The wedding season has brought a fresh wave of business to Ambala's Old Manihari Market, but the bigger story this year is how sharply brides' preferences have changed. Traditional red bridal bangles are steadily losing ground to customised, trend driven chooda sets, as growing social media influence pushes brides to search for a bridal look that feels personal and memorable rather than the standard sets their mothers and grandmothers once wore.
American Diamond Bangles Take The Lead
This season, American Diamond, or AD, choodas are drawing the most attention in the market. Their distinctive shine and premium finish give them the sparkle of real diamond jewellery at a fraction of the cost, which is exactly why they have become the top choice for brides. Prices for these sets range from around Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000, giving buyers options across a wide range of budgets rather than pricing out smaller weddings. Alongside AD sets, choodas featuring elephant motifs, palki patterns, Kashmiri bangle styles, kundan work and detailed cutting designs continue to sell well, showing that brides are mixing traditional motifs with newer premium finishes rather than abandoning either completely.
Colours Chosen To Match The Lehenga
Colour choices have also shifted this season, with brides increasingly picking choodas that match their lehenga's theme rather than sticking to the customary red and gold combination. Shades like magenta, hot pink, baby pink, peach, mint green, ivory and multicolour sets are all seeing rising demand as brides plan their entire wedding day look as one coordinated set. Shopkeepers say brides today rarely buy bangles in isolation; instead, they want a full set that complements their outfit, their jewellery and even their wedding décor, so that every photograph looks planned rather than pieced together.
Photos, Names And Dates Etched Onto Bangles
Harmeet Kaur, a trader in Manihari Market, said demand for customised choodas has grown several times over compared to readymade sets. Many brides are getting photographs of the bride and groom, the initials of their names, and even their wedding date engraved onto their bangles, turning what was once a simple accessory into a personal keepsake from the day. Designs featuring doli, elephant and traditional motifs remain popular too, so the customisation is layered onto familiar bridal imagery rather than replacing it. Social media has played a major role in this shift: most brides now arrive at shops carrying screenshots of designs they have seen on Instagram and Pinterest, and ask shopkeepers to recreate a similar set for them rather than choosing from what is already on display. Shopkeepers, in turn, are constantly adding new designs to their stock to keep pace with these references.
Makeup And Jewellery Follow The Same Trend
The bridal makeup and jewellery trade this season is also built around the same trending look rather than fixed, one-size sets. Makeup kits priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 are being bought widely, and several brands are offering discounts of 20 to 30 percent to draw in buyers during the peak season. Artificial bridal jewellery priced between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000 is available across the market for those who want a coordinated look without the cost of real jewellery. Notably, a number of brides are choosing to rent jewellery instead of buying expensive sets outright, which lets them get a striking, photograph-ready look for their one big day without the long-term expense.
Designer Kaleeras See The Biggest Sales
According to shopkeepers, the trend around kaleeras worn with the choodas has changed sharply this year as well. Designer kaleeras made using Himachali cowries, makhana and pearls are the most sought after, moving away from the plainer versions sold in past seasons. Jaipuri jewellery is also gaining popularity, with choodas priced between Rs 250 and Rs 6,000 available in the market, where Kashmiri and kundan designs are selling the most. Even the smaller wedding rituals are getting the same treatment: ring ceremony plates, shagun trays and bridal hampers are now being decorated with LED lights and modern themes, adding a new visual attraction to wedding preparations that once relied on simple, functional decoration.
Delhi Style Designs At Local Prices
Traders say Ambala's Old Manihari Market and the adjoining cloth market are now offering Delhi style designs at competitive prices, sparing families the trip to the capital for a wider selection. This is clearly reflecting in the number of buyers visiting the market this season. Changing fashion, the growing pull of social media, and brides' individual preferences have together reshaped the wedding market this year. It is no longer just about traditional shopping: a bridal look that reflects a bride's own identity and personal style has emerged as the single biggest trend of this wedding season.
