Bollywood Wedding

The dress we see here in this Bollywood wedding photo shoot is stunning, as are the accessories. Looking glamorous and feeling beautiful are two concepts wonderfully evident!

What to Look for in a Venue for a Bollywood Wedding

Bollywood or Indian weddings are incredibly glamorous, usually have several thousand people attending, and can go well into the night. These weddings also span several days with Indian rituals and customs, so most wedding venues need to be large enough to host a substantial wedding party.

When considering the wedding venue for a Bollywood wedding, it is best to opt for a large open area (so guests can mingle and dance) like a barn, vineyard, farm, ranch, or open fields. Indian-inspired weddings also need plenty of space for the various ceremonies, including the elaborate and lengthy wedding rituals. It is best to err on the side of additional space.

Color Palettes for a Bollywood Wedding

There are several stunning wedding color palettes for a Bollywood-inspired wedding. If you want the wedding to be loud, you should opt for bright pastels or reds mixed with gold. Many couples like the infusion of multiple colors in the wedding to make the event colorful and happy – blues, purples, sage green, and more.

However, if you want an understated elegance in the wedding and ceremonies, you could opt for a muted wedding color palette of neutrals, blush, and gold. Several shades will match this color palette, including heirloom and crushed gold, mother of pearls, pearly white, rust, copper, tans, and muted browns.

Details for a Bollywood Wedding

Bollywood-inspired weddings usually have several additional aspects that are absent in many nuptials. For example, Bollywood weddings need dance floors with flashing lights, a DJ, lots of party music, and a party atmosphere. Many Bollywood weddings also have a stage for the bride and groom to stand and click photographs while they greet and thank guests.

Since many wedding customs and traditions are different in Indian weddings, the details need to be planned in advance and incorporated into the wedding venue during the setup stage. Couples will also need to decide the ceremony backdrop, reception backdrop, and any additional decorations they may need for the Haldi (Turmeric) and Mehendi (Henna Tattoo) ceremonies.

Food for a Bollywood Wedding

The best part about Bollywood-inspired weddings is the delicious food. Indian food is a mix of several taste palettes – everything from vegan to vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines. Planning a good menu with so many food options can get challenging.

It is best to start with welcome drinks – a fruit punch or a summer cooler mixed with some mint leaves for the wedding food. The starters should be a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices like Aloo Bites (potato bites), Chicken Kebabs, Mushroom Tikka (grilled mushrooms in spices), and more. The mains are pretty elaborate with dals (lentil prep), curries (veg and non-veg), various flatbreads, several rice dishes including biryani, and an array of Indian desserts.

Table Setting Style for a Bollywood Wedding

The table setting style can be pretty elaborate, with a lot of room for additional wedding decor. Couples can opt for copper tinted tumblers to hold floral centerpieces in gold marigold, blush and white roses, and baby’s breath with native greens. Like the recent one with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, Bollywood-inspired wedding themes can also have an abundance of pearl strings, mother of pearl decor, and plenty of Kundan and Polki bangles as part of the table decor.

Couples can also opt for glass or acrylic plates with gold piping and gold or rose-gold cutlery, crystal wine glasses, and mismatched water glasses.

Wedding Dresses and Accessories for a Bollywood Wedding

Bollywood-inspired brides have their choice of traditional Sarees or intricate, elaborate Bridal Lehengas in multiple fashions and colors. Many North Indian brides prefer a lehenga or saree in bright vermillion red, with red bangles (chooda) and detailed Polki, Kundan, Jadau, or diamond jewelry.

However, if you want to opt for a subtle shade, you could think of an elaborate muted gold lehenga with a backless choli (blouse) and intricate beadwork on the skirt. The dupatta (long scarf) should also be heavily embellished with the four corners in heavy beadwork for a graceful fall. The accessories are usually large and small necklaces in gold, Kundan, Jadau, Polki, or diamonds with matching bangles (uneven numbers), anklets, rings, several chains, and maang tikkas (elaborate, rich forehead jewelry).

Wedding Invitations for a Bollywood Wedding

Bollywood-inspired wedding invitations can be as loud or as discrete as you want. Most wedding invitations today have a fun aspect with a caricature of the couple. However, if you want a traditional Indian wedding invitation, it is lengthy, elaborate, and has plenty of detailing with the names of the gods, family members, and more.

Instead, you can forego all of this and opt for a muted gold, blush, and neutral color scheme for the wedding invites, with the script in calligraphy. You could also add an Indian motif or two with a coconut Kalash with mango leaves (for good fortune) or a henna pattern (to signify fertility and good luck).

Ceremony Decor for a Bollywood Wedding

The wedding ceremony is typically conducted indoors since it involves a ritual around a sacred fire (which may go out outdoors). The wedding is conducted in a temporary structure called mandap or wedding altar, which is usually an elevated platform richly decorated with flowers, chiffon drapes, and hanging ornaments.

Since many Indian wedding ceremonies begin with prayers to Lord Ganesha, the wedding decor also includes a small sacred space for the Gods to witness the wedding between the couple. The priests (called pujaris) will instruct the couple on the ceremony and the rites. The bridal couple will also exchange Jai mala (or floral garlands) to signify their union.

Wedding Reception Music and Entertainment for a Bollywood Wedding

The wedding reception music and entertainment in a Bollywood-inspired wedding should be of the latest hit Bollywood songs and dance numbers. Many of these beats are pretty catchy, allowing most wedding guests to start dancing as they celebrate with the happy couple. The newlyweds can also begin the dances with a choreographed couples dance, followed by other set dances by different family members.

These dances are set to the latest Bollywood music and are performed by friends, family, and loved ones, who spend several weeks learning and preparing the songs for the couple. This ceremony is also sometimes called the Sangeet (which loosely translates to Musical), and many couples combine the reception with the Sangeet so everyone attending can have a fun time.

Favors and Gifts for a Bollywood Wedding

Bollywood-inspired wedding favors do not need to be filmy or dramatic. Instead, they can be significant to the couple and represent their wishes and thanks to the guests. Small jewelry boxes with Indian jewelry for the ladies, traditional brooches for the men, sweet packets (Indian sweetmeats in clarified butter), small purses with rhinestones, embellished pearls, and more are the usual wedding favors.

Many couples like to appreciate their guests by gifting them clutches and wallets to signify abundance. If you want to be a little stylish, you could also consider some deeply meaningful items in a wedding hamper with brocade and gold décor for men and women.

Vintage Glam Bollywood Wedding

With a neutral, blush and gold color palette, Mona of Birds & Honey Events created the most gorgeous Bollywood themed wedding inspiration shoot ever. Captured beautifully by Tegan Martin-Drysdale Photography, this editorial features a bridal look that was custom-made in India and a gorgeous tablescape with delightfully decadent details!

From Mona of Birds & Honey Events – “Bollywood is the Hollywood of India and it is full of bright and bold colors, glitz and glam and oh so much pretty. With this editorial I wanted to reach out to those brides who want to take a different route, something a bit subtler but that still oozes vintage glam!”

Credits: Photography: Tegan Martin-Drysdale // Event Designer, Coordination, & Styling: Birds & Honey Events // Dress & Jewelry: Custom made in India // Makeup: Anita Gill Makeup Artistry // Hair: Jennifer Chivers // Flowers: Fabloomosity // Paper Goods: Lucky Penny Paperie // Rentals: Elegant Touches // Venue: Blake Loates Studio in Alberta, Canada.