weddings. Dramatic glamorous details can include henna-design inspired wedding cake, red-pink-gold wedding themes and Indian attire for everyone.
