We all know that the weather plays a key role in wedding wardrobe selection. Whether you’re a winter bride yourself, or have a friend’s end-of-year celebration to attend, you want to make sure that the outfit you choose keeps you safe from the chill in the air. Does this mean you need to stay away from cropped cholis with your lehenga or a strappy sari blouses? Not if you don’t want to. Just layer your Indian ensemble with a cover-up instead to stay warm through all the festivities. While traditional jackets and capes have won favour among several Bollywood celebrities in recent times, they’re not the only options available to wedding hoppers. A beautiful winter-appropriate shawl can serve as a great styling hack as well.

How to find the right shawl for your wedding lehengas and saris

If you're cringing at the idea of wearing your grandmother's simple white shawl over a decadent lehenga, that's not the kind of shawl we're talking about. When it comes to wedding-appropriate layers, look towards vibrant hues and embroideries, sequins, zari and crystals that will complement your ensembles. Case in point: the kaani shawl. One of the oldest Kashmiri handicrafts, these use intricate craftsmanship, and each piece takes about six to 12 months to create. Another version worth considering is the kalamkari shawl, which is uses inks made from vegetable pigments. For the eco-conscious wedding guest, there are a number of vegan cashmere blends available.

“Shawls today are made in the finest cashmere, merino wool and silk blends. The fabrics are either woven or finely knitted,” says Maneesha Ruia, whose eponymous label is famed for its custom shawls. “We also have gold and silver threads interwoven in the weft of the shawl. But our specialty is lace appliquéd shawls, made using delicate Chantilly. These are further accented with embroidery and Swarovski crystals. The metallic ones are perfect paired with a lehenga,” she adds.

Bhuvan Ahuja, the fourth generation owner of the well-known shawl brand, Ahujasons, recommends picking shawls that feature a fusion of ethnic and modern sensibilities. “We play around with old concepts and motifs [in our designs],” he says. For the colour palette, Ahuja points towards popular festive hues. “Bottle greens, deep reds and mustards are back this season, along with lobster pinks. Another trend that is gaining popularity is the concept of personalising, which takes the form of monogrammed options for bride, family members and the wedding party,” he adds. According to him, three types of shawls are must-haves for any winter bride. “The gulabdaar, the silky jama and the kaani shawl—all of them are versatile enough to go with most things in your wardrobe, and can be carried off both formally and informally,” he says.

Scroll ahead for our round-up of the shawls you can consider for the next winter wedding on your calendar