Celebrity weddings made special with bridal heirloom wedding outfits, straight out of their mother-in-law's closets

Celebrities are privy to the best in fashion that the world has to offer. But some moments are more than just a fashion statement. In this world of gilded weddings-where couture often meets custom, there's a growing return to sentimental traditions. The latest trend in the limelight is credited to Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's daughter, Aaliyah Kashyap's Christian wedding, months after her wedding in India. She opted to wear her mother-in-law's "timeless and classic" wedding gown from 30 years ago. A beautiful white lace gown, with a strapless neckline, modified slightly to match her new-age taste but not devoid of a traditional touch. 

The sartorial homage celebrates heritage and familial bonds in a brand new way, lending a touch of timeless elegance to a bride's narrative. Although this poignant trend in Tinseltown is not a new one, it sure is profound. Several women in the realm of celebrity nuptials have made powerful fashion statements by seeking inspiration from their mother-in-law's big day. From Kareena Kapoor to Priyanka Chopra, these celebrities paid tribute to their mother-in-law on their wedding, all while preserving their individual styles. 

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan's wedding in 2012 was a media spectacle. Paparazzi frenzy outside the wedding venue was the norm in pre-Instagram days. What ended up being an intimate wedding, with moments shared privately with close friends and family, was a lesson in bridal fashion too. While she eventually switched to a Manish Malhotra saree creation for the reception, it was her wedding day ensemble that stole hearts. Meticulously restored by the master of zardozi in India, designer Ritu Kumar, Kareena Kapoor chose her mother-in-law Sharmila Tagore's bridal sharara for the big day, which the veteran actress had inherited from her mother-in-law, the Begum of Bhopal. The resplendent rust and gold heirloom ensemble, with its timeless fabric and regal zardozi, that once graced the royal Pataudi wedding decades ago, was now part of Kareena Kapoor's journey. 

Priyanka Chopra's wedding to Nick Jonas in Jodhpur was the most talked-about wedding of the year. Her wedding ensemble made headlines across the globe, and without a reasonable doubt at that. A figuresque Ralph Lauren number with a veil many claimed rivalled the likes of the royal weddings of Prince William and Prince Harry's, including Priyanka Chopra herself. The pristinely created gown was a special one. Custom-made to perfection, it featured milestones and special words that carried significance to the couple, but especially, a lace piece incorporated into the gown. While it was not a full outfit, the deliberate inclusion reflected Priyanka's respect for Nick's heritage, proving no detail is ever too small. 

Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane, renowned for her captivating beauty that transcends borders, married Ameer Gilani in 2024. She chose a traditional theme for her wedding that didn't just celebrate her culture but also respected the one she was getting married into. A vision in soft tones and intricate handwork, Mawra’s ensemble carried the craftsmanship of decades past—a reminder that timeless fashion lives in fabric, stitch, and sentiment. The standout piece was certainly her mother-in-law's odhani that inspired the rest of the ensemble, which was matched to the T. Paired with heirloom jewels, this wedding attire exists to remind us that true elegance lies in fashion statements often rooted in sentiment.  

The act of wearing a mother-in-law’s wedding outfit is intimate and layered, a quiet ode to the women who shaped the men they marry, and a conscious decision to be part of something larger than oneself. For these celebrity brides, sartorial storytelling becomes part of their larger narrative—of embracing family, heritage, and love through every thread, sequin, and stitch.