Wedding industry in India has evolved in a big way: Bhavnesh Sawhney, Director, Wedniksha

The size of the wedding industry in India is estimated to be in the range of over Rs 300,000 crore. Given the size of the wedding market, it is also one of the biggest drivers of sales especially in sectors like jewellery, auto and consumer durables and one of the biggest employers too.

With almost two crore weddings taking place in India annually, a fraction of them fall in the category of high profile weddings. One of the reputed names which designs and executes such big fat weddings is Wedniksha. 

In an interview with Everything Experiential, Bhavnesh Sawhney, Director, Wedniksha spoke about the shift that wedding industry in India has witnessed over the years and the trends that are in vogue this season.

Excerpts:

How has 2018 been for Wedniksha so far?

It has been an interesting year for us to evolve and grow. We have been busy with back to back projects and each one has been special, in many ways.

We have tried to innovate and create new concepts in each of our weddings. Our year kick started with a very special wedding when we became the preferred wedding planners for South Indian actress Shriya Saran and Andrei Koscheev’s wedding which took place in the month of March. We looked into all aspects of their wedding, right from décor to hospitality to logistics. It was an intimate wedding, at a royal palace in Rajasthan. 

 We then organised Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s wedding which took place in the month of May followed by Poorna Patel and Namit Son’s wedding in July. The year has been really prosperous for Wedniksha with seamless projects and lots of learning.

Tell us about the most lavish or unique wedding decor you have work on?

 At Wedniksha, we usually handle luxury weddings and every project’s decor requires a lot of our time and thought. Extravagance and opulence with detailing is our strength. All our projects are close to our heart but if we have to choose, it would be the first Indian celebration we organised at Hotel Palazzo Versace in the City of Gold, Dubai. It most definitely was one of the most lavish weddings with beautiful décor and an amazing line-up of artists. For the Sangeet Celebration, we created an enchanting stage and bar set up at Al Maha in the middle of the desert. The lavish stage’s effect was further enhanced with the sensational Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who performed on the stage mesmerizing the audience.

What are some of the important things to be kept in mind when handling a high profile wedding?

Every wedding is beautifully curated keeping various things in mind. While weddings can be stressful because there are umpteen things to do, it is our priority to assure the family that we will take care of all the errands – small or big for them. We put together lists of things to do and we have efficient teams for different departments who get the ball rolling.

However, before we begin anything we sit with the family and put together the guest list based on which all the bookings and preparations can be done, since the guest list primarily determines several major aspects of the wedding, we try and understand the relationships and walk a distance to make everything personal and comfortable.

In your view, how has the wedding industry shaped up over the years?

 The industry has evolved a great deal. Technology and innovation has altered the entire game and today clients have varied choices from which they can pick. There are multiple domestic as well as international vendors and specialized services available and clients have a whole range of options on their fingertips.

In fact clients nowadays are extremely aware and knowledgeable about the market offerings, making it an ordeal for any company to be at par with trends while being cost effective. Today, clients can choose any exotic destination, entertainment and décor, and create everything personalized considering what suits their pocket.

Finally, tell us about some of the important wedding trends this season?

 Pastel hues, minimalistic elements, royal vintage themes are some of the current trends in terms of décor. We are also witnessing that families are increasingly conscious about the environment, so much that they are going green even in terms of their wedding celebrations. Wedding cards have been replaced with e-cards and instead of expensive flower arrangements the idea is now to use beautifully potted plants. The overall perspective is to use eco glam décor with a choice of accouterments which are reusable. In addition to this, the finer elements are being looked into, like experimenting and using only natural light for day events as and when possible.

With regards to entertainment, we have a lot of options available and families nowadays like an amalgamation of offerings. The idea is to bring on board some dance performances along with stand-up comedians to create an overall pleasant event for all age groups.

Another interesting shift is that families now want an intimate wedding with near and dear ones at an exotic international location, followed by a lavish celebration in their hometown.