A wedding shopping day in south Mumbai

Brides who come to us from other cities often want to do the rest of their wedding shopping on the same trip. South Mumbai makes that easy if you plan the day around the traffic.

Start early at Zaveri Bazaar for jewellery. The lanes are narrow and get crowded after noon, so going at ten gives you time to compare. Bring a swatch of your lehenga fabric, which we cut for every bride, because gold looks very different against crimson raw silk and emerald brocade. From there it is a short ride to Mangaldas Market, where cloth merchants sell everything from cotton to brocades. It is a good place to buy extra fabric for family outfits in a matching shade.

For lunch, Fort and Kala Ghoda have plenty of small Irani cafés and thali places, and the walk under the old buildings is pleasant in the winter months. In the afternoon, come to us for your fitting, which is usually best timed after the jewellery so we can check necklines against the actual pieces.

Finish at Crawford Market for latkans, tassels and potli bag trims if you want extras. Colaba Causeway is worth a look for juttis and evening clutches, though quality varies stall to stall, so check stitching on the sole. A full day like this needs a car and driver; parking near Zaveri Bazaar is close to impossible.