For many South Indian, Bengali, Maharashtrian and Gujarati brides, the sari — not the lehenga — is the ceremony garment. Six to nine yards, draped in regional style, often woven on a handloom in a town the family has bought from for two generations.
We feature wedding saris across the traditions that hold the sari at the centre: Kanjivaram for Tamil and Telugu weddings, Banarasi for North Indian and Bengali, Paithani for Maharashtrian, and the newer "concept" wedding saris from contemporary designers blending classical weaves with modern blouse cuts.
Look for: the pure-silk feel under the hand, the weight (a real Kanjivaram is heavy — that's the silk and the zari), the border depth, and a blouse cut you can actually wear for six hours. A bridal sari without a thoughtful blouse is half a garment.
