Knot Your Usual Varmala: Why Couples Are Opting For Crochet Garlands

Indian weddings have always been rich in symbolism, but today’s couples are reimagining traditions to make them more personal and intentional. Couples today want their weddings to feel more personal, including the smallest elements, such as the varmala, a ritual that marks the first public acceptance of each other as partners. This shaadi season, many couples are choosing crochet varmalas over fresh flowers, and the reason goes far beyond aesthetics.

Traditionally, varmalas are made using fresh flowers enjoyed during the ceremony and usually thrown away once they start to fade.

Despite holding deep emotional value, they rarely last beyond the wedding day. While some couples now preserve their floral garlands in resin, most still fade away, taking with them a tangible memory of one of the most important moments of the ceremony.

Crochet varmalas are changing that narrative. Unlike fresh flowers, these handcrafted yarn garlands keep their colour, shape and charm over time.

Much like crochet flowers, they remain exactly as they were on the wedding day, turning a one-day tradition into a permanent reminder of the wedding.

From Sustainability to Sentiment

For crochet artist Zainab Mukhtyar (@zains_story), the idea of making varmalas grew from conversations around sustainability that she began noticing online.

“I saw other crochet creators and influencers talking about sustainable alternatives, and initially I didn’t take it very seriously,” she told SheThePeople. “But when I really thought about it, I realised that real flowers fade within a day, while crochet flower varmalas can be kept forever.”

To Zainab, the choice of a crochet varmala reflects something meaningful about the couple themselves, their values and the intention behind their wedding.

Beyond sustainability, it was the emotional connection that truly inspired her to begin. “That special moment, that special day when couples look at their varmalas years later and relive those memories, that feeling pushed me to start making them,” she shares. 

When a Simple Idea Found Its Moment

Another artist, Loveleen (@issacrochetthing), remembers when crochet varmalas were still unheard of in the wedding space.

“It all started with a random message. The bride sent a picture of the varmalas she wanted and asked if we could make them in crochet because they were planning a sustainable wedding.”

At first, she chose not to take it up. But the thought stayed with her. “After a few days, I realised how special it was that couples were looking for sustainable keepsakes for such an important day,” she says. “Crochet varmalas weren’t a trend then, but we decided to go ahead and try.”

Once the varmalas were completed, everything fell into place. “It made complete sense,” she explains. “So many couples want something customised that they can keep forever."

Loveleen added, "What I love most is taking reference pictures and turning them into crochet, bringing ideas and imagination to life in a form that lasts.”

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A Bride’s Perspective

For Yamini Arora, who got married in 2025, the idea of choosing a crochet varmala came unexpectedly through social media. “I already knew about crochet flowers and plushies, but a crochet varmala wasn’t something I had thought of until I saw it on Instagram,” she says. 

What convinced her was the thought of having something permanent. “Using fresh flowers for a few hours and then discarding them didn’t feel right. I loved that the crochet varmala could be kept forever and would always remind us of our wedding day,” Yamini shares.

Crochet Varmalas That Last Forever

In an era where weddings are becoming reflections of a couple’s values, crochet varmalas stand out as a quiet yet powerful statement. They represent sustainability, creativity and emotional permanence all stitched together into a single garland.

This shaadi season, as couples look for ways to honour tradition while making it their own, crochet varmalas are emerging as more than a trend.

They are becoming heirlooms in the making, symbols of love that, unlike fresh flowers. More than just a wedding accessory, a crochet varmala is a keepsake of love, care and memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Views expressed are the author's own.