The Bridal Lehenga dress consists of 3 pieces – The Lehenga, The Choli, and the dupatta. The Lehenga is a long flowing skirt worn full length. The Lehenga is in some regions referred to as the Ghagra. The Choli is the blouse. The Dupatta is a long cloth draped over the Lehenga and Choli to resemble the pallu of a saree.
The Bridal Lehenga Choli gained its rich and royal look during the Mughal rule around the 12th to the 18th century. Although its journey began with the sombre cotton as its material, the advent of materials like silk, velvet, chiffon, and brocade have helped it to regain its royal touch. Silk and brocade were very popular during the reign of Akbar. Slight variations in the way the lehengas were styled gave rise to the ghagra and lachas.
Importance of Bridal Lehenga Choli:
Most marriage bridal lehengas are handwoven and hand-stitched. A lot of creative and intricate embroidery is crafted onto the lengthy yards of the material before it is hand-stitched into a lehenga. Latest Bridal lehenga designs have evolved over the centuries from the ethnic Mughal designs until the latest prints and embellished patterns. Contemporary designs fuse modern designs with the ethnic Mughal designs. The Bridal Cholis are most often made a perfect fit and are delicately covered with coordinated handwork. The Dupatta completes the elegance and style factor to create the masterpiece.
Features of Bridal Lehenga Choli:
- Lehenga Choli designs for weddings become an integral part of the wedding plan itself.
- Bridal ghagras usually come in the semi-stitched form and are tailor stitched to the bride.
- Heavy work is crafted using beads, Swarovski crystals, kundans, beads and mirrors have extensively been used.
- Neatly engraved zardosi designs in gold and silver threads are used.
- Depending on the delicacy of the design, the making of a wedding lehenga choli takes anywhere between 20 days to a few months.
Which Fabrics are Used for Bridal Lehenga Choli:
The origin of the lehenga began with the cotton fabric. Over the decades, silk and brocade took it over and it became a part of the clothing for the rich and the royal. Bridal wear lehengas were most often made from silk, brocade or velvet. The newer designers are showcasing their designs using fabrics like satin, Georgette, cotton blends, and crepe too. Fusions are being experimented too where the bridal Ghagra choli would be stitched from heavy silk or brocade and the dupatta made lighter using crepe.
Dulhan Lehenga: Top 10 Latest Wedding Lehenga Designs with Images:
Here take a look at the Top 10 marriage lehenga choli models to choose from this wedding season.
1. Anushka Wedding Lehenga Choli:
One of the most talked-about weddings in India recently was that of Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma with Cricket icon Virat Kohli. Apart from being an extravaganza in all aspects, Anushka’s Wedding Lehenga Choli raised the bar on the style quotient. She looked stunning in her Sabyasachi designer wedding lehenga cholis. It is said to have taken 67 workers the whole of 32 days to make this splendor. She wore a light pink lehenga that had exquisite embroidery done in silver and gold threads and embellished with pearls and beads. The lehenga donned motifs of exotic birds and butterflies.
- Lehenga Fabric: Silk
- Choli Fabric: Silk
- Dupatta Fabric: Net
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Slim
- Style Tip: She wore heavy gold and uncut diamonds jewelry with Japanese pearls. She styled it with a big nose ring.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
2. Designer Bridal Lehenga:
The New era fashion designers are giving the brides to be much to choose from in a Designer Bridal Lehenga. The original heavy silks and velvets are giving way to lighter materials like art silks, Banaras silks chiffons, and georgettes. The traditional reds and maroons are being replaced by milder colors like pinks, peaches, and whites. While this retains the original richness, it also brings in a subtle modern touch. The Designer Bridal Lehenga here is a red rich banarasi lehenga topped with a silver-colored sequined glittery choli. The dupatta has been omitted to add a modern look.
- Lehenga Fabric: Banarasi Silk
- Choli Fabric: Silver Sequined
- Jacket Fabric: Silver Sequined
- When to Wear: Own Wedding, a close friend or family weddings
- Body Type: Any body type
- Style Tip: Wear high heels to enhance the flow of the lehenga.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
3. Red Bridal Lehenga:
The Red Bridal Lehenga is the most ethnic one. It is heavily embroidered with floral zari and resham work and stone embellishments all over. The lehenga is widely flared in an umbrella cut and is made up of velvet. The bridal choli is designed using the nat material as the lehenga with the designs carried over similarly. The accompanying dupatta is woven with a lighter material like a net with lace border and tassels.
- Lehenga Fabric: Velvet
- Choli Fabric: Net
- Dupatta Fabric: Net
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Slim to medium body
- Style Tip: Accessorize with heavy Kundan jewellery, a big mang tikka and lots of matching bangles.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
4. Bridal Lehenga Pakistani Style:
Pakistan is very famous for their Bridal Lehenga collections. Brides around the world, who are ready to carry some heavy marriage bridal lehenga could find their answer in the Bridal lehenga Pakistani set. The lehenga has a wide flare and is very heavily embellished with prints. Some patterns of the bridal ghagra choli have a lengthy kurta top instead of the choli which is cut off at midriff. The kurta too is heavily embellished with embroidery and sequins work. A matching dupatta with borders is draped over the head, giving the bride a royal look.
- Lehenga Fabric: Art Silk
- Choli Fabric: Art Silk
- Dupatta Fabric: Chiffon
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Any body type
- Style Tip: Drape dupatta overhead and leave on one side of the shoulder and wear heavy gold jewellery.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
5. White Color Bridal Lehenga:
The White Bridal Lehengas are for all those brides out there who love the colour of purity and can carry it with the charm and grace of a swan. The off-white lehenga is flared hem and designed with rich Bead, Sequins and Cutdana work. The Choli is completely covered with Bead, Sequins and Cutdana embroidery work while the same designed dupatta is lightly carried over one shoulder for best looks.
