Maharashtrian Wedding Look Essentials: Traditional Outfits & Tips To Cop

A Marathi or Maharashtrian bride's look typically calls for wearing a silk saree in vibrant colours like yellow, green and golden — that signify prosperity, and are embellished with traditional motifs like peacocks, flowers, and geometrical designs.The attire itself plays a significant role in the wedding customs since Marathi weddings are steeped in age-old traditions that reflect the cultural heritage of Maharashtra.

The weddings are known for their simplicity, grace, and deep-rooted rituals, also representing the customs and traditions passed down through generations.

Lately we've also seen brides experiment with more feminine colours like pinks, reds and ivory (for a minimal vibe). And other than the rich silk fabric, they also opt for cotton if they wish to go the more low-key route. Here are the types of sarees you should have on your radar for getting the Maharashtrian bride look.

Pro-tip: Best types sarees.

This saree epitomises Marathi culture and tradition. It is distinguished by a distinctive draping style known as the Nauvari style. The look is achieved by draping the saree in a pant-like fashion with pleats at the back. The saree is draped elegantly over the shoulder, highlighting the beautiful borders and intricate patterns. Just for general knowledge, a Nauvari saree is more than eight metres long in comparison to your usual sarees which are only six or seven metres.

How To Style: To keep the look full-fledged traditional, you can go for an Ambada marathi-style bun. Also, since Nauvari sarees usually come in dark greens, purples, and other bright colours, don't be afraid to put on dark lipstick. 

A simple Marathi saree look is ideal for those who prefer a more straightforward yet equally elegant appearance. The essence of the traditional Marathi look saree is retained in this style, but with minimalistic embellishments and lighter fabrics, making it a great choice if you have a day wedding. Clean lines, subtle motifs, and graceful draping are highlighted which puts the focus on the bride instead of her outfit. This one's for the minimal lovers wanting to exude effortless charm and sophistication on their Maharashtrian wedding day.

How To Style: To uplift the beauty of an elegant simple saree, you can opt for bold, bright makeup and set it together with an elaborate flower-adorned braid hairstyle.

The Paithani saree is a treasured Maharashtrian clothing piece which looks like a work of art. It is known for its vibrant colours, intricate designs, and luxurious silk fabric that spotlights the exquisite craftsmanship of our country. The Paithani saree is frequently decorated with peacock motifs, floral patterns, and geometric designs that represent famous legends of Maharashtrian culture and history. It is a more popular choice for Marathi wedding guests because of the finesse it carries but brides also opt for it for their D-day! 

How To Style: Open wavy locks will perfectly match the beauty of a Pathani saree. Since the saree is already elaborated, a soft, dewy makeup shall suffice, unless you want a bold one. Whatever you say, bride-e! 

A Kolhapuri saree puts a spotlight on the creative artisans of our country. The beauty of this saree knows no bounds and it can be a more-than-perfect choice for your wedding day. Such sarees come in a range of materials like silk, cotton, linen, and art silk, which you can choose as per your comfort because all options are equally impeccable.

How To Style: You can pair this saree with a Kolhapuri chappal (because of course!) and make a neat jewel-adorned bun. Coming to makeup, smokey eyes can really bring out this look for you. 

Banarasi silk is one of the most exquisite and popular silks of India. What makes Banarasi sarees stand out from all other kinds is the fine zari ornamentation that looks really Mughal/royal. These sarees are also enriched with floral motifs like bel and buti.

How To Style: For your D-day, you can choose a bright-coloured Banarasi saree and pair it with a heavy choker. To elevate this look, go for a braided bun graced with gajra.

A shela is a silk shawl or stole that is worn like a dupatta along with your bridal saree. The idea is to drape it behind your back in such a way that the focus is drawn to the beautiful embroidery of the shela and the pallu of your saree since Nauvari saree usually features show-stopping work emphasised on the pallu. If you love to play around with colours then go for one in a contrasting colour with your saree, or opt for one in an identical shade of your saree if you don't like the loud look.

How To Style: Go for fabrics other than silk if you want to give a slightly contemporary look to your saree like velvet, tulle, or even georgette for a breezy look. Priyanka Chopra's clean bun from Bajirao Mastani is the perfect inspiration for such looks.

Mundavalya is a forehead ornament worn by both the bride and the groom. It is made from pearls and has two pearl-embellished strings symbolising the togetherness of the bride and groom. This should not be skipped if you want a traditional Maharashtrian bride look as it is the first noticeable adornment that sets the Marathi brides apart from the rest. A lot of brides are also opting for floral mundavalyas for a more trendier look.

A saaj is a traditional gold necklace worn by all Maharashtrian brides on their wedding day. Jav mani (golden beads) and twenty-one leaf-shaped pendants are used to make the traditional Kolhapuri saaj neckpiece. Each pendant has a unique meaning. Ten of the twenty-one pendants represent Lord Vishnu's ten avatars, two have ruby and emerald stones, eight are for ashtamangal (ashta means eight and mangal means good), and the last is a taviz.

The Marathi nath is a nose pin which is traditionally woven in pearls and rubies. It is slightly more OTT than your usual nose pins, which is also what makes it stand apart. Nath has a range of variations available today, including an all-diamond Nath for those who want to don a modern one. The traditional design is made in Basra pearls, ruby, or sapphire to add a pop of glam.

The Maharashtrian bride wears armlets called Vaaki. They are made of gold and studded with red ruby, diamonds and other gemstones. You can also opt for one with stylised gold chains. Traditionally worn on both the arms, you can wear it on one if you don't want the 'decked up in gold' look.

The bangles or chooda consists of green glass bangles worn in odd numbers on each hand that symbolises fertility and hence is considered auspicious. They are mixed with gold kadas called tode which are thick kadas interlinked without any soldering, and bangles called Paatlya  which are flat bangles with intricate designs worn at the start or middle of the hirva chooda.

Ambada is a gold hairpin studded with stones, worn by Maharashtrian brides on the day of the wedding. Traditionally, most Marathi brides tie their hair in a bun and this is just the accessory that adds oomph to an otherwise somber hairstyle. Also, it provides support if you opt to cover your head with your dupatta.

The unique chaand bindi is one of the most prominent distinguishing features of a Marathi bride's look. It is called chandrakor bindi. It is imperative for all Marathi brides to have this on the day of their weddings.