Can You Tell Your Matha Patti Apart From Your Passa?

Should you be a matha patti bride or a maang tikka bride? How about a passa instead? Should you wear a nath or keep things simple? With a million jewellery options at your disposal, it can be a daunting task to gauge what will work for you.

Here are all your options from head to toe (literally), and a few tips to help you understand what kind of jewellery will work for you. Presenting the ultimate bridal jewellery lexicon...

Everything To Know About Bridal Jewellery

Matha Patti

Matha patti, the traditional headgear worn by brides, is a great way to add a little more gravitas to your look. Maximalist brides can go for matha pattis that have a broader band, or multi-layered matha pattis (think: Sonam Kapoor’s bridal look). Minimalist brides can opt for matha patti with narrower bands. 

However, if you would like to try something else, you can also opt for a sheesh patti like Alia Bhatt did at her wedding. Or if you want to take things down a notch, you can even go for a maang tikka like Athiya Shetty or Kiara Advani. None of this sounds like you? Go for a passa!

Nath

While a lot of brides today are choosing to skip the nath, we believe that a nath, or a traditional nose ring, instantly adds a layer of drama to the look. We love a big nath, but if a nose ring that’s the size of your bangle sounds too much, you can go for a smaller nath as well. It’s important to make sure the size of the nath complements your face. There’s something for everyone, because they come in all sizes! 

Earrings

Earrings will affect your look more than you think. It’s important to make sure the earrings complement the shape of your face. They can also significantly affect how comfortable (or uncomfortable) you feel in your wedding look. But that shouldn’t stop you from wearing huge earrings! Just be smart about it—go for ear support chains. 

Necklace

The shape and depth of the neckline of your top are of utmost importance while selecting the necklace. Whether it’s a single huge necklace that you want to wear, or layering your choker with more necklaces, it’s important to be mindful of the blouse of your outfit. Don’t forget to carry your blouse when out for jewellery shopping.

Armlet

The armlet, or bajuband is for you if you are the kind to go all out. You can choose to wear it over the sleeve of your blouse, or below the hem of your sleeve, depending on the embroidery and length of your sleeve. We suggest not skipping the bajuband, especially if you are going for temple jewellery.

Bangles

If you are wearing a chura, or the traditional red bangles usually worn by North-Indian brides, we suggest adding one or two statement bangles. Steer clear of too many bangles with the chura, but make sure they are chunky, statement bangles.

Haathphool

A haathphool is another super versatile jewellery piece. If you are a bride who wants to take the minimal route with the haathphool, we suggest a dainty single-ring kind, while brides with maximalist sensibilities can go for a chunky haathphool with rings for all the fingers. If you want to wear separate chunky rings, we suggest skipping this jewellery piece, instead of pairing it with your rings. You can even choose to wear a single haathphool if you want to have a little fun!

Rings

There’s a lot that you can do with your rings as a bride. You can choose to wear a single huge statement ring, or wear multiple rings together, or you can even skip rings altogether and only wear your engagement ring—the options are endless.

Kamarbandh

While it may seem a little too much to some brides, the kamarbandh can look lovely when worn correctly. If your outfit is too elaborate in terms of surface ornamentation, you may skip it, but if you are planning to wear something like a silk saree for your wedding, you must add a kamarbandh! It will not only add more texture to your look but also elevate your silhouette by cinching your waist.

Anklets

If you’re more contemporary with your approach to your bridal look, chances are that you won’t think about wearing an anklet on your wedding day, which is fine. But others may skip it thinking that it’s not going to show. While it may or may not show at some point, we suggest going for the traditional anklets, not only as a homage to your roots, but also for the beautiful sound that they make when you walk!

Toe ring

If you are a bride who likes the earthy aesthetic and is planning to go completely traditional with your wedding look (nath, kamarbandh, bajuband, the works!), we suggest going all out by also adding these little pieces of our culture. 

Discover bespoke jewellery and couture collections by India’s top designers at the FDCI Manifest Wedding Weekend this August 2–3, 2025, at the Taj Palace, New Delhi. Register now by contacting: +91 88004 32645 | +91 88006 11645