#FirstPerson: Here Is How I Found My Lehenga, Being A Plus Size Bride

Being a plus size person in India isn't easy, and when you're about to be a bride it becomes even harder. As if the constant reminders from the auntys and 'well-wishers' like the 'you have a pretty face' weren't enough, most plus sized brides in India dread shopping for their wedding. While designers and brands are now trying to be inclusive, the point is, there's still no 'off-the-rack' shopping for plus-sized brides. They have to either customise their wedding outfit from scratch themselves, or choose a designer lehenga, place an order and then hope like hell it will look good and flattering- now isn't that cumbersome? That obviously leaves them thinking a saree is a wayyy safer option than a lehenga. So we decided to ask a plus-sized bride how easy or difficult it was for her to shop for her wedding outfit, and she really shone the light on this. Over to Real Bride Aakanksha, who recently got married, as tells us how she went about shopping for her wedding.

"I have always been a plus-size person and owned it from Day 1. However, when things were first finalised for my wedding, the thought in my head was "Wedding Shopping!! UGH". It is not easy to shop for Bridal outfits in India, especially if your body shape is slightly different from the standard size. And if you are a plus-size person, it's even worse. I had made up my mind that I would pick a lehenga, get it custom made in my size and in case it sucks, I will wear a saree and be done with it. I had made peace with this."

"Universe, however, had something else planned for me. I got selected to feature on a reality TV show - Say Yes To The Dress - India, Season 1 and it was an experience that I will forever cherish. The chance for being featured on the show gave me the opportunity to actually try on different wedding lehengas and then choose one - just like a normal-sized bride. The show made me feel beautiful, the stylist chose something that he believed would suit me more rather than what I had envisioned and I cannot express how thankful and glad I was that the show happened. It made me feel like a bride trying on clothes for her wedding."

"My entire life I have bought clothes that were available in my size, but at my wedding, I got the clothes I wanted, I got the opportunity to pick and choose and I will forever be grateful. Oh and you can see how gorgeous I looked!!!"

And we whole-heartedly agree! Check out Aakanksha's wedding feature Adorable Delhi Wedding Of A Bride Who Celebrated Her Curves!