The Bridal Jewellery essentials and style tips you need to know about to make your big day even better!
Maximal Jewellery: the Tradition of South-Asian weddings
South-Asian weddings give out a distinct celebratory energy with the display of great adornments to rich, dynamic hued dresses. Whether it is a grand wedding or an intimate one, brides have always been the centre of attention. All eyes are on her and her timeless beauty as she walks down the aisle adorned in the most exquisite dresses, elegant makeup, and heavy South-Asian jewellery.
Jewellery plays a vital role in enhancing a woman’s beauty. However, the meaning of a bride’s jewellery goes well beyond physical beauty. For centuries bridal jewellery has held great importance in South Asian culture. It plays a symbolic role for many cultures in the region. Traditional jewellery carries ethnic and spiritual meaning, especially during weddings. Many families pass on these items that are symbolic of their heritage and background from one generation to the following. For most families, the heavier the jewellery, the more symbolic is its role. These jewellery sets are unique; many women get them exclusively made and wear them as suggestive of their religious beliefs.
TRADITIONAL JEWELLERY CARRIES ETHNIC AND SPIRITUAL MEANING, ESPECIALLY DURING WEDDINGS
Types of Desi Wedding Jewellery
With so many customs, traditions and cultures, it is common for a South-Asian Desi bride to have all kinds of jewellery in her collection. From necklaces to jhumkay from maang-tikkas to kaleerays, all these are the must-haves of a Desi Bride. South-Asian jewellery has extensive use of Gold, Silver, Diamonds and other Gemstones. This heritage speaks for itself through the beautiful artistic craft in jewellery. It shows how beautifully so many cultures of this region embed with one another. Gold is one of the most worn and most sought after metals for bridal jewellery. However, there are several different options available in today’s age other than Gold, including Silver, Platinum, Kundan, Lac, Jadau etc. All these different types of jewellery come with several colourful designs that sparkle and glitter and will be perfect for your wedding day.
FROM NECKLACES TO JHUMKAY FROM MAANG-TIKKAS TO KALEERAYS, ALL THESE ARE THE MUST-HAVES OF A DESI BRIDE
Here, we will give you an overview of bridal jewellery must-haves. Our list will provide you with a deeper insight into essential jewellery pieces that every desi bride should have for her big wedding day.
Indian Bridal Necklaces on top of your wishlist
An exquisite traditional necklace is all you need to give yourself a unique wedding look. It helps accentuate your face, covers the bare neck area, and, if paired well with your dress’s colour, handiwork, and overall theme adds a refined touch to your entire wedding day look. Gold has been a standard for necklaces, but people are now also opting for necklaces that look heavy but are light to touch for the past few years. Traditional artisans embellish these necklaces with Diamonds, Kundan, Pearls, Rubies, Meenakari and other accents. Even within necklaces, there are several different types of necklaces. You can wear some of the most trendy necklaces, including Chokers, Satlada, Navratan, Gulbandh, Rani haar, Bib necklaces etc. All these varieties add a dash of delicacy to your overall aura, so do not forget to add them to your must-have jewellery list for a Desi Bride. You can add pretty much anything with the necklaces you choose, such as earrings, maang-tikkas, bangles, kaleerays etc., as long as they lend the bride a touch of glamour and a majestic aura and match with the overall theme of the attire.
AN EXQUISITE TRADITIONAL NECKLACE IS ALL YOU NEED TO GIVE YOURSELF A UNIQUE WEDDING LOOK
South-Asian Maang Tikkas that steal the limelight
Maang-tikkas are the centrepiece of a woman’s forehead. Maang-tikkas are usually matched with the bride’s necklace and earrings, making it complete. It highlights your eyes and eye makeup. They come in a wide variety of designs and sizes complementing the size of the forehead. A heavier maang-tikka looks perfect on a broad forehead, and a lighter one looks ethereal on a forehead smaller than average. Maang-tikkas are most popular in South Indian weddings, but they have gained popularity throughout the region over the years. They come in various designs such as Nethi Chutti, Mundale, Papidibilla, Nethi bottu etc.
Here’s a tip: if you cannot find a maang-tikka that goes well with your bridal outfit, try using necklaces and earrings as a substitute for maang-tikkas.
