The Confetti East guide to trousseau shopping

There are no hard and fast rules as to what an ideal trousseau should consist of. If you don’t want to go overboard and end up with items that you never use, read on...

Along with most South Asian brides, you probably have a long list of outfits you need to buy for the wedding. It will include pre and post wedding functions, as well as outfits for the first year of marriage. It is customary for a new bride to be seen in all her finery almost throughout the first twelve months after marriage. Of course, this means having to balance your trousseau budget and finding out what is most important to you. Whenever you feel things are getting on top of you, make use of this handy guide to wedding trousseau shopping. It's full of great tips and options that will help you keep things in perspective.

What do you need?

Typically a trousseau consists of a selection of outfits, jewellery, accessories, make-up and some household items such as bed sheets and linen. These pieces may be bought or inherited, but remember they aren’t meant to simply grace a wardrobe. Don’t buy something just because convention dictates that you should, as in all probability you will never use it.

Trendy or traditional?

An ideal trousseau will have a judicious mix of tradition and trend. Keeping in mind that each piece is an investment, in both financial and sentimental terms, most of the outfits should stand the test of time, possibly to be handed down in the future to a daughter or daughter-in-law. However, do make sure you have some modern pieces, with perhaps a stamp of your individual style.

How many?

Traditionally an odd number is auspicious. For instance, some brides take 11 saris, 11 salwar kameez, 9 trendy outfits, like short kurta with patiala salwar, to make a total of 31. Choose colours that suit you rather than going for every colour in the spectrum. Generally, white and black colours are excluded from trousseaux.

All that glitters

Gold is no longer considered a must for bride’s jewellery. Most brides opt for a heavy costume set to match their wedding dress and buy a few real pieces, which could be used with western outfits as well as traditional ones. Contemporary designs in platinum set with diamonds are popular. Antique jewellery has also had a fashion revival, with old kundan pieces at the top of a bride’s wish-list. For other outfits in your trousseau, you could find trendy costume accessories that are just right.

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