Like father, like daughter

Picking the perfect wedding lehenga is an arduous process for any bride. But it helps if your father is the couturier.

- By THEA MULCHANDANI. Photographed by SHIVAMM PAATHAK.

Putting together a bridal outfit with the help of a parent can be a trying experience.

Opinions differ, patience runs thin and you might even catch wind of an 'Ugh, you just don't get it.' For this parent-child duo, however, things fell into place rather naturally. “In terms of decor and outfits, I’ve totally left it to him,” says stylist Hoorvi Valaya. “Because I know there's nobody better.” She’s referring to her father JJ Valaya, who has spent over three decades dressing brides at the House of Valaya. The designer would have nothing but the best for his own daughter. Luckily, the best was already in his archives.

Hoorvi’s wedding lehenga was inspired by a piece from JJ Valaya Muse, a bespoke line where each design is made only once and never repeated. She had her eye on a particular lehenga, which was reworked in burnt orange and fuchsia, with antique-gold and jewel-toned resham embroidery. “When we did our trials, I saw multiple pieces, but I was very clear that this was the one that I wanted,” says Hoorvi. Embellished with crystals and gemstones and featuring art deco-inspired paisley motifs, the piece took nearly 2,000 hours to create.