The Great Indian Wedding Book Through Six Editions
A wedding legacy written in six editions, with the book’s story, archive covers and launch milestones.
A wedding legacy written in six editions
Every Indian wedding holds a world within it. There is the intimacy of a family ritual, the imagination behind a setting, the craft of a bridal ensemble and the care that makes guests feel welcome. The Great Indian Wedding Book brings these worlds together in a limited edition coffee table publication devoted to the people and ideas shaping luxury celebrations.
Published by Atul Pandey, the book combines visual storytelling with expert perspectives across fashion, jewellery, planning, design, photography, hospitality, food, entertainment, invitations and gifting. It is a source of inspiration for couples and families, and a record of the creative work behind the celebration.
A photograph preserves a moment. A thoughtfully made book gives that moment context. Across its editions, The Great Indian Wedding Book brings cultural traditions into conversation with contemporary taste, looking at how a wedding is imagined, designed and experienced.
Its appeal lies in that combination of beauty and usefulness. Bridal editorials sit alongside destination inspiration, creative ideas and the perspectives of wedding specialists. The result is a publication to return to as a celebration takes shape, and to keep long after the last gathering.
The first volume introduced a dedicated coffee table perspective on the Indian wedding. Unveiled in 2012 by Sonam Kapoor with Hema Malini, it brought together expert insights, bridal fashion and inspiration across the many disciplines of celebration. Its red and gold cover remains part of the publication’s visual archive.
Launched by Jacqueline Fernandez at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, in June 2014, with Sharman Joshi joining the unveiling, the second edition brought the wedding into focus through five sections: The Great Indian Bride, The Great Indian Wedding Ideas, The Travel Guide, The Gifting Guide and The Resource Book. Fashion, destinations and practical discovery became part of one considered reading experience.
The third volume forms the next chapter in the collection, between the second edition’s wedding guide and the fourth edition’s exploration of personal celebration. Together, these earlier volumes establish the breadth of the archive, bringing the wedding’s many creative disciplines into the same publication.
The fourth edition, launched in 2017 with Bipasha Basu, reflected a growing desire to personalise the wedding. Trousseau, invitations, cuisine, souvenirs and destinations were considered together, acknowledging how individual choices contribute to the atmosphere of the whole occasion.
Unveiled by Neha Dhupia at India’s Best Wedding Makers Conclave 2025 at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, the fifth edition connected the publication with a gathering of the industry it chronicles. Varun Dhawan presented the IBWM honours, while Esha Gupta also joined the celebration. The occasion brought the makers behind the pages into the same room.
Explore the journal and stories from Edition 5.0.
The sixth edition was unveiled by Tiger Shroff at India’s Best Wedding Makers Conclave 2026 in Mumbai. It continues the publication’s focus on the ideas, craftsmanship and businesses behind the modern Indian wedding.
Its opening section, The Great Indian Bride, presents ten design houses through an editorial photographed by Pravin Talan, styled by Tanya Ghavri, with makeup by Shradha Luthra. Across distinct approaches to colour, silhouette and detail, the feature considers the wedding wardrobe through the woman wearing it.
Colour and ornament give each book a presence of its own. The original website preserves these four covers, from red and gold and blue and gold to richly detailed floral and peacock artwork.
The original TGIWB expert archive spans couturiers, jewellers, planners, photographers, decorators, chefs, entertainers, invitation designers and gifting specialists. Its breadth reflects a simple editorial belief: a wedding is the work of many imaginations.
From couture to cuisine and from the first invitation to the final photograph, the book gives those contributions a place within the larger story. India’s Best Wedding Makers carries that conversation beyond print through industry gatherings, recognition and shared perspectives.