Colors
Beautiful reds are everywhere—dark burgundy, cherry red and brick. Gold, aqua green, old rose pinks, deep plum, aubergine, royal blue and turquoise are other favorites. Fashion stylist Pria Agni elaborates on the mix of the traditional and off-beat, and the popularity of combination shades. "Traditional colors like red and pink are being mixed with off-beat shades like blue and lime green, not because brides want traditional colors, but because all colors don’t look good on Indian skin.”

Fabrics
Net is out, silks, lace and brocades are in. Flowy chiffons and georgettes continue to be popular.

The OTT Look
While the guests may opt for a stylish yet understated ensemble, for the bride, it’s OTT (over-the-top) all the way. Says Delhi based designer Renu Dadlani who specializes in Trousseaus. "When it comes to party wear, women dress in an elegant yet minimalist style—but the one time when a woman can freak-out is at the time of her wedding-- be it with colors, textures or embroidery, or the stand-out statement in her jewellery and accessories."

The Silhouette
The silhouette is tight and neatly cut. The fish-cut skirt is popular, as is the A-line ghagara with a fitted choli. Says designer Payal Singhal who divides her time between New York and Mumbai. “The brides look today is international yet very Indian in character-- so you can say the bride wears her Indian identity with loads of attitude.

The Embroidery
"The challenge is to smartly blend the classical with the contemporary-- so you see streamlined and body hugging fits with traditional intricate embroidery—in dull antique gold or metallic. Kundan work is popular and so are mukaish, mirror, gota and pearl work”, says designer Archana Kochhar whose studio next to Kala Niketan in Juhu is a must-visit for many Mumbai brides. “Antique sequins highlighted with delicate and few crystals give the ensemble a contemporary touch.”