'Wearing My Mother's Sari and My Grandmother’s Jewellery to My Court Wedding Felt Like I Was Carrying Their Dreams With Me'

You would imagine that someone who lenses the most beautiful weddings, has the mood board to end all mood boards when it would come to her own choice of outfits at her wedding. But for Megha Israni Bhatia, founder of Israni Photography, the tinsel and trappings that are so de rigueur in modern-day weddings, were simply not in the running. She had no second thoughts when it came to her court wedding with entrepreneur Yash Bhatia and decided on something beautiful, but something that also embodied vestiges of the past—her mother’s stunning pink cotton-silk drape. She teamed that with another precious heirloom, her grandmother’s bangles, that rounded up the look. It also represented a deeply emotional tribute she paid to the two women who matter the most in her life. She takes Manifest down memory lane, giving us a peek into the day and why it means so much to her.

Manifest (M): Tell us about the heirloom piece you chose to wear. What memories do you associate with it?

Megha Bhatia (MB): For my court wedding, I chose to wear my mother's cotton-silk sari and the gold bangles that had first belonged to my grandmother before they were passed on to my mother. They weren't just beautiful pieces of clothing or jewellery—they carried the imprint of the women who came before me. I often think about the journeys these pieces have witnessed: celebrations, milestones, quiet family moments, and countless stories that were never written down. Wearing them felt like carrying generations with me. It wasn't about borrowing something old; it was about stepping into a legacy of love, resilience, and family.

(M): What did the heirloom symbolise for you beyond its aesthetic appeal?
(MB): Beyond their beauty, these heirlooms symbolised continuity. They represented traditions that quietly survive through generations, even as the world around us changes. The craftsmanship itself tells a story—designs that are difficult to find today, handcrafted with patience and intention.

But more than that, they carry dreams. I imagine my grandmother preserving these bangles, my mother carefully keeping her sari, never knowing exactly when they would be worn again but always believing that one day they would find their way to her daughter. There is something incredibly moving about that faith. Heirlooms are memories made tangible. They remind us that love doesn't disappear—it simply changes hands.

Did you preserve the heirloom in its original form, or was it redesigned for your wedding? Tell us about the transformation.
(MB): I wore everything exactly as it was. My mother's sari remained untouched, and my grandmother's bangles stayed exactly the way they had always been. The only thing I created was a simple blouse that reflected my own personal style while allowing the heirloom pieces to remain the heroes.

I never felt the need to redesign or modernize them because I wasn't trying to make them fit into my wedding—I wanted my wedding to make space for them. Their imperfections, their age, their craftsmanship, and even the way they had naturally evolved over time were what made them irreplaceable.

Were there any design elements you intentionally retained because of their sentimental value?
Every single detail.

The beauty of an heirloom lies in the fact that it doesn't need reinterpretation. The motifs, the craftsmanship, the weight of the gold, even the way it sits on you—all of it belongs to another time, and that's precisely what makes it so meaningful.

Changing those details would almost feel like editing a memory. I wanted to experience them exactly as my mother and grandmother once did, almost as if time had folded itself into that moment.

How did you style the heirloom piece to complement your overall bridal aesthetic?
My court wedding was intentionally understated and intimate, so I wanted the styling to feel effortless. I paired the heirloom sari with a minimal blouse that reflected who I am today—clean, contemporary, and uncomplicated.

The idea wasn't to compete with the heirloom but to let it speak for itself. Sometimes the most powerful statement isn't about adding more; it's about allowing history to shine without distraction.

In a world of custom couture and new bridal collections, why was it important for you to include something with a past?

Weddings are often about looking forward, but I believe they're equally about looking back.

Every mother and grandmother quietly dreams about seeing their daughter or granddaughter get married. My grandmother wasn't physically present to witness my wedding, and that absence was deeply felt. Wearing her bangles became my way of making sure she was there with me.

When I looked down at my hands while signing the marriage papers, I wasn't wearing jewellery—I was wearing her blessings.

That made the day feel whole in a way no couture outfit ever could.

Do you think heirloom dressing is becoming a new expression of luxury? 

Today, luxury is becoming less about owning something rare and more about owning something meaningful. The most valuable things in our wardrobes are often the ones that cannot be replaced or purchased again.

When I invest in something today—whether it's a handcrafted textile, a beautiful piece of jewellery, or something made by extraordinary artisans—I often catch myself wondering, Will someone I love, wear this year’s from now? Will this become part of our family's story?

To me, that's the future of luxury: buying less, choosing thoughtfully, and creating objects that become part of a family's emotional history rather than simply its possessions.

Do you hope to pass this piece on to future generations? What story would you want it to carry?

I hope one day someone from the next generation wears these same bangles and perhaps even this sari, not because they're vintage, but because they carry stories.

I hope they'll know where they came from, who wore them before them, and what those women stood for. They'll inherit not just gold or fabric, but strength, grace, memories, and a sense of belonging.

The most beautiful inheritance isn't wealth—it's memory. If these heirlooms can continue carrying love from one generation to the next, then they will always be far more valuable than anything new I could ever buy.