The great Indian wedding season has officially begun and it is back with a bang. According to a Business Standard survey, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimates that a whopping 3.5 million weddings are slated to take place just between 23 November and 15 December this year. This translates into business worth a staggering Rs 4.25 trillion in just 23 days; mind boggling numbers indeed! “In the post-COVID era, the big fat Indian wedding is making a strong comeback, showcasing a significant resurgence in celebratory spirit. Wedding sizes have reverted to pre-pandemic levels, with gatherings of 400-500 people becoming the norm. Interestingly, while some still opt for intimate settings, the allure of grand celebrations remains a dominant preference for many, reflecting a robust return to traditional, larger-than-life wedding festivities” say Saanya Sharma, Sanjana Shah and Aashna Lalwani, co-founders, Three Entertainment.
Exotic destinations
Exclusive events and a very high degree of personalisation are just some of the key trends in weddings being witnessed this season. “Couples are allocating bigger budgets towards curated experiences, channelling their resources into crafting an event that exudes quality and not just quantity. The wedding canvas is evolving, with a deliberate move towards profound celebrations, where every element is a testament to the couple's journey” say Ashima Arora and Rasmeen Shawhney, co-founders, Aroosi Events.
From the palaces of Rajasthan to the backwaters of Kerala, the charm of a destination wedding is undeniable. “Couples are opting for destinations like Andaman, forest weddings in Jim Corbett, Gir, and Ranthambore and mountain weddings in Manali and Shimla,” says Prerika Puri, founder, The Aisle. While Udaipur, Goa, Kochi and even Bangalore are popular domestic destinations, Thailand, Dubai, Bahrain, Indonesia, Maldives and Italy are the hot spots abroad. “Almost every destination in the Middle East is attracting big fat Indian weddings, and when it comes to high profile weddings Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah are in the spotlight for 2024,” says Parthip Thyagarajan, co-founder and CEO at WeddingSutra.com, India's first wedding portal.
Irrespective of the destination, weddings have become highly customised and individualistic. “The weddings of today reflect the tastes and personality of the couple. So, whether it is an intimate ceremony, a vacation wedding or a themed celebrations, the focus is on the interests and hobbies of the couple,” say Ashi Jain and Shobhit Jain, co-founders, The Event Casa. Further, wedding ceremonies have witnessed a sea change with the increasing use of technology with couples adopting innovative hashtags and sharing their special moments with a larger audience by using social media platforms, live streaming, personalised wedding apps and websites. “The emphasis is on weaving their narrative into every aspect of the celebration, making it a one-of-a-kind experience and showcasing what makes their love story distinctly theirs,” adds Prerika Puri.
Unique themes galore
From city-inspired themes to vintage inspired looks, elaborate floral themes and settings straight out of an Italian farmer’s market, Persian spice market and even a souq market vibe, wedding themes and styling are as diverse as exciting. “One theme gaining popularity is the 'Enchanted Garden.' Beginning with intricately designed invitations featuring floral patterns and pastel hues, the theme unfolds into a lush botanical wonderland. The venue transforms into an ethereal garden, adorned with cascading flowers, fairy lights, and vibrant greenery. Tables boast of floral centrepieces, butterfly motifs and hanging terrariums, creating a dreamy ambience with a colour palette of soft pinks, greens, and gold accents. Styling becomes a key element, with the couple and guests embracing floral-inspired attire. The culinary experience mirrors the theme with garden-inspired dishes and botanical-infused cocktails, presenting a seamless integration from invitations to décor,” add Ashima Arora and Rasmeen Shawhney.
They further add that "Vintage Romance," exuding the charm of a bygone era with invitations in vintage fonts and sepia tones, the venue adorned with lace, pearls, and antique frames and the couple in retro-inspired ensemble is trending. Time-honoured dishes, classic desserts, complemented by tables adorned with vintage China, candlesticks, and muted floral arrangements complete the entire theme.
Quirky and creative
With couples seeking exclusivity, there is a noticeable trend revolving around incorporating unusual yet interactive and entertaining elements. “We recently crafted an airport-themed cocktail party for a couple whose relationship was mainly long distance. Every corner of the space had its own quirky detailing whether it was a revolving baggage claim shots bar or an entry paparazzi tunnel. Another one we did was the disco jungle cocktail party with elements like wild themed décor, green spaces, a life-sized chandelier adorned with in-lit birds, shelves meticulously decorated with disco elements like animal-printed lamps and disco alcohol bottles and custom cocktails in disco cups,” say Saanya Sharma, Sanjana Shah and Aashna Lalwani who have also executed a futuristic cocktail sangeet with vibrant neon colours.
Personalised vows add a heartfelt touch indeed as Ashima Arora and Rasmeen Shawhney note in the sangeet function they executed which was inspired by a couple's love story unfolding in a chemistry lab. Encapsulating the 'Chemistry of Love' theme, invitations reflected periodic tables, the décor featured test tubes, beakers and flasks filled with vibrant flowers and bubbles. The colour scheme mirrored a chemical reaction, scientific elements extended to suspended ceiling installations and test tube centrepieces, all weaving a unique narrative. The couple and guests embraced the theme in styling, and even the food offerings included molecular gastronomy techniques, creating a celebration that seamlessly blended personal elements with thematic creativity, making it an indelible chapter in their love story.
Popular themes this wedding season
- Ethereal Elegance: All about soft colours and dreamy decorations for a classy vibe.
- Rustic Glamour: A mix of rustic charm and a touch of fancy to balance simplicity and grandness.
- Tropical Romance: To bring vibrant colours and a chill vibe.
- Modern Vintage: It mixes the classic and contemporary.
- Cultural Fusion: It celebrates diversity by blending traditions from different cultures.
- Masquerade Ball: a whimsical theme replete with ornate masks, feathers, lace, beads, etc.
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