Wedding traditions and ceremonies may differ from country to country, but one thing remains the same—the wedding represents the legal union between two partners in the eyes of the law and their chosen church or religion.

These days, despite the popularity of modern weddings, a number of couples still believe in incorporating a hint of tradition into their contemporary nuptials. India, a vast country rich in culture and history, has its own set of wedding customs, traditions and wedding attire. The most common traditional Indian bridal wear is the sari.

The Sari

The sari, also known as shari or saree, is a traditional garment worn by women from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It is a long strip of unstitched fabric, about four to nine meters long. The sari can be worn draped over the body in a number of different styles.

In a common draping style used for the sari, the fabric is wrapped around the woman’s waist with one end of the strip draped over one shoulder, exposing the woman’s midsection. The sari completes the upper garment of the traditional Indian attire and is worn over a petticoat called the pavadai or shaya and a blouse called the ravika or choli.

The Bridal or Wedding Sari

When it comes to traditional Indian bridal wear, you simply can’t forgo the sari. Bridal saris come in many different colors and designs. The key to finding the perfect bridal sari is knowing what to look for, and this starts with knowing all the choices available to you.

First, let’s start with your sari fabric. Your fabric choice will greatly affect your bridal sari’s overall look. If you want a luxurious sari, then we suggest you pick a silk sari with intricate and heavily decorated borders. Most silk saris use real gold threads to create vivid designs and patterns on the sari borders. You simply can’t get any more grand than real gold stitched onto your attire.

If you’re having a summer wedding, silk might be too heavy and too hot for you. We suggest lighter and breezier alternatives, like a georgette or chiffon bridal sari instead.

Next, we suggest you focus on sari color. Saris come in almost every color imaginable. In Pakistan, most brides prefer brightly colored saris, with special preference for magenta, red, gold, dark blue, pink, green and orange.

Beautiful Sari

Red Sari

Latest Sari

Bright colored saris are believed to represent joy and happiness, two things that every woman should have in her marriage. If you want a universally accepted and admired color, then we suggest you wear either a red or a gold sari for your big day.

Sari length also varies according to the bride’s preferences. Although most saris are about four meters in length, you could opt for a longer sari for a “flowing” and graceful appearance.

Lastly, consider the amount of embroidery or detailing you want to have on your sari. Some saris can be heavily detailed with a lot of semi-precious stones and zardosi work or mirror work on the fabric. Although these decorations can add sparkle and glamor to your wedding attire, these embellishments also add extra weight.

Most saris are heavily decorated with embroidery, mirrors and stones the entire length of the fabric. For a lighter sari, pick one with a heavily decorated pallu, but with fewer embellishments on the insides of your sari. The term “pallu” refers to the remaining length of the cloth draped over the body after the sari has been wrapped around the body.

Keep in mind that the more embellishments or detailing you have on your sari, the more expensive and the heavier the garment becomes. So if you’re petite or if you have a relatively small budget, go for the less embroidered but equally attractive alternatives.

Historical and Cultural Significance of the Bridal Sari

When it comes to the bridal sari’s significance and impact on the Indian culture, it’s not so much historical as it is traditional. In most cases, young brides receive bridal saris that have been passed down from generation to generation.

It’s not uncommon for a married woman to keep her bridal sari long after her wedding ceremony. A bridal sari, when handed down from mother to daughter is believed to bring good luck to the newlyweds, and luck, as we all know, is something that most young couples need to make a marriage work.

If you want a truly lucky and traditional wedding sari, we suggest that you go for a red bridal sari. The color red is believed to represent good luck and happiness for the couple, which is why most Indian brides prefer scarlet saris over other colors.

As for white saris, even though white may be the traditional color of purity and chastity in Western culture, most Indian brides avoid the white sari because it represents mourning and sadness. We suggest you pick a colorful alternative instead.

The Elegance of Wearing Sari. Check out the video below: