Meaningful fashion at Anshula Kapoor’s wedding

Entrepreneur and speaker Anshula Kapoor’s wedding to Rohan Thakkar was all about the bride’s unique fashion aesthetics – bold, beautiful and symbolic.

Anshula’s phulkari dupatta, a meaningful and traditional addition of Punjabi culture, made her traditional lehenga for the Mata ki Chowki ceremony special. Phulkari craft, literally meaning 'flower work', is a traditional embroidery technique passed down generations. Historically, women embroidered these dupattas in their homes. They marked all milestone events, especially weddings, a symbol of auspicious new beginnings. The motifs used in the embroidery are drawn from local floral patterns, jewellery designs and local fauna, all rendered in geometric designs in traditional colours of prosperity and happiness. Untwisted silk threads were used to embroider on cotton. Phulkari adorned a woman's life from birth to death. A grandmother starts on a phulkari for her granddaughter's trousseau when she is born, becoming a cherished legacy to wear at her wedding. Anshula’s phulkari dupatta was designed by the design house 'Itrh', along with her Benarasi silk tissue lehenga in gold, detailed with mirror and ghungroo, zardosi and polki work.

Anshula’s mehendi, perfectly curated by sisters Khushi and Jhanvi, saw the bride in a teal blue Patola lehenga designed by Arpita Mehta. Patola was a new textile for the designer and one which Anshula wore to honour her new family and one which Arpita interpreted with bandhani and Benarasi layers as well. She also added a handcrafted silk patola applique dupatta. The outfit was layered with mirror work, kasab, cutdana, kodi shells, and ghungroos and in an unusually rich teal blue shade.

For the traditional chooda ceremonies, Anshula wore a sage green Punjabi suit from Puneet Balana. Chand tilla embroidery on the suit made it rich and glowing. Her chooda and kalire, customised to include blessings, love and joy, were tied on her wrists by her family and friends.

Anshula honoured her mother’s memory with her gold tissue and zardosi dupatta. She carried it with a lehenga in antique rose, blush and muted gold designed by Tarun Tahiliani. Intricate kashida, zari and a delicate phulkari border added richness to the costume patterned with paisley and motifs of flora and fauna. She also carried a bandhini gharchola dupatta, integrating the weaving traditions of the two cultures, becoming one that day.

For the reception, Anshula wore Amit Aggarwal. A Benarasi saree gown in vermilion red with a sculptural, corseted silhouette, a contemporary styling of a traditional drape.

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The guests at Anshula’s weddings celebrated with beautiful outfits as well.

Khushi Kapoor wore a pastel Anamika Khanna green lehenga for the ceremony and a gold saree with a custom blouse inspired by temple jewellery and embellished with zari, dabka, nakshi, and antique stones from Itrh for the mehendi.