- Lehenga Fabric: Organza
- Choli Fabric: Organza
- Dupatta Fabric: Organza
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Slim to medium body
- Style Tip: Carry the dupatta on one side to reveal the heavily designed choli. Wear Off- white Kundan stoned jhumkas and a choker to match the gold embroidery.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
6. Bollywood Bridal Lehenga:
Bollywood has played a tremendous role in keeping up the glory of the Bridal Ghaghra Choli. Movies like Padmavat, Devdas etc. which were set in the period times showcased the women in beautifully designed bridal wear lehengas. Bollywood actresses who tied the knots too carried its glory manifolds while they looked stunning in the latest bridal lehenga designs. The rich red lehenga and the choli are both heavily embroidered with gold zari work throughout. The zari-bordered dupatta, draped like a saree pallu, gives a diva-like appearance.
- Lehenga Fabric: Art Silk
- Choli Fabric: Art Silk
- Dupatta Fabric: Georgette
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Slim to medium body
- Style Tip: Heavy gold-coloured jewellery, including heavy jhumkas increases the richness. Wear a big bridal nose ring to enhance the look.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
7. Maroon Bridal Lehenga Choli:
Among the ethnic colours, maroon is an all-time favourite among brides and designers to date. The Maroon bridal lehenga and Choli is made using velvet fabric and heavily designed with resham and zari embroidery work and sequins embellishments. The Dupatta, with light material like net, has some light embroidery on it. It is lightly hung over one shoulder. It recreates the royal look of the Mughal Empire.
- Lehenga Fabric: Velvet
- Choli Fabric: Velvet
- Dupatta Fabric: Net
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Slim to medium body
- Style Tip: Not too heavy gold-coloured jewellery to highlight the royal look of the maroon velvet.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
8. Embroidered Work Bridal Lehenga Choli:
Embroidered Work Bridal Lehenga Choli has been a preference among the brides who would like to carry something a little lighter and not too jazzy. The peach-colored lehenga and choli are beautifully embroidered using Zardosi, Resham thread, Cutdana, Sequins and Pearl work. The designed patch colour dupatta is with lace borders.
- Lehenga Fabric: Silk
- Choli Fabric: Silk
- Dupatta Fabric: Net
- When to Wear: Wedding, Close friends or family wedding
- Body Type: Slim to medium body
- Style Tip: Not too heavy gold-coloured jewellery to highlight the royal look of the maroon velvet.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
9. Velvet Color Lehenga Choli for Dulhan:
Among all the fabrics used in designing a Bridal Lehenga Choli, velvet stands out as an all-time favourite. It can be used in any colour and will still define the same royal and majestic look. Being a stiff material, the velvet lehenga stands in a beautiful a-line hemline. The Purple velvet lehenga and choli are beautifully embellished in gold zari work with heavy borders and sequins. It is combined with a contrasting light pink net dupatta with zari borders for an enchanting look.
- Lehenga Fabric: Velvet
- Choli Fabric: Velvet
- Dupatta Fabric: Net
- When to Wear: Wedding
- Body Type: Slim to medium body
- Style Tip: Wearing heavy gold-colored jewellery with heavy jhumkas complete the rich royal look.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
10. Pink Bridal Lehenga Choli:
The colour of the baby girl – Pink!! The Pink Bridal Lehenga Choli is for all the brides who have carried over their liking for the colour of their childhood. It comes in very handy for brides who would love to carry something lighter on their wedding day. The Pink Bridal Lehenga is stitched in Net fabric and embellished gracefully with sequins, small beads, and gold zari. The Choli, in contrast, is heavily embroidered in gold zari. A net dupatta in contrast blue and green color draped gracefully in a saree pallu gives a mesmerising look.
- Lehenga Fabric: Net
- Choli Fabric: Art Dupion Silk
- Dupatta Fabric: Net
- When to Wear: Wedding, Friends or family wedding
- Body Type: Any body type
- Style Tip: Wear light accessories to highlight the fresh pink colour.
- Wash Care: Dry clean
How to Style Bridal Lehenga Choli:
The Bridal Lehenga dress, however extravagant, will still look incomplete without its set of accessories. Jewelry set in Kundan stones goes best with the Bridal Lehenga dress.
- A neckpiece is closely choking the neck which sits just above the choli.
- A pair of heavy jhumkas or Mughal style rings for the ears set in gold colour would match up very well.
- A single string of mang tikka or a complete headset of mang tikka would boost it and give a royal look.
- Dozens of matching bangles covering the arms.
- A big nose ring will add to the traditional look.
- Hair should be tied in a nice bun with some flowers around it.
- The palms should be decked nicely with intricate Mehndi patterns.
- A waistband will give a nice elegant touch.
- Footwear with slight heels will emphasize the flare and umbrella cuts of the lehengas beautifully.
The brides and bridesmaids to be in the future have a wide variety spread out in front of them. The choices of the latest bridal lehenga designs available would leave anyone speechless. From ethnic colors like red and maroon to the trendy English colors like peaches and creams, from the ethnic fabrics like velvet and silk to the trendy fabrics like chiffon and georgette, from heavy mirror works and sequins designs to the light embroidered and elegant Swarovski crystal designs – today’s bride is waiting to leave her groom stunned!
