An Indian wedding is always a colorful, high-energy affair that features spectacular outfits, scrumptious cuisine and exquisite decor. There are a number of different elements that need to fall into place for a wedding to be perfect. We spoke to some of India’s best wedding professionals, who were also featured in Condé Nast India's Netflix show The Big Day, to learn about the right ingredients needed for a beautiful wedding. Here’s what they had to say.
The ideal outfit
An integral part of any wedding, a bride and groom's outfits should be comfortable, and represent their personalities. Moreover, the couple should always have fun with what they are wearing. “An ideal wedding outfit has impeccable fit and construct, in a color that complements you and something that allows you to be yourself, move around freely and feel your most confident," states fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani. “When you have that level of comfort in your bridal wear, you always think of ways you can love and re-love each piece of your ensemble." Because family is such a large part of Indian weddings, Tahliani notes that “it’s extremely helpful when the bride and groom’s families are able to explain the scale and the theme of the wedding, along with what works for them, but are also open to trying new things or to experts’ suggestions.” Tahiliani’s last piece of advice is potentially unexpected: “don’t always try to match!”
The ideal decor
Decor is an important ingredient that sets the tone for an extravagant Indian wedding. “The ideal design for a wedding is quite relative," says Louis D’Souza, Director of Tamarind Global Weddings. “Weddings have taken on a new complexion now, in that they are more compact and as a result, much more minutely customized and curated. There is a greater focus on original themes and concepts that are out of the box, and memorable, experiential moments for guests.” D'Souza’s firm looks to create weddings that blend the contemporary and the traditional throughout the four pillars of wedding planning: hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and decor. Customized solutions are created from there, depending on the preferences of the bridal families. “Some like extravagant decor themes, while others would rather focus on high profile artists, or eclectic cuisine. In every scenario, the ideal varies, and achieving the right combination of elements with flawless execution is what makes the job so rewarding,” adds D’Souza.
During COVID, many couples decided to go ahead with intimate weddings that feature mindful and sustainable decor that showcases their personalities. “The past decade has been all about grand weddings—over the top spectacles that are meant to create that ‘wow’ factor. In contrast, for us, an ideal wedding is one where the family is at the center, and the wedding is designed around the guests and their experiences,” remarks Devika Narain, founder of Devika Narain and Company, who appreciates the incorporation of details that epitomize the personal family histories and are an extension of the personalities of the bride and groom. According to Narain, “decor made with locally sourced, sustainable materials” is a nice touch too!
Priti Sidhwaani believes that the best wedding decor “bring[s] out the personality of the couple through the wedding—their family values, personal aesthetics and likings.” The founder and CEO of DreamzKrraft says “thematic decor” and “a perfectly chosen color scheme” sets the mood and aesthetics of the wedding.
The ideal food and beverage
“Indian weddings are all about food, drinking and dancing. The key to making a long-lasting impact is great food! Combining the traditional with the trendy is crucial,” says Zorawar Kalra, founder of Massive Restaurants. This involves considering the needs of each function: for a mehendi—or henna—function, it is best to have grazing tables, juice bars, chaat (snacks) counters and a lot of appetizers. For the sangeet—or singing part of the wedding— exotic cocktails, along with sushi stations and live pizza or pasta counters are all the rage. Kalra notes that “molecular gastronomy is an ever-evolving trend and is definitely a hit at such functions.”
The ideal photography
Wedding photographs are meant to capture the most magical moments. “The best photos are of the people, as they emote with each other. They depict true love expressed as joy, in tears, in little moments of levity and togetherness.” states Joshua Karthik, co-founder of Stories by Joseph Radhik. His advice to achieve this? “Eyes on each other, not on the setting, or the plans, or the execution. If you can, try and relieve yourself of that stress, and enjoy the day for what it is—your biggest yet most intimate celebration. That’s all we need.”
Moreover, lighting is everything in photography, and strong strobe lights and awkward shadows can ruin the best venues. “Weddings are not events—they are personal celebrations of a relationship. And good light can change the mood of that celebration. Good light for photography is one that doesn't just illuminate the people in the scene, but also tells a story with shadows. In our experience, this is one of the most obvious yet most overlooked aspects of a wedding,” adds Karthik.
The ideal videography
For the most magical wedding videos, it’s important that the bride and groom share the same creative sensibilities as their wedding videographer. This includes communicating their expectations with the videographer beforehand. “I believe that rehearsals are very important so that we, the videographers know what to expect,” says Vishal Punjabi, founder of The Wedding Filmer. This is an apt consideration, especially during various aspects of the wedding ceremony, where every pandit—or officiant—does the rituals differently, which can confuse the videographers. “I recommend that all couples should do a rehearsal or at least sit with their pandit and discuss the wedding ceremony. Once this is done, communicate with your videographer, so that they know what to expect and your wedding video turns out to be beautiful!”
This story originally appeared on AD India.