Do you find yourself mesmerised by bridal lehengas? From the intricate designs and twinkling embellishments to the way the lehenga moves as the bride walks, bridal lehengas are captivating for various reasons. In the world of online shopping, it is easy to scroll through hundreds of bridal lehengas before choosing the one you want. However, the process of putting together a bridal lehenga is nothing but easy. The beautifully curated garments take weeks (if not months) to make, and understanding this process may make it easier for you to pick the bridal lehenga of your dreams.
Even if you are just experiencing wedding season FOMO, let’s manifest your big day by learning how these stunning bridal lehengas are designed and made.
- Designs
The cut, shape, and embellishments of bridal lehengas largely depend on what’s trending around the wedding season. The year 2023 saw a ton of pastel colours and muted themes. However, as we approach 2024, brides and grooms seem to be moving away from neutrals and toward vibrant colours and bold hues as well as bling, like sequins. Designers will be looking at traditional designs that blend with current trends as well as out-of-the-box ideas for quirky bridal lehengas. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just about the skirt. The designing process takes a holistic approach to how the designs are seamlessly incorporated into all three pieces.
- Styles & Fabrics
Bridal lehenga styles that are huge right now include ruffled or layered skirts, sharara cut or flared silhouettes, sequined fabrics, embroidery work such as zardozi and gota patti, as well as kundan and mirror work. Once the design and designs and styles are finalised, let’s take a look at the fabrics. While picking fabrics, designers mainly try to ensure that the colour and material complement the embellishments. Organza, georgette, and chiffon and designs like jacquard are considered ideal for outdoor weddings. Velvet, silk, and traditional textiles like brocade, are well-suited to indoor venues as they are heavier. There are a plethora of fabric options available each wedding season, and you can pick your preferred fabric depending on the aspects such as weather.
- Assembly
Before the process of cutting the fabrics begins, designers must pick the lining material, which is the inner fabric of your lehenga and blouse. As this fabric comes directly in contact with your skin, it’s usually soft so as to not cause rashes or chafing. The fabrics are cut out according to a pattern. Next, the lining and the cutouts for the lehenga and blouse are stitched together to form the final pieces. The sizing for bridal lehengas is done based on average body type and measurements. However, most brands offer unstitched blouses so you can get yours fitted as needed. Further, materials such as cancan are also often added under lehengas for volume. However, it is recommended to minimise its use or the typical bridal underskirts with hoops to avoid an over-the-top look (or like an upside-down umbrella).
- Embroidery and Embellishments
It’s time for the fun stuff! This is where the shimmer and sparkle are added to lehengas which make brides shine. Whether you’re buying the lehenga for your wedding or a pre/post event, adding bling (lots of it or minimal) is non-negotiable. All this bling and embroidery, which needs to be placed strategically, is done after the final stitching so that it looks seamless. Embroidery and embellishments are also added to the dupatta at this stage and it is ensured that they match the rest of the outfit and do not clash with any highlights of the lehenga and blouse. Next, embellishments around the border of the three pieces are added, and if there’s any handiwork using rhinestones or beads, it’s carried out in this stage. The ensemble goes through multiple quality checks after this to ensure that all the stitching and embroidery work is neat and will not fray easily.
- The Lehenga Arrives, What’s Next?
Fitting is the last finishing touch when buying a bridal lehenga and one of the most important parts of the process. Once you have picked your dream lehenga and it arrives at your doorstep, you must immediately try it on. You need to check the length of the skirt and make sure you are not tripping or letting it trail along. The blouse should be fitted, but not so much that you can’t breathe. Protip: Have a family member or your friends around when you do this. Your squad will not only lift you up but also let you know if something is not looking right. Another tip: If you are ordering your bridal lehenga in advance, consider sizing up – planning a wedding is stressful and your weight might fluctuate. You can always alter a bigger size to make it smaller but doing the inverse is challenging. Buying a bigger size will help you get any last-minute alterations closer to the wedding date.
