Indian Celebrity Brides Shattering Stereotypes And We Can't Stop Celebrating

Starting with Dia Mirza, celebrity weddings of late have been trendsetters, of course for being star-studded and also for breaking age-old stereotypes. For the past few days whether we like it or not Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's wedding has been the talk of the town. Two things have stood out in this high profile wedding.

One, Alia Bhatt ditching a red lehenga and going for an Ivory Sabyasachi saree and Neetu Singh, a widowed mother of the Groom, dressing up in bright hues and getting Henna tattooed on her hand.

So why does it call for so much vicarious celebration? In a country that is obsessed with arranging marriages for girls the moment she attains the marriageable age, celebrity brides are an inspiration. Like they want to recreate the celebrity's look for the special day perhaps they are going to talk about the trends if not follow them. It may not happen today or tomorrow but they have at least started the conversation. Is red the only colour for a bride? Why can't my widowed mother or aunty attend the ceremonies when they are my favourite people? Why does my father have to give me away? 

Suggested Reading: Why Are Big Fat Weddings Now Becoming A Foregone Trend?

Alia in wedding couture that looks light and re-wearable has set an example for many women who want to choose something they would like to wear again. In ditching the traditional bridal red lehenga and a no-makeup look she has been a breath of fresh air for many who hate make-up. Why can't you look the way you look on most days on your wedding day too?

Indian Celebrity Brides Breaking Stereotypes

Priyanka Chopra was one of the first trendsetters in this when during her wedding to Nick Jonas her mother Dr Madhu Chopra walked her down the aisle. As is the custom, it’s usually a father or a male member of the family who walks the bride down.

Actor Dia Mirza drew appreciation and criticism in equal measures when she tied the knot with Vaibhav Rekhi. She had a female priest solemnising the ceremony. The priest named Sheela Atta is known to be Dia Mirza’s childhood friend’s aunt. Mirza in an Instagram post said, "The highest point for us was the Vedic ceremony conducted by a woman priest.” Mirza also did away with ceremonies like Kanyadaan and Bidaai. 

Source: Instagram In a modern twist to traditional wedding rituals actor, Rajkummar Rao asked his wife Patrelekhaa to fill his “maang” with sindoor during their wedding. In a video clip released by the actor he can be seen telling Patrelekhaa Paul, "Tum bhi laga do”, indicating her to put the sindoor or vermillion on his upper forehead. And the wife gladly does it. It is refreshing to see such twists where the bride and the groom accept each other as their equal partners.

Actor Yami Gautam married director Aditya Dhar in a minimal wedding ceremony. She chose to not spend money on her wedding trousseau and wore a family heirloom for the ceremony. Yami Gautam's simple wedding ceremony had an appeal in a world where weddings are often considered a display of one's social status.

Picture Credit: Yami Gautam/ Instagram

In a society where daughters are still considered paraya dhaan or burden on a father's shoulder, celebrities who have huge fan following can help in breaking traditions that have become obsolete. Intimate weddings such as Alia Bhatt's or Yami Gautam's can start a conversation on why we need to end our obsession with big fat Indian weddings. It is about time we stop making weddings a daunting show of excess. 

 The views expressed are the author's own.