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Marry style with simplicity via these hot-on-the-list wedding planning

drifts with expert tips in tow.

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Whether you want to keep it

dreamy with elaborate florals, ultra glossy with an on-point chandelier game,

or intimate with gota buntings, there’s inspiration aplenty for any mood you fancy. “You can go minimal

and just have a lovely signage that welcomes your guest. A pathway of ribbons or origami can also replace big flowers,”

says Sabah Sheikh from Atisuto. Candle-lit tables with seating cues and personalised props can help you achieve that picture-perfect first look. “You can have a gorgeous arch adorned with creepers, flowers, and blown glass candles with tea lights,” adds Sheikh. For Anika Dhawan, founder of Rani Pink, arches of white flowers creating a long pathway

like a haveli with floating diyas on the sides and mogra jhoolas as chandeliers recall old-world

pomp. We suggest, you throw in a candid screenplay.

make way

talk of the table

SIMPLE, COSY, & SYMMETRIC “Comfort is key! No one wants shaky, oversized, uncomfortable seating. It

should be spacious and grand. The linen should be crisp and the cushions should be well fitted, with no doggy ears on the corners,” recommends Dhawan. Those who love edgy drama can make space for an all-out vintage look. Antique mirrors, flowy drapes, and oversized chandeliers. “We went for a mango yellow palette with touches of rani pink and loads of white Indian flowers like rajnigandha, mogra, and guldavari for a setting recently,” she says. For the creatively inclined, play is the word, be it with drapes or textiles.

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Clockwise from top: Photographs by Morvi Images; Setting by Rani Pink.

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Top the table with exclusivity

served in the most fun way. Lush foliage chandeliers are set to overlook your

table setting; potted plants and vegetables may take the centrestage; elaborate installations can also play a

crucial role. Eco-friendly, metallic, and monotone themes are going to soar. Chairbacks are also taking a dressy route.

Raun Kaul of L’Escape asserts, “Whether mirrored, wooden, acrylic or metal, tables are no longer covered but merged with the décor design and style.” A quirky update? Dhawan suggests, “A flower-shaped table with mason jars filled with candy sticks and large swirl lollipops. Chalkboard mats

edged with big pom-poms to write secret notes and napkins in animal prints. And a bubble

machine on each table!” Conversation starters for sure.

seating makeup

4cheer & chow

“Whether it’s a floral wall hugging the background, or a beautiful facade, it is really important to have the stage dressed up,” feels Khan. For Kaul, overhead installations and canopy designs are making the right noises. Raghav suggests that couples can select from a number of wedding couches—from English antique, to Mughal, rustic, royal to contemporary themes. You can also explore paper cutouts in interesting patterns as backdrops or huge bells and flowers suspended from a lattice. Whether you code it lush or less, keep it yours!

own the dais

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GIVE IT A FARE LOOK

Food’s on our mind, on all our minds! Stick to the appetising local palate

and start with cocktail entrée, fun snacks, and continue with a motley of savouries. But for

that happy-to-serve look, Madiha Khan of Exquisite Events says, “Remember that people eat with their eyes first. Instead of having the dishes sit flat on the table, it’s always good to have them on elevations.” Lalita Raghav, vice president of FNP Weddings & Events, decodes, “Rusted props similar to lounges, and food carts are very much in.” Over to the bar... “Give it to craft cocktails and mixology. Keep fresh ingredients with

an array of bitters and flavours to spice up the experience. Match it with the overall décor,

so if it calls for mirrors everywhere, include a beautiful mirrored bar,”

concocts Khan.

Clockwise from top: Romrodphoto/ Shutterstock.com; Photograph by Nadia D. Photography; Setting by Rani Pink; Setting by Devika Narain; Setting by Rani Pink.

Clockwise from bottom: Setting by FNP Weddings & Events; Photograph by Global Photography: Yogi Patel; Photograph by Love Life Images;

Photograph by Lin & Jirsa Photography.

Photograph by Aviraj Saluja and setting by Rani Pink. Setting by Exquisite Events.

Photograph by Morvi Images.

Photograph by Aviraj Saluja.

Photograph by Callaway Gable.

Setting by Atisuto.

In Your Dreams

a WEDDING

SET...

