How to Ace a Designer Bridal Lehenga Look in an Inexpensive Way?

We know how much you drool over a designer bridal lehenga. The cuts, the patterns, the intricacy in design and the mellow and moody to the burst of vivid colours – we know you love it all! From Bollywood movies to ramp runways, these designers have been fashioning creations that have become the talk of town and dream wedding wear for brides-to-be. However, owning one can seem like a distant dream considering the cost of one lehenga can sometimes be the budget for your entire wedding, right?

Aww brides, we feel you and so, we bring to you a well-researched guide on how to ace a designer bridal lehenga look in an inexpensive way.      

You can always take ideas and inspiration from their designs and have your local tailor or boutique lady create that exquisite piece for you. Doing so won’t burn a hole in your pocket. So, start scrolling as we highlight what are the signature styles of India’s top bridal lehenga designers and how you can recreate this look for less.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

Beginning the listing with our very own favourite, whose work has never failed to amaze us, we have Sabyasachi Mukherjee. His label ‘Sabyasachi’ has always been a representation of ancient and medieval age. Unusual fabrics, textures and detailing, fusion of Indian styles, sequins and motifs are what define Sabyasachi.

Things to do to achieve the Sabyasachi bridal look:

Lehenga – Select a lehenga in a naturally woven fabric – Think Benarasi Silks, Velvets and Brocades with ball gown flares. Opt for solid colours in jewel tones on a fabric with woven buttis and intricate sequined motifs that match with a powerful border to complete your regal bridal look.

Jewellery: To achieve a complete Sabyasachi bridal style, wear an oversized maang tikka or a matha patti, large bridal nathni, heavy choker or a multi-tiered necklace.

Make up: An even base, no bright blush, bold beautiful and dark eyes without using any coloured shadow. Complete the look with a bold red bindi and hair pulled back and tied into a bun at the nape of the neck.

Manish Malhotra

Next on the list, every Bollywood and Hollywood bride’s dream man – in designing of course – Manish Malhotra! Right from Kareena Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Shilpa Shetty to Mira Rajput, Manish Malhotra has also designed clothing for Hollywood celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Kylie Minogue and Katie Moss, to name a few. His work focuses more highlighting the curves and his creations make every bride look no less than a princess.

Things to do to achieve the Manish Malhotra bridal look:

Lehenga: Balance is the key in creating a Manish Malhotra look. He takes equal elements of shimmer, embroidery and rich colours, making all of them a statement in itself. When selecting a lehenga choose something that has flair, embroidery, rich fabrics, colour blocking and prints.

Jewellery: Adorn just statement earrings or a bridal nathni, that’s how effortless it is to look like a Manish Malhotra assembled bride look

Hair and Makeup: Let your hair loose giving it soft waves or tie it up. Wear dewy or smoky eye makeup with lipstick complimenting your lehenga

Rohit Bal

History, fantasy and folklore are the basis of all Rohit Bal creations. The man who deeply understands the psyche of the fashion world and imaginatively reflects that in his collection, Rohit Bal’s bridal wear is all about loud and vibrant embroideries intelligently infused on Indian materials.

Things to do to achieve the Rohit Bal bridal look:

Lehenga: His genius use of textures, such as velvet makes each of his creations a timeless piece. If you’re looking for a more contemporary look you can take inspiration from his creations that are more nature inspired featuring flowers, birds, trees and more. When selecting a lehenga, choose one with defined flair, fuller designs and multiple borders tapering towards the end.

Jewellery: Jewellery or no jewellery, his creation stands out impeccably! But, since a bride should be donning some ornament, multi-layered is the way to go, be it matha patti or your necklace.

Hair and Makeup: Hair tied up in a neat side bun. Pale makeup, with prominent blush and bold eye makeup.

Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla

Founders of one of the leading Indian Couture House, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla have redefined the fashion industry for most of our Bollywood beauties. Whites, whites and only white’s is what comes to your head when you think of them. But, the perception changed when Beyonce donned a gold sequined dress in the Coldplay ‘Hymn for the Weekend’ and who could forget Asin’s ravishing gold lehenga worn at her wedding. A dreamy creation is the word that defines their work. Royal and elegant their designs can be donned not just by brides, but mother and sister of the bride or groom too.

Things to do to achieve the Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla bridal look:

Lehenga: Dare to go offbeat. Choose contemporary chic look with bright colors or opt for a regal look with white, gold and blacks – chikankari is an Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla trademark as well as bold appliques.

Jewellery: Minimal to no jewellery or a traditional Indian jewellery set comprising of a dainty matha patti, dangling earrings and a choker.

Hair and Makeup: A high tied bun, with glittery eye makeup and lipstick matching the dominant colour of your lehenga.

Neeta Lulla

Royal wedding and Neeta Lulla creations go hand in hand. Fairytale designs brought straight to reality, her work features confident use of embroidery originating from kantha work to quirky motifs. Indian palette colours from mustard yellow, mehendi green to ethnic red, her designs are all about contemporizing ethnic designs, just the way modern Indian brides like it today.

Things to do to achieve the Neeta Lulla bridal look:

Lehenga: If you’re a fan of dreamy film sequence from Jodha Akbar don’t forget to incorporate styles like gota work, bold embroideries, bright shimmer and statement bead work. Opt for flowy A-lines and splendid woven fabrics to recreate your own princess like Neeta Lulla bridal look

Jewellery: Traditional to contemporary Indian jewellery of all kind can be worn with such designs.

Hair and Makeup: Ditto, for hairstyles and makeup too.

Ritu Kumar

Ritu Kumar creations are majorly for the masses. She knows exactly what ticks with the brides; hence her creations are all about amalgamation of bold and vibrant colours and fuller intricate embellished designs. Her designs can be adorned for a sister of the bride or mother of the bride look too.

Things to do to achieve the Ritu Kumar bridal look:

Lehenga: Like the designer herself choose straight silhouettes with fuller embroideries, zardozi and prints.

Jewellery: Try on rustic or oxidized silver for a change

Hair and Makeup: If choosing a heavy design lehenga opt for pale face makeup with bold, smoky eyes. If choosing a lehenga colour of pretty pink or pastels, go for a minimal bridal makeup. For the hairstyle choose a curled side swept bun or a neat tight bun. 

Anju Modi

Fuller and flair designs, lots of textures, intelligent use of Indian colours and more of a Rajput style, Anju Modi creation is all this and much more. If you’ve loved all that Deepika Padukone wore in the movie Bajiroa Mastani, Anju Modi is one who deserves all the credit for making the damsel Deepika look so royal.

Things to do to achieve the Anju Modi bridal look:

Lehenga: Mix match. She has aced the game of picking the right colours and fabrics using velvets with silk and tulle with prints. Keep it minimal with embroidery and let the fabrics do the talking

Jewellery: A passa or a jhoomar, multi-layered choker and oversized earrings are the statement pieces that complete her bridal look. With her creations mostly being full sleeved, wearing bangles is out of question. However, there is enough room to adorn a pretty haathphool.

Hair and Makeup: A puffed or tight bun with centre or side partition. Low intensity eye makeup with bold red lipstick complete her bridal look.

Anamika Khanna

Anamika Khanna creations are more preferable for an offbeat bride looking to ditch the traditional. Elegant, classy, vintage and chic her designs are effortless to carry. In Cannes 2014, Sonam Kappoor impressed the audience wearing an Anamika Khanna creation.

Things to do to achieve the Anamika Khanna bridal look:

Lehenga: Combining flowy contemporary fabrics with classic embroidery making the outfit a timeless piece of art. Don’t shy away from pairing flattering silhouettes with modern styles like collared jackets and dhotis

Jewellery: Statement jewellery, be it earrings, rings, bangles or matha patti – keep it unique.

Hair and Makeup: Either go for light makeup or accentuate your eyes with dark smoky look and dark red lipstick completing the look with a big bold red bindi

Anita Dongre

Anita Dongre designs are a burst of prints, mirror work, gota patti and embroidery. If you’re looking to create an impact on your special day, take cue from her designs that are guaranteed to subtly amaze you.

Things to do to achieve the Anamika Khanna bridal look:

Lehenga: Go for monotone lehengas with intricate gota work and beaded detailing for that complete bridal look. Add a touch of modern to your ensemble with ethnic prints or solid silks and sheer overlays.

Jewellery: Traditional jewellery like, double necklaces, long chains or chokers with pendants pair it with dangling jhumkas and dainty matha pattis

Hair and Makeup: Kohled eye makeup and light toned lipsticks. Let your hair loose or choose a pulled back puffed pony tied at the nape of the neck. Pleated bun hairstyles compliment this look too.

Anushree Reddy

Floral prints in Indian bridal attire who knew that would sell out like hot cakes?! All thanks to Anushree Reddy, who introduced this new style of floral chiffons, floral prints and sheer floral in bridal wear that it simply redefined the fashion industry.

Things to do to achieve the Anamika Khanna bridal look:

Lehenga: Perfect design idea for a summer wedding wear, floral print lehengas is a fresh breath of air in fashion. If planning to ditch traditional reds for your wedding, her creations in light pinks, lime green and pastels are great source for ideas and inspiration. We would definitely suggest you to steal this look for your mehendi ceremony! Choose lehengas with wide borders and heavy work match it with scalloped border dupattas and detailed choli.

Jewellery: Kundan or a polki set will compliment this look

Hair and Makeup: Choose light and bright makeup and let your hair loose – go for straightened or curled waves clipped on one side.

Tarun Tahiliani

Contrary to Anushree Reddy, Tarun Tahiliani creations are all about heavy worked lehenga, with intricate patterns. His keen eye to detail and ensuring each lehenga is an exquisite piece in itself makes him one of the dream designers for brides to be.

Things to do to achieve the Tarun Tahiliani bridal look:

Lehenga: His designs feature a nice mix of pastels and bold colours and the way he plays with cuts is absolute genius. Opt for detailed bridal lehengas with extravagant embroidery, colossal fabrics and statement neck yoke that will make you look mesmerizing

Jewellery: Oversized maang tikkas and elaborate chunky chokers with pendants

Hair and Makeup: A tight bun or pulled back fishtail pony. Either choose eye makeup that matches your lehenga and opt for bold red lips or kohled eye look with lipstick matching the dominant colour of your lehenga.

Shyamal and Bhumika

Embroideries and flair dominate Shyamal and Bhumika’s creations. Bold use of colours and heavy rich designs is what signifies her style. Their passion for craft and all things heritage clearly reflects in each of their signature pieces.

Things to do to achieve the Shyamal and Bhumika bridal look:

Lehenga: Choose a lehenga with heavy resham embroideries and silk borders that being their trademark

Jewellery: Wear traditional Indian jhumkas and matha pattis minus the necklace or traditional Indian jewellery set, whatever way you like it, is sure to grab some eyeballs

Hair and Makeup: Curled up messy bun or a half tied hairstyle. To match the vibrancy of the outfit, ensure the makeup is bold too, as minimal makeup can steal the limelight off your face. The trick here is to match the eye shadow to your lehenga.

We hope this helped you in a way to grab some ideas and inspirations.

Have queries, doubts or need more style suggestions write to us at content@weddingz.in