From shaping our bucket list adventures to starting and immortalising trends, Bollywood is more than just films— it’s a dream. With celebrities being idolised and imitated (sometimes blindly) by followers, the Hindi film industry’s impact on Indian society is undeniable. There’s something about the soul of this kind of cinema that makes a person believe in happy endings. As a self-certified Bollywood superfan— my brain is 80% movie dialogues, a Spain road trip with my two best friends is my dream vacation and Kalki Koechlin’s Udaipur wedding in Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani is the only way I want to get married. Nothing beats a blockbuster Bollywood shaadi, now does it? If you too find yourself dreaming about the picture-perfect wedding, here’s how you can recreate it IRL:
1. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Cocktail, Haldi, Mehendi, Sangeet and Pheras— the whole schbang! Plan your wedding festivities to fit the 20-25th December time frame and book your venue at the Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur that is surrounded by the picturesque Lake Pichola for an authentic YJHD wedding experience.
2. Baar Baar Dekho
Give your regular mehendi ceremony a boho twist! An outdoor set-up on a farmhouse lawn festooned with vibrant coloured drapes, ribbons, swings and glass bottles hanging from trees is sure to transport you right into the Nachde Ne Saare music video. Take a leaf out of Diya Kapoor’s (played by Katrina Kaif) modern-bride stylebook— pick whimsical florals, ditch the dupatta and choose oxidised jewellery featuring mirror and thread work over the conventional kundan jewellery. Feeling extra adventurous? Rent a snow machine like Vinod Kapoor (played by Ram Kapoor) and surprise your guests.
3. 2 States
There’s something so heartwarming about a classic temple wedding. Take inspiration from Ananya (played by Alia Bhatt) and Krish’s (played by Arjun Kapoor) South-Indian ceremony and get married at the Mahabalipuram Shore Temple in Tamil Nadu. When it comes to your outfit, take the handloom route by opting for a red Benarasi lehenga and accessorise it with Kundan jhumkas, a kamarbandh, a maang tikka, a kasu choker necklace and gajra in your hair.
4. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Wedding dates overlapping with a major festival like Holi? Include the celebration in your festivities and have a blast with your friends and family. The sequence is shot on the beautiful lawns of Castle Mandawa, Rajasthan which is made to look like Lucknow in the film. To recreate Alizeh (played by Anushka Sharma) and Ali’s (played by Fawad Khan) wedding, pick a heritage hotel or rent a haveli where the bride and groom’s guests can stay together, have combined functions and make memories of a lifetime.
5. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Laila (played by Katrina Kaif) and Arjun’s (played by Hrithik Roshan) intimate white wedding is straight out of a fairytale. Shot in Alibaug, the venue features lush greenery, a shallow pond, a swing, stunning floral arrangements, drapes, ribbons and an overall rustic charm. Pick a muted pastel colour palette for the decor and outfits, bring out the bubbly champagne, order an ivory white tiered cake, light up some sparklers and don’t forget to take some cute couple pictures in the water (surrounded by a giant floral heart, of course).
6. Aisha
Aisha has not one but two weddings you can take inspo from. The movie starts out with Aisha’s (played by Sonam Kapoor) Massi’s wedding on the lawns of a luxury hotel. The wedding sequence follows a colour scheme of white and lavender not just for the decor but also as part of the dress code for the guests. Complete with a dance floor, large round guest tables and lots of orchids—we love the elegant charm of the ceremony. Follow their footsteps and pick a colour palette of your liking for your wedding— if you’re fond of the purplish hues, we suggest opting for Very Peri, the Pantone colour of the year 2022.
Want to keep things classic and simple? Steer towards a white, gold and red colour palette as seen during Aarti (played by Lisa Haydon) and Dhruv’s (played by Arunoday Singh) wedding set to Gal Mitthi Mitthi. Cue the dhol and dance along with your girl gang dressed in traditional Kasavu saris.
