Look like a B-Town bride on your big day!

It's the wedding season again and brides all over the country are running around, doing their best to make sure they look drop-dead gorgeous on D-Day. We spoke to prominent Indian designers Anupama Dayal, Rehane and Anand Bhushan, as well as celebrated Bollywood makeup artist Ojas Rajani to weigh in on what's fashionable for your trousseau this year.

So here's what they had to say, as well as a glimpse of a few choice runway outfits and B-Town bridal couture this year. Take a look.

All the glam industry professionals were unanimous when it came to the overall look for the wedding season of 2009-10 -- minimalism is the key. While everyone is busy organising a Big Fat Indian reception, women no longer want to look like the Big Fat Overdone Indian Bride of yesteryear, wearing layers of red and pancaked in makeup.

"It's an adventurous season," says Mumbai-based Anupama Dayal. "Suddenly, designers like me are getting work because Indian brides are no longer looking to deck up like Christmas trees for their special day. They are looking for individual looks that fit their personalities and the uniform appearance has been ditched."

Delhi-based designer Anand Bhushan agrees. "The Indian couture market does not like to follow too many trends when it comes to wedding outfits -- we like to keep it classic," he explains. "But yes, things have been taking on a slightly edgier tone this year; look at how Gaurav Gupta, for instance, has successfully experimented with the looks of the season with his ensembles."

"Less is more this year -- the opulent, over-the-top bride is something that's gone the dinosaur way," says Kolkata couturier Rehane. "Brides are trimming down their trousseaus. The ghagra, which once had pride of place, is now being rethought. The newest trend is the sari, because it's a garment you can repeat. The lehenga is being pared down, because women now understand, 'Okay, I'll look like a queen on my wedding day, but I'll only get to wear it once!' So they'd rather spend on Western wear for the cocktail party, their accessories, their shoes etc instead of a lehenga."

Dayal is of the opinion that "bridal kurtas are slimmer and the angarkha is looking tired now. Salwars are very 'in' and interesting lowers are being experimented with, like patialas."

"When I'm working on a wedding outfit for someone, I take into consideration the decor, stage, everything," says Rehane. "We take a more Western approach towards things now and the outfits are designed keeping in mind the function."

According to Bhushan, "Where garments are concerned, I think the lehenga is the hot favourite in North India, while down South more traditional saris are preferred. You see, culturally, the North and South are very different. Brides are experimenting a little more with skin show too -- no longer do they wear those long cholis and dupattas are draped in several different ways."

A riot of colour is all set to take over wedding venues. In Dayal's opinion, "lots of plums, wines and pinks are being favoured this season, what with the traditional colour of an Indian bride being red. If it's a summer wedding, then many are opting for pastel shades, But what is different this time around is that flourescent detailing has come into play. That makes this year's bridal fashion exciting and creative -- it's not just about Swarovski crystals anymore, it's trendy. Flaming reds, salad green pipings, these are all essentially Indian influences -- all you have to do is look towards places like Rajasthan."

Says Bhushan, "Where colour is concerned, it's the cliched Indian red that's the favourite -- not too many like to take a chance with pastels. Red as a colour is not a trend -- it's been an Indian bridal tradition since time immortal, so sometimes you have to blend the old school with the contemporary. So I mix in beige, moth creams, burnt rose, salmon pink, or hints of lilac with red when clients approach me with something different on their minds. Varun Bahl has done a phenomenal, beautiful job using the same principle this season -- he's blended lilacs, indigos, pinks and come up with a stunning collection."

Rehane believe the colour scheme of wedding outfits is dependent upon the function for which it is tailored. "For the wedding reception itself, hues are pastel, lighter, pretty," she explains. "For the pheras and sangeet, we opt for traditional colours like red, rani pink, peacock blue, turquoise, purple...During the beautifying rituals for the bride, it's yellow."

And if you thought that dresses are still a strict no-no at weddings, think again! Says Dayal, "Dresses are a hot new addition to the Indian bridal market. The pre-reception cocktail party is a glamorous, fun event and more women are opting for dresses and gowns -- it's very acceptable now -- with enough 'India' in them to pull off the look. See, wearing a simple black Versace gown to one of these dos will only look out of place, but Indian designers do it just right -- we rework the look and use colours like red, orange and pink to make a dress look bridal enough. Moreover, dresses tend to fit better than ethnicwear, and with slimness being a priority right now, it works for most women."

"You'll be shocked at just how many orders I receive to tailor dresses for wedding functions!" explains Rehane. "I've been working on more and more elaborate dresses with just a hint of Indianness to them for cocktail parties -- they're the big, glamorous event and are taking on more importance now. You'll see Oscar-worthy gowns at some of them, which is why I love India so much -- we take another's tradition and make it our own with so much love! Of course, cocktail gowns are more conservative than what you see abroad, because Western silhouettes permit skin show that will not go down well at an Indian bridal do. So in this regard, an Indian designer is your best bet -- we make our own ethnic creations as well as Western ones, so we're well-versed with both!"

Bhushan closes in on one of the biggest international trends of 2009 and relates it to the Indian bridal market. "The biggest rage this year is the sari dress," he says. "Just like the Greek toga has inspired and been converted into the Western dresses of 2009, the sari has been converted into a dress -- it's all in the way they are draped. These are especially popular at the cocktail parties."

You can choose the best outfit in the world for your wedding, but if you don't pull off your makeup and hair just right, it will come to nothing. That's where makeup professional and stylist to the stars Ojas Rajani comes in. "The look for this year is very luminous," he says. "Indian brides want to look pretty and glowing like Aishwarya (who is, incidentally, one of Rajani's exclusive clients). Even if the wedding outfit is simple, the face has got to look just perfect. Earlier, Indian brides used to really layer on the foundation, which usually ends up looking all pan-caked and hideous. Now it's more underplayed, and people are experimenting with subtler makeup that brings out the eyes and glosses up the lips."

"The biggest mistake I find brides making today is going overboard in their bid to look fair. With the toned-down yellow lighting at most wedding venues today, it's all fine till you get your picture taken. But then in the photographs, you end up looking like a white blob, with the colour of the face in sharp contrast to the neck, shoulders and arms!"

And what of the makeup colour palette? "Coral tones -- peach, cream etc -- are ideal for fair and wheatish complexions. In fact, peach blush looks nice even against an olive skin tone, so corals are ideally suited to Indians. Hints of maroon and burgundy add a nice touch."

Continues Rajani, "To beautify your eyes, you can opt for soft enhancement lenses -- we often use them while shooting for movies and commercials. They bring out your natural eye colour and soften the face. As for eye-liner, steer clear of black except for evening functions -- it's a harsh colour. I would recommend brown, grey or caramel kajal."

To look your best on your wedding doesn't just boil down to the makeup, though. "Two or three months before your wedding, you should consult a dermatologist," he advises. "Treatments like glow facials and skin polishing can make a world of a difference -- after all, a canvas has to be in good condition if the paint on it is to look good, right?"

"Your hair should be silky and frizz-free. Keep the colour tone natural and soft, like Shilpa and Aishwarya did at their weddings -- it makes you look fresher and younger. And make sure your nails are in good condition, else get acrylic/ gel ones before your big day rolls around."