M I C R o t R E N D S : D I Y D E t A I L S

fabulous at Every Event

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fabulous at Every Event

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Lush green foliage with hints of fresh flowers, pastel shades, and cosy seating are modern mandap darlings. “No longer will you see a mandap full of marigold flowers. People are replacing the massive mandap with wedding arches, and opting for free-flowing drapes, and minimal floral work. We can see more of soft hues and whites, and even western aisle décor instead of the typical phoolon ki chatt,” says Sheikh. Vanessa Hutter from Eventures Asia curates a pre-fall inspired mandap for you, “A mixture of twigs and pastel-coloured flowers blended with chiffon drapes would give out a very romantic vibe.”

mandap diaries

Clockwise from top-right: Setting

by Eventures Asia; Setting by

FNP Weddings & Events;

Photograph by Aviraj Saluja and

setting by Rani Pink; Setting by

Keeran The Wedding Planner.

memory book

POUR THY HEART OUT

Apart from the great pictures you click at your exciting photo booth,

make sure you host a guest book corner that contributes to the second leg of memory making.

Scrapbooks, remember? Time to make another one, but this time, a little more serious yet fun and special.

From guitars, typewriters to wishing trees, there are ideas too many to stand in awe of. “Guestbooks can be made very fun and interesting instead of the usual best wishes. A bucket list of ideas—dates, places to see, eat, and adventures for a lifetime together would make for a great read for the couple. These can be done as individual cards and kept in a box,” expresses Baweja. Or you can try jenga blocks and photo

frames. It’s not only about the emotional downpour, but the many mediums your

guests can list ideas and opinions in. It’s about variety serving the

right purpose.

Move over wedding bands and throw in some more dialogue with a range of activities, from karaokes, flash mob dances, and games to professional acts. On the ground or up in the air, the idea is to captivate your guests and render a full-fledged experience for them to take home. From the venue entrance to the seating area, you can have entertainment artists delight your guests with their many steps and skills. Take note of specialised professionals around your area and book them well in time, so that you don’t run short on fun later. Thrive on quirky attires, never-before-seen acts, high-on-drama skits, and a heady mix of emotions.

call it a gig

& ADD PROPS

TO POP Blow your creative horns and pay special

attention to this particular area—the photo booth. Don’t you want to load your memories

with wide smiles, quirky poses, and endless drama? Candid cinematic approach coupled with stylish

editorial portraits work well if photographer Nadia D is to be believed. “Using personalised signages, sunglasses, and boas as props, and street lamps, garden benches, and bicycles as backdrops can render playful clicks,” feels Keeran Baweja from Keeran The Wedding Planner. Sheikh thinks fairy light strings with hanging vintage frames, oversized polaroids, and memory walls with images of

the couple should look interesting. “We are working on backdrop concepts like dreamcatchers,

picnic-themed brunches, and rustic crates,” she adds. Get clicked for

life, and don’t forget to hashtag guys!

Clockwise from top: Photograph by Daniel Usenko Photography; Photograph by Rebecca Bager; Photograph by Matushek Photography; Photograph by Callaway Gable; Photograph by RANDERYimagery.

Ke e p the ‘d’ of decor for

details here. The idea is to punctuate your big moments with

little add-ons. Moroccon lanterns coupled with delicate candles for an intimate affair, a

gramophone welcome to a rustic gala or a fun rickshaw to brighten up garden get-togethers; invest a little time to plan the mood-makers of your day that can take your wedding to the next level. These can be the hints and accents you may put on a table or installations that you place in and around the venue. The idea is to throw some unexpected décor elements into the mix. To keep it original,

infuse a touch of your personality and add surprising ingredients to give your

moments a certain flair. Let the flow of ideas begin...

Clockwise from top:

Photograph by Love Life Images;

Photographs by John Cain Sargent;

Photograph by Nadia D.

Photography.

Setting by Snaptique.

Photographs by Aviraj Saluja.

Photograph by Amour Affairs Premium Wedding.

reel in love

luxury is in the details

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Clockwise from left:

Photograph by Lola Rose

Photography; Photograph by

Aviraj Saluja and setting by

Rani Pink; Photograph by

The Wedding Salad; Setting by

Rani Pink.