India has one of the most colorful, fun and interesting wedding ceremonies in the world. Unlike in western countries where brides wear mostly white gowns, Indian brides wear colorful sarees or lehenga cholis. The couple typically invites 50 to 100 guests and during the reception, there is a flurry of traditional dances, some pre-wedding ceremonies and post-wedding rites. One of the most interesting aspects of holding an Indian wedding ceremony is the bridal lehenga choli. Its origin can be traced back to the bridal creation of Rajasthan, although traditional Indian dresses were already worn by brides since the ancient times. A lehenga choli is a quite complex outfit consisting of a dupatta, choli and the lehenga. The choli is a midriff-baring blouse, the lehenga is a pleated or embroidered skirt, while a dupatta completes the outfit. Choosing the Perfect Lehenga Choli to Wear If you are planning a traditional Indian wedding ceremony, here are a few things that you need to consider when choosing which bridal lehenga choli to wear: The region in India where you come from. If you're a bride from India, your elders would know exactly which type of bridal ensemble you should wear. This is typically based on the region in the country where you come from. For instance, a Punjabi bride wears a Salwar Kameez while a bride from the Maharashtrian region dons a nine-yard sari. Those who are from the Rajasthani region are the ones who consistently wear a lehenga choli. The cut of the bridal outfit that you will be wearing, which should suit your body type. Although there are certain regions in India where brides typically wear a particular type of lehnga choli, it is still up to you to choose a cut and style that flatters your body type. Let's say that you are a petite bride and you would like to look taller on your wedding. You can wear a lehenga choli with an A-line skirt. Other cuts available include the umbrella skirt, the fish cut or the mermaid cut. Fish cut skirts are similar to the mermaid cuts of gowns worn by Hollywood stars on the red carpet. The wedding gowns material that the bridal ensemble is made from. Lastly, consider the material that the lehenga choli is made of. Modern designers use a wide array of materials including chiffon, brocade, cotton, crape, khati, net, silk and satin. Silk and satin lehnga cholis will definitely make you feel like a queen on your big day, especially if the garment is made with grand colors like gold, yellow, red, copper or sapphire. Choosing the color of your bridal lehenga cholis is also a personal preference, although you may want to go for one which complements your skin tone.
