Known for his masterpieces created for on-screen protagonists over the years, costume designer, entrepreneur and fashion designer, Manish Malhotra has become a staple in the modern Indian bride’s trousseau. With a career spanning almost three decades, Manish Malhotra’s eponymous label offers bridal, couture, and diffusion collections, retailing across Indian cities as well as Dubai. The designer’s creations have come to be synonymous with elegance, femininity and unapologetic glamour.

What to look out for?
This year, the collection spotlights Indian craftsmanship combined with modern silhouettes creating a stylish, young bridal entourage. Each piece is meticulously constructed in intricate embroidery, handcrafted to keep the essence of Indian craft alive. For men, the collection will be a fusion of urban and traditional with silhouettes reinvented using embroidery and prints in fresh hues.

What’s trending?
The modern bride is experimenting with sophisticated gowns in pastel hues. She is picking nudes, pewter grey, powder blue, ivory, lavender, and salmon pink, instead of the monotonous reds and maroons. Giving a contemporary twist to her cultural heritage, brides now opt for high fashion looks customised to her personal style. Today’s bride beautifully carries traditional outfits with western cuts that reflect her contemporary approach to her cultural heritage. Brides are now opting for high fashion looks that are customised to their personal style. For example, hand-woven gold embroidery and intricate heritage detailing, lehenga-skirts paired with sheer tops, and exquisite gowns with elaborate trains are the significant trends this wedding season.

A Manish Malhotra celebrity bride?
Styling Kareena Kapoor Khan was effortless. She wore a yellow-golden lehenga with flowers for her sangeet, a pink embroidered elegant sari for her pre-wedding dinner and a deep red embellished lehenga for her post wedding function.

Practical advice for the bride-to-be?
Be experimental! Yes, classic is great but with newer silhouettes and fabrics – a simple outfit can also exude elegance. Attempt different colours, crafts, embroideries and silhouettes. There can always be a traditional element to the outfit, but try to select modern pieces. Be playful with colours by mixing diverse palettes such as shades of beige, ivory, and maroon. Pick outfits that you feel confident in.