The Secret and Symbolism behind Red for Indian Brides

Practically everything in Indian society is symbolic, and there are no exceptions with colors. While most colors are connected to symbolism, red is certainly the most noticeable. In Indian culture, red is a major hue in most religious rites, and it has a variety of positive implications, representing new beginnings, zeal, and fortune. Red symbolizes the Hindu deity Durga, who signifies new beginnings and feminine strength. Indian saints and holy men in the 3rd millennium B.C. were the first to wear red, but Indian brides embraced it only during the Mughal Era. Since astrology is so intimately linked to Hinduism, red is also a symbol for Mars, the planet that oversees marriage.

Traditional red lehengas with rich gold embroidery and matching floor-length veils are still popular. Leading ladies of Bollywood including Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, and Sonam Kapoor all wore different shades of passion and tradition at least once for their multiple-day wedding affairs, featuring an array of ace designers. 

However, today’s modern bride also loves playing with other colors. Here are some other colors to consider for Indian weddings.

Bridal Green: A Lively Shade

This earthy tone has long been worn by the country's royalty as a symbol of life, freshness, harmony, fertility, and other positive qualities; it also goes well with traditional gold jewelry. So, how can green be excluded from all of the festivities of an Indian wedding? Green, especially in light and vibrant tints, is a popular choice for weddings, while Emerald green is quickly becoming a crowd favorite. Janhvi Kapoor wore a vibrant green Bandhani sari at Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding ceremonies in Udaipur. The saree, a Manish Malhotra creation, featured a rich gold border and with a bottle green velvet blouse, was a perfect ensemble for a destination wedding.

Blush Pink, Powder Blue, and Other Pastel Hues for Indian Brides

These light shades are great for a morning Indian wedding ceremony as they inspire a cheery and lively ambiance. We’ve seen a lot of modern brides favor brighter pastels over regal colors for their lehenga and add red or darker accented flowers in their hair for a stunning contrast. When Mira Rajput Kapoor chose a blush-hued bridal outfit back in 2015, she made brides fall in love with pastel lehengas. A beaming Mira Rajput Kapoor swept over our social media feeds, ditching the conventional red wedding gown for a beautiful rose alternative, which was designed by Anamika Khanna.

The Versatile Pink for Modern Indian Brides

For men and women alike, pink is a crowd favorite. It looks stunning on most people and brightens up the ambiance of an indoor wedding banquet hall or an outdoor terrace. Pink is a cheerful color, and when combined with gold which represents refinement and radiance, it can create a gorgeous color combination. Here, Kiara Advani looks stunning in a pink Gharara set from Arpita Mehta’s Blurred 2020 collection. The sleeveless blouse featured a multi-colored hand embroidery with mirror work and is an ideal outfit for your best friend’s wedding.

All That Glitters is Gold - A Classic for South Asian Brides

Gold is a color associated with wealth, luxury, and grandeur, but it also conveys radiance. The shade reflects the glitz and glamour of an Indian wedding. Gold sarees are still a popular choice among Indian brides. Shades and types of gold can be as loud or as quiet as you choose, and it never loses its allure on both the traditional and modern Indian bride. Sonam Kapoor wore a gorgeous ivory-golden lehenga by Abu-Jani and Sandeep Khosla for her sangeet-mehndi ceremony and completed the ensemble with Kundan and pearl jewelry.

The Placid Blue - For the Modern Indian Bride ( or wedding guest)

It's interesting how no one thinks of azure as a bridal hue yet it symbolizes trust, devotion, and stability, all of which are essential for a successful marriage. Experts agree that a deep blue tint looks stunning across skin tones whether it be royal, sapphire, or navy blue. Alia Bhatt wore this lovely ivory and indigo blue hand-embroidered lehenga at Isha Ambani’s wedding, which was a creation of the ace designer Manish Malhotra.

Final Thoughts about Bridal Colors at Indian Weddings

Indian weddings are incomplete without the burst of colors, be it the wedding outfits or the wedding décor itself. Colors are held in greater esteem when it comes to the Indian bride and her wardrobe. Red is the most popular choice but modern luxury brides are now also choosing gold, ivory, and pastel shades for their bridal trousseau.  Try these trending colors to bring out the best of your bridal avatar! Stay tuned with The Desi Bride for all things Indian weddings!

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