9 things to do at The Wedding Collective (even if you’re not getting married)

The Wedding Collective is technically a shopping experience for brides and grooms. But it’s also a playground for anyone who likes fashion, beauty, food, or just a good spectacle. Yes, you’ll find lehengas heavy enough to qualify as weight training, but also: Insta-worthy makeovers at the Beauty Pavilion, artisanal dessert brands debuting their next cult laddoo, and enough diamonds to make your eyes water. Think of it less as a wedding fair, more as a weekend crash course in everything stylish, shiny, and over the top. And no, you don’t need a fiancé/finacée to RSVP. At the very least, come for the theatre: hyped brides, reluctant grooms, and the occasional confused father.

1. Play dress-up (No ring required)

Try on couture lehengas, gowns, tuxes, and sherwanis with abandon. You don’t need to be a bride or groom to step into a Manish Malhotra or a Gaurav Gupta—just curiosity and the stamina to be zipped and pinned into an outfit that weighs as much as a set of dumbbells. Pro tip: Bring a friend for paparazzi duty to document your three-minute princess moment.

2. Tag along with a bride

Not engaged? No problem. Volunteer as a plus-one for a friend/sister/cousin who is. As the plus-one, you get to weigh in on lehenga colours, taste every mithai sample, and sit front-row at fittings without once having to say the words “my budget”. Plus, you’ll see the behind-the-scenes drama up close—the debates over neckline lengths, brides side-eyeing other brides, and the moment someone’s mother declares, “This is too modern”. It’s reality TV, but live. All the perks, none of the bills.

3. Treat it like a salon session

Attend a make-up masterclass by Tanvi Chemburkar (Day 1) and Namrata Soni (Day 2)—both celeb favourites. Head to the Beauty Pavillion for your beauty fix. Book TWC-exclusive rituals for the bride and groom at the Dhun Wellness booth. Swatch and try on the newest from brands like Indē Wild, Simply Nam and YSL Beauty. Get your brows tinted, microbladed, laminated at the Brows by Suman pop-up, or recharge with a vitamin cocktail drip at Reviv. There’s also press-on nails station by Anisha Mulchandani and blowouts at the 3TenX booth. Perfect if you’re heading out after. Book your slots as soon as you walk in, so you can wander and come back when it’s time.

4. Eat your heart out

At most exhibitions, food is an afterthought. Not here. TWC treats catering like couture. From Swiss chocolate by Läderach (they’re also handing out hot chocolate samples) to artisanal laddoos by The Laddoo Wala, the snacking options rival a five-star wedding buffet. The café at TWC has an Asian menu by chef Warapon Bontee, a Levantine menu by chef Eyad Saad, and Indian delicacies by chef Shadab Qureshi, plus crepes and cakes for dessert. Arrive hungry.

5. Find your dream engagement ring (and more diamonds you’ll actually wear)

Go ahead and try on that diamond necklace with a centre stone the size of a soap bar. It’s like test-driving a sports car—no one expects you to buy it. Still not sure what kind of engagement ring you want? Visit the pop-ups by the Natural Diamond Council where you can not only peruse more everyday pieces—hoops, cocktail rings, and a tennis necklace you’ll never take off—but also touch and feel natural diamonds in an array of cuts and sizes. Bonus activity: stick your hands in a machine that will show you what diamonds of every shape will look like on your fingers. No manicure required.   

6. Learn how to drape a sari

We’ve all scrambled for a draper at the last minute or panic-Googled “how to pleat a pallu”. Enter Dolly Jain, sari whisperer to Bollywood, teaching a masterclass on ten iconic drapes (Day 2). You’ll leave with at least one trick that saves you from stabbing yourself with safety pins. If you miss it, the Sari Studio is stacked with weaves across India—multi-coloured patolas, rich Kanjeevarams, sheer Chanderis, and more.

7. Snag gifts for future birthdays

Want in on a secret? The gifting zone is a lifesaver for all the upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, and housewarmings you’ll inevitably forget about until the last minute. Pick up jewellery for your girlfriends from Isharya, elegant serveware from Ikkis, or home décor by Faaya. The Honeymoon Edit has brands like Studio Picante, Dhruv Kapoor, De Castro, Verandah and Tumi where you can stockpile presents (and sneak in a little self-gifting). Your future self will thank you.

8. Shop as a serial wedding attender

If you’re someone who’s at a roka, mehendi, or sangeet every other weekend, Jaina Lalbhai’s The Artisans Audit is where you need to be. A curation of designers like Antar-Agni, Aseem Kapoor, Anushka Khanna, Raji Ramniq, and OhFab—it’s perfect for the guest who wants to look memorable but not like they’re trying to outshine the bride (though you probably will).

9. Meet the designers IRL

It’s one thing to double-tap a designer’s work online, another to actually feel the fabric, see the embroidery up close, and chat with them about cuts, colours, and customisation. Don’t be shy about asking questions—it’s better than small talk and it’s always good to have a second opinion on whether that popular shade of mint is actually flattering on you.

The Wedding Collective runs from August 22–24, 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Register here