How I Spent $2000 for 7, Yes SEVEN, Indian Wedding Outfits

I have a little secret to share.

I didn’t spend a lot of money for my wedding clothes.  I do not know the famous designers nor did I want to pay hefty prices.  Sure, if a Tarun Tahilani or Vikram Phadnis outfit showed up at my doorstep, I would go stark, raving mad happy.   But alas, one did not present itself.

Instead I opted for clothes that looked great on me and that I could wear again in my life.   The best and worst part of being an Indian bride is that you CAN re-wear your wedding outfits but as I don’t live in India, I don’t get many occasions to wear them.

Except for jewelry, we opted to do the clothes shopping in Ahmedabad.   It is a major textile city and an easy flight from either Delhi or Mumbai.

When we arrived in Ahmedabad, we visited three stores to get a feeling of what I liked.   I realized my style was at a place called Aso Palav.

I ended up buying ALL my outfits there. {Too bad I didn’t get a discount or sponsorship for this post!}   But it is thanks to the salesman, Himendra bhai, who helped my mom and I choose the outfits.

He made a world of difference actually.   It is crucial to have a shopkeeper that understands you, your style, and your budget and not be a jerk.

What’s the secret?!

• Buy non designers.  Skip on the Manish Malhotra’s and Bunto Kazmi’s.
• Go to a city other than Mumbai to shop. I love Mumbai, don’t get me wrong, but it is a very overpriced city when it comes to clothing. Think about it, everything has to brought into the city. There is no local textile industry. And, Mumbai is the most expensive city in India because it’s a business city.
• Buy traditional. Traditional clothes tend to be cheaper than the modern styled outfits. Of course there are many traditional hand-loomed saris that cost a fortune (true Paitani’s for example), but they are worth it. Mix your wardrobe with your cultural beautiful heritage of hand loomed saris and more modern pieces.
• Don’t get brainwashed by others. I heard from friends, cousins, and all that I should check out Seasons, Ritu Kumar, Falung and Shane Peacock etc, etc. I did end up at all of them but I wasn’t convinced of the price tags or the beauty for myself.
• Be able to wear it again. The best is if you can wear these outfits at another event in the future. Even if they are heavy pieces, think about where you can wear them.

 

Who am *I*?

Next, think about what you want and who you are in terms of fashion.  For example, this is me:

• While I love heavily embellished outfits, I am also very petite and can easily drown in them.
• Love traditional pieces like ablah and bandhini.
• Need things that are a bit funky and unusual.
• Pink is truly my color but I opt for more marigolds, royal purples, and greens for the wedding. More regals color scheme for me.
• Wanted one piece that was out of this world embellished and the rest simpler.

 

What did I buy?

• Engagement ceremony – Traditional magenta and green Gujarati chenia choli with bandhini, ablah, and Kutchi borders.
• Civil Wedding Ceremony – Sweet, simple Jessica McClintock white ball gown from the outlet store.
• Mehndi party – Cute, purple corset top with orange trim and a crushed skirt. All in silk.
• Sangeet – Forest green with purple lengha. Top was heavily embellished with sequins. Chenia was a mermaid’ish cut with light brocade.
• Wedding ceremony – Orange and purple sari in silk. $150 I loooove my wedding sari. It is beautiful and happy colored!
• Wedding reception – Embellished panetar. This was my over the top, awesome piece to “wooow” everyone.
• Costume jewelry – bangles, kamerbands, bindis, etc.
• Shoes – My wedding shoes were bought day before the wedding by some girlfriends who were going shopping.  I kid you not.  I never found a pair I wanted on my own, so I left it to two wonderful girlfriends to buy one for under $30.
• Stitching costs – shouldn’t be forgotten!
• A post-wedding shopping spree of a heavy necklace and set (the photo with me in the grass). *I didn’t include it in my costs because I never wore it for the wedding.

 

What did I already have?

• Engagement ceremony – Maharastrian Sari that we bought many years ago for me but never wore it.
• Haldi ceremony – Orange lengha that I had as a kid. {I am that small.} Never wore it as it was always too big. Mom had the top altered and added some embellishments.
• Jewelry – Lots of costume pieces collected over the years that I rarely wore and real pieces that my family has collected for me. *I did not include the cost of any real pieces as they acquired over the years. Plus, there are some things moms never tell their daughters.

I hope this gives you inspiration that you do not need a big budget for beautiful clothes.  You just need to be a happy bride.