What to expect at your first bridal appointment

Most brides arrive at Rampart Row a little nervous, with a phone full of screenshots and a mother who has opinions. That is exactly right. The first appointment is 90 minutes, costs ₹2,500 and is adjusted against your order if you go ahead, so nothing about it commits you.

The first half hour is talk. Our designer, Farah, asks about the ceremonies, the venues, whether the wedding is indoors or on a lawn, and how long you will be standing. She also asks what you do not want, which is often more useful than the screenshots. Then come the swatch trays: raw silks, velvets and Banarasi brocades, held up against you in daylight from the front window, not under the studio lamps.

In the last half hour Farah draws. You leave with a pencil sketch showing the silhouette, the number of kalis in the skirt and where the heavy embroidery sits, plus a written quote that splits fabric, embroidery hours and fittings into separate lines. We take your measurements that day too, so the toile can be cut as soon as you approve.

Bring the shoes you are likely to wear, or a pair of the same heel height, and one person whose taste you trust. Large groups make it harder to hear yourself think. You do not need to decide anything on the day; most brides come back within two weeks with one or two changes.