Desi Jhumkas that make your look pop
No Jewellery set is finished without jhumkay. They complement your hairstyle and necklace. Jhumkas are a type of earring that are bell-shaped like a jingle; they come with intricate designs and have a very vogue appeal. There is a wide variety available in jhumkas and earrings such as Polki, Kundan, Pearl Chandbalis, Hand-painted Jhumkis, Meenakari, Diamond, Silver, etc. South-Asian events last for hours, so it’s important that while choosing your jhumkay, a bride must give thought to how heavy the earrings are and will she be able to wear them for long hours. The best thing about earrings is that you can wear them even after your wedding; they can go with every outfit, whether desi or not.
Be the Trendiest bride with Indian Kaleerays
Kaleerays hold quite a lot of significance in Indian culture. They first emerged around the early 20th century in Punjab. Kaleeray is an embellished ornament tied with the bride’s bangles worn on each arm. It holds most significance for the Indian Punjabi culture; there is a separate ceremony held for the ornamentation of kaleeray, representing a bride’s martial cheerfulness and high spirits. Kaleeray, over the past few years, has gained much popularity and has expanded throughout the world. You can now find kaleeray on every South-Asian Bride’s arms. Goldsmiths usually make Kaleerays out of Gold, Silver, Copper etc. Kaleeray have a certain number of leaf-shaped ornaments on them, which signify the number of sisters, friends or bridesmaids the bride has. One tradition is to shake the kaleeray on the heads of the unmarried bridesmaids, and on whoever the leaves fall on is to get married next. All these traditions associated with this ornament make it a must-have for the awaited wedding season.
Go Big and Bold with Naaths and Jhoomars
Nothing highlights the features of your face more than naaths and jhoomars. Naaths are an extension of nose rings. A traditional, delicate, beautifully crafted naath is enough to complete your Desi Bridal jewellery set. Even if you don’t have your nose pierced, you can still experience wearing a naath on your wedding day. There are several magnetic naaths also available in the market. You can find naaths in Gold, Kundan, Copper, Silver and pretty much any ornamental metal you can think of; many are embellished with Pearls and Gemstones as well.
A Jhoomar neatly ties up your entire hairstyle together. It is a headpiece that women mainly wore during the Mughal period, and since then, it has become woven into the South-Asian culture. A Jhoomar gives you a very royal and elegant look. It is made with Kundan, Gold, Silver and embellished in Rubies, Pearls, and Gemstones.
NOTHING HIGHLIGHTS THE FEATURES OF YOUR FACE MORE THAN NAATHS AND JHOOMARS
Tie it all up with alluring Kangans
No wedding look is complete without kangans. In most weddings, the kangans brides wear are passed down from generation to generation. Most Indian brides commonly wear Gold kangans during weddings but, with constant change in trends and fashion, kangans have also evolved. They are now also made with different elements and modern designs such as Polkie, Kundan, Copper, etc., coupled with embellishments of gemstones and diamonds.
Atiya Choudhury’s Luxurious Bridal Jewellery
If you think the Bridal must-haves list ends here, you’re wrong. It’s a never-ending list because you can never have enough wedding jewellery. Anklets, Armlets, Belts, Bangles, Rings, and the list goes on. There is no such word as going overboard when it comes to Indian Wedding Jewellery. So, it’s all up to you what you think would suit your features best and go well with your chosen attire. If you’re unsure where to shop for your Indian Jewellery must-haves, then Atiya Choudhury is your one-stop-shop for all your Bridal jewellery needs in South-Asian fashion.
Atiya Choudhury is a South-Asian fashion brand based in the multicultural city of Birmingham, UK. It offers clothing, jewellery, accessories and a range of other beautifully crafted products. From the intricate patterns to the eye-catching colours, South Asia is a region with abundant beauty in fashion designs. It showcases a distinct luxury that is unmatched. Atiya Choudhury brings this very beauty and luxury to its customers in the most authentic of ways. The Jewellery at Atiya Choudhury is more than just a fashion piece; it is an entire experience that amplifies the personality and individuality of the person wearing it.
Experience the luxury of South-Asian Fashion with Atiya Choudhury!
FROM THE INTRICATE PATTERNS TO THE EYE-CATCHING COLOURS, SOUTH ASIA IS A REGION WITH ABUNDANT BEAUTY IN FASHION DESIGNS
