Soon after Sid and Kiara shared their wedding pictures, the meme community was ready to wow the world with their funny Canva edits. On top of that the triggered twitterati was mad how every celeb couple is copying the Virushka wedding style and how no one will come close to the OGs.
Soon an edit containing a montage of celebrity wedding images became viral – Shahi paneer, paneer pasanda, paneer lababdar, kadhai paneer – making clear fun of how similar both these celebrity weddings and paneer gravies at restaurants are. Even though the designers, stylists, and photographers differ, they all seem to be producing a dreamlike, homogenized aesthetic in pale colours without acknowledging the bride and groom’s varied ethnic roots.
According to Hyderabad-based designer Gaurang Shah, who specializes in wedding clothing, “it’s like the celebs are imitating one another or maybe the designers are dictating their choices.”
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Bollywoodification of Weddings
Each year a new wave of trend passes us by, be it the big, dramatic destination weddings or the hush-hush intimate affair. Bollywood weddings add another layer of FOMO in our lives. People find it hard to decide which trends to follow. Either people want a South Delhi Band Baaja Baaraat affair or a ZNMD cute backyard wedding. And hence our mood boards and Pinterest pins just keep on increasing day by day.
The influence of Bollywood on our lives is huge. Udaipur weddings became a dream for many couples after YJHD released back in 2013. Kareena Kaoor’s Manish Mahlotra lehenga in – was suddenly everywhere in the 2nd copy in Chandni Chowk. In Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Alia Bhatt had a dialogue, “I will get married only if I get to wear the same designer lehenga as Kareena… or else”. Hence, once again in proving that even Bollywood Nepo babies crave for that filmy wedding.
Red lehengas, pink lehengas with orange hues, beautiful golden embroidery work were the epitome of Bolly weddings. Kareena, Katrina, Preity, Rani, Deepika, all the actors had adorned this rich traditional red colour. Then a switch happened!
Virushka Wedding – The Trend Begins
In 2017, a wave of change came in. It was the lush Italian wedding of Virat-Anushka. When their wedding pictures with them folding hands, smiling aesthetically wearing a light, pastel tone sherwani and lehenga with the peach hued sky in the background were released on Instagram…well everyone was impressed. It was fresh and new from the usual dark red, almost too bright red lehengas. This too was Sabyasachi’s work but it gave off one single emotion – REGAL. It was different from his previously infamous red and black sarees.
Now with years gone by, several celeb couples have one for pastel tone weddings. And it now seems a fad taken too far.
Pastel, Pastel And Pastel!
Anushka and Virat – Sabyasachi’s Blush pink ensemble
Varun and Natasha – Manish Malhotra’s Off-white outfits
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor – Sabyasachi’s Ivory attire
Athiya and KL Rahul – Anamika Khanna’s Champagne pink look
Kiara and Sidharth – Manish Malhotra’s Pale pink and cream outfits
But Why Pastel Colours?
Traditionally dark, bold colours have been associated with run-of-the-mill, regional Indian colours. Pastel colours are mostly linked with softness, aesthetics and a bit more romance. Pastel is also paralleled with minimalism. Minimalist bridal lehenga and bridal makeup have aky-rocketing demand. Veils and sheen linen or tissues, very light fabrics are used to compliment these colours. Pastels are also less intense than primary colours – showcasing a fresh and radiant and natural look.
Still many people oppose pastel colours saying that they look dull and no longer give a festive feel to the wedding. It almost feels like a normal event and not a Shaadi wala look or the Bridal glow.
Team Pastel VS Team Red
It’s not just about red or pastels. Pastels work more for North Indian style weddings, which normally happen during the day which in turn adds to romance. But for night weddings, dark colours tend to look better.
In addition to this, dark colour compliments most dusky or brown skin tones. Most Bollywood actors are not very brown or dusky, and yes skintone does matter while selecting colour for bridal attire.
Red is a vivacious and powerful colour. No matter what the trend is nowadays, a woman wearing red makes for a timeless bride. Trends keep changing but elegance and beauty that red adds is evident on the wedding lehengas of Priyanka Chopra and Sonam Kapoor.
Red, brown, green, the dark colours that represent Indian cultures, especially South Indian culture cannot be completely replaced for the pastel tones.
Western weddings have always used light colours, significantly white and beige tones. On the contrary, Indian weddings are bright, loud, a mix of a variety of colours that the others wouldn’t fathom to include in their celebrations. Hollywood movies like 27 Dresses, Valentine’s Day, Sex and the city showcase Indian weddings as a colourful affair. Pop of colours, loud hues, unseen anywhere else.
Pastel themed weddings have made a shift in wedding choices. Watching Instagram posts of so many celeb couples has taken off the trend in reality too. Those who were earlier reluctant to try light colours have now gotten the celebrity stamp of approval.
But going for the traditional red or the new pastel, at the end anything can seem like a cookie-cutter wedding. What truly matters is prioritizing your style and choice. With the trend or counter the trend, planning wedding according to your feeling is the true happiness.
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