Lehnga is a dress worn by most Eastern girls, specifically South Asian girls on their special day. A bridal lehenga is used to wear in South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan. The Mughal era is the basic origin of lehnga dress. Mughal royal families used to wear this type of dress which was then named the lehenga. After the Mughal era in East Asia, the trend changed with time, but the lehnga dress kept its popularity there and became a popular dress in traditional weddings. With time, modern trends come in different styles, and how they’ve evolved from tradition.
As an Eastern woman, I will try to explain the Lehenga tradition, different styles in Lehnga, and trends most closely according to my experience and research. There is an emotional connection between brides with Lehenga dresses for their special wedding day. Girls dream of having a beautiful look on their wedding day, especially dressing up for their husbands.
Cultural Significance of Bridal Lehenga
Bridal lehnga dress has a big cultural importance. It is a style of Indian subcontinent countries including Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, has the same ancestors so they follow the same culture of wearing Lehnga on their wedding day. Lehnga dresses are worn up by bridals indifferent colors and designs, but the red color is much more popular in bridal lehengas. Brides choose the right matching accessories like jewelry and shoes to complement their bridal lehenga.
Popular Bridal Lehenga Styles
Bridal lehngas are available in different styles in the market according to the region and popular choice of girls. Here I am going to discuss three types of lehnga collections: Traditional, Modern, and Designer Lehngas.
a. Traditional Lehenga Style
Traditional lehngas are featured with heavy embroidery, classic patterns and zari work. In Many historical cities of India and Pakistan like Lahore and Varansai traditional lehngas has been worn up by most of the brides there.
b. Modern/Latest Lehenga
Latest lehnga styles are Fusion of modern and traditional designs and love to wear by most of the brides according to latest trends. In latest lehnga trend, short kurti with high flared lehnga with can-can under the lehnga used to wear by the brides. In modern lehnga style there is a touch of different cuts, and fashionable embellishments with a blend of traditional elements. Peplum, long shirt, choli, frock paired with a lehenga are some popular modern styles in Bridal Lehnga.
c. Designer Lehenga
There is a big influence of fashion designers on trends and styles of bridal lehngas. Here are few names from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who made a big influence on bridal lehnga fashion including Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Zara Shahjahan and Khosla. Most of the Celebrities approach top designers for lehenga designs.
Fabric Choices for Bridal Lehengas
In the bridal lehnga there is a varity of stuff available to choose for lehnga making including Silk, velvet, chiffon and net that are of popular choice
1. Pure stuff
The Pure is most expensive stuff used for expensive lehnga. Pure is much sensitive and elegant stuff used in royal and luxurious bridal lehngas. Addition of stuff like Banarasi and Katan silk also used to add its beauty in different styles.
2. Velvet
Velvet stuff is also used in bridal lehnga making. It is best for winter weddings and its rich texture make it an extra ordinary bridal lehenga look. Mehroon velvet lehnga is in trend from last few years gives an extra ordinary doll look to bride.
3. Chiffon/Georgette
Chiffon is also one of the good options in Lehnga making. It is a lightweight option for modern brides. This stuff can be used in any weather and Ideal for summer weddings.
4. Net and Tulle
Best for high volume bridal lehnga dress, Popular in modern and fairy-tale lehenga. One best thing of this stuff is its durability the bridal dress you can save for many years without damage of stuff.
Color Trends for Bridal Lehenga
Let’s discuss about Lehnga colors and different trends in the colors of bridal lehnga
1. Traditional Red
While taking about bridal lehnga first come in mind the red color. Most of the brides love to wear red color lehngas from hundreds of years. Importance of red in bridal wearing can never be ignored. Red color is assumed as the color of love and relation from thousands of years.
2. Pastel Shades
Some girls don’t like to wear red on their special day. Other light colors worn be brides on reception day the next day of barat. Apart from red many colors are in trend like pastel colors lehengas (peach, mint green, lavender) for modern brides.
3. Gold and Beige
These colors mostly used to wear on 3rd Day of wedding, at Valima receptions. Only few brides choose to wear exceptional colors like non-traditional shades blue and purple on the first day of barat, who want unique look or don’t like traditional colors on their special day.
Types of Embellishments and Embroidery
Bridal lehnga is a special dress that girls use to wear once in the life. Girls want this dress heavy with full of embroidery and accomplishments. There are different trends come in bridal lehnga each year including Zardozi work, gotta work and stone work etc.
1. Zardozi
Zardozi is most common embroidery work used in making bridal lehnga. It is sophisticated work involved high skills of using it on dress. This trend of using zardosi never ends in any time. It adds huge beauty in bridal lehengas.
2. Gota Patti
Gotta Patti embroidery is a traditional Rajasthani art used to wear in 90s for bridal first day lehnga. From last 10 years there is a great trend of gotta work specifically used in mehndi lehnga dress.
3. Mirror Work
Mirror work also used in Bridal lehngas Popular only in few cultures like Gujarati and Rajasthani bridal lehengas. The Mirror work on bridal lehnga gives a glamorous look to the bridal of those regions.
4. Crystals and Stone Work
Use of crystals and stones in bridal lehnga is the most trendy and modern touch of glamour in bridal lehengas. Most of the designers use stone work on their bridal lehnga collection.
Customization in Bridal Lehenga
As bridal dress is most loving dress for the bride and it must be custom-made according to your choice and style. I also made my bridal dress on custom order and also recommended for you. If you are also planning to buy lehnga for you special day must choose custom option or must look up a fashion designer. Here are some benefits of custom made lehnga
- Custom bridal lehnga is just according to your style and choice.
- You can select color shade of bridal lehnga dress according to your choice.
- You have to order for custom lehnga before few months of wedding day.
- Custom bridal lehnga is exact fit of your own size.
Bridal Lehenga Shopping Tips
- Prioritize the quality and style without overspending.
- Must keep in budget while buying bridal lehnga.
- Try multiple styles for choosing best suitable for you in terms of fit and comfort.
- Select the right jewelry based on your lehenga style.
- Keep the balance of tradition and personal style in choosing bridal Lehnga.
- Must keep in mind the comfort and satisfaction by wearing bridal lehnga.
- Choose right outfit stuff according to trend and weather requirements.
- Embellishments must be according to trend and regional preferences.
Where to Buy
- Zara Shahjahan, Sania Maskatiya, Nomi Ansari are famous bridal designers in Pakistan.
- Sabyasachi and Anita Dongre are popular name of making bridal lehnga from India
- Laam.pk and studio by TCS are two top platforms offering bridal lehngas with worldwide delivery.
Preservation and Care
Bridal dress is most expensive dress for every girl, you must have to preserve it for remembrance of your special day. keep it with preservation after professional cleaning and maintenance services for delicate fabrics.
Bridal Lehnga on Rent
If you want full or embellishments lehnga that is so costly another option is to get lehnga on rent. In this way you can wear up you favorite lehnga in lowest budget. Because this expensive dress worn up only once. So, if you can’t afford too much expensive lehnga choose this option. In this option you have to pay only 5 to 10% of the total cost of Lehnga. Many markets specialized in making bridal lehnga also offer this option.
Conclusion
All above discussion about bridal lehnga is according to my best experience and knowledge. I mentioned the basic information about buying a lehnga and few suggestions for upcoming brides, including how to buy, where to buy and tips to buy. My most recommended color is dark red and maroon shade, good stuff according my experience is bamber pure or if in high cold weather dark maroon velvet. If you are with a good budget hire a fashion designer, while second option is gat custom made lehnga from stores or online platforms and the last option is to get bridal lehnga on rent.
