Before an event organizer can even get down to the specifics of what needs to be done, one question that invariably haunts him is- WHERE it needs to be done!Making the venue selection process more challenging is the universal emphasis by clients to create a-never-seen-before brand experience. And in this way even the most creative event planners find themselves in a fixwhen it comes to finding a venue that allows them the freedom of customization. The challenge is not easy as most planners end up restricted by the “Big list of No’s” by private properties and the painstaking licensing issues at government venues. What happens next is a compromise on ideas, creativity and the ethos of an event altogether. As a result, what was once conceptualized as a never seen before experience for its attendees ends up being merely a caricature of a just-about-managed-without-fallouts execution. Every event organizer understands that for an event to truly standout its venue space has to be re-lifted. However, how to make the first step towards a venue transformation is the part where most event organizers begin stumbling. An event agency widely lauded for its ability to transform a space completely is Showtime. On 21st December in 2014, the agency took up the task of executingthe 1st wedding anniversary celebrations for a client whose brief was to- raise the bar! With a total of 800 guests to be served, the option of opting for a privately owned venue was out the window. Theyinstead had to find a bigger venue that could fit their needs. TheJawaharLal Nehru stadium in Delhi was finally chosen. And that’s when the real taskbegan-The transformation of all that space! As part of the event execution, the agency transformed 50000 sq. ft. of the stadium, by setting up a 270 ft x 120 ft German A-frame hangars. These hangars housed three surprise experience zones and their designs were inspired by Arabian and Provencal architectural styles. Additionally, 1500 feet of special Aluminum trussing was used for the eclectic décor, lights and support. Two 600 sq. ft. water bodies and fountains were created at the entrance porch and a central ramp at the entrance for wheel-chaired guests was also created. The three zones were revealed one by one to the delighted guests through 80-feet motorized curtains. Adding to the concept were ten large format projection screens which were installed to showcase the story of the couple’s one year of togetherness. A hundred specially crafted glass shells, over a dozen floral chandeliers, birdcage chandeliers and several palm trees were used to create a wonderland garden setting. And, to add the final touches a floral design consultant from Russia was specially flown in to create the Garden of Eden! This was not the first time that the agency had transformed a venue. At K.P. Singh’s 80th Birthday Celebrationsover 500 high-profile guests were transported to the city of Udaipur where the water-bound venue, Jag Mandir,was transformed completely, replete with aerial acrobats being performed on heliospheric balloons. The major highlights of this transformation includedthe Pichola Lake which was dotted with colorful illuminated floating installations in the shape of swans, peacock arches, a banyan tree and a zorb. 400 tonnes of material and equipment wasferried in to theJagMandir Island on Lake Pichola with only a limited number of boats. Some also remember this event as one for which Shakira was specially flown in. A lot of event agencies often argue that it is not the venue transformation that is challenging. For them the issue liesin convincing private property owners to permit their ideas to fly. Prince Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Executive Director at Historic Resort Hotelsand custodian ofone of the most sought after venues in India,Jagmandir, comments, “Venues are exceptionally important for an event and we understand this fact. And if an event agency comes up with a concept that elevates the experiential element of the venue, we always encourage them and are willing to walk an extra mile for their comfort. However, there are times when we get some unacceptable requests wherethe property is likely to suffer damagesdue to use of tools and machines. In such cases we put our foot down.” He further states, “I was once asked by a planner if they could paint the venue structure Pink as it gelled with the theme of the event. There was also a requestonce, to cover the entire historical venue with drapes. My answer to all such agencies is that if they want these kinds of modifications then they should opt for an empty space instead.” Commenting on the future of venue transformation Prince Lakshyaraj says, “Even after hosting over 500 odd weddings in the last decade, with every new wedding that we host we realizethere is so much more that can be done to elevate the experiential quotient of a venue. As managers of such properties we are game for interesting and innovative ideas and will always be. The onus is on the planners to understand that the core fundamentals of the venue should not be disturbed.” (The story has been extracted from BW APPLAUSE)
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The definition of a conventional wedding celebration has witnessed a drastic transformation in the last two decades. With no restrictions in terms of the budget for their wedding, people today are willing to spend enormously to create random, out of the blue experiences on their special day. These experiences range from having nude weddings to getting married inside a zoo with animals to curating other experiences that are plain strange. In this list we at EE, share with you 5 strange experiences at weddings from across the globe. 1-Bungee-jumping wedding Though a lot of lovers harp about wishing if they could profess their love from the sky tops, none of them have actually made it true. However, Jeroen and Sandra Kippers of Brussels, Belgium, made the impossible possible as they were had their wedding wows 160 feet in the air in front of 20 guests. For those of you, who think the experience was strange enough, please wait. The real experience of the wedding was that after the vows, the couple made the wedding official by bungee-jumping over the side.Another highlight of this wedding was the floating reception that was executed in the skies again. Now, that is some strange wedding experience to have I must say. 2-Marriage at T.J. Maxx shopping center Venues are very crucial for a wedding and hence sometimes people take months to finalize a venue that can host their dream wedding. But, just imagine if someone decides to have a wedding at a shopping center surrounded by racks of shoes? Well, this strange experience is not hypothetical. Lisa Satayut (bride) decided to combine the excitement over bargaining at shopping centre with that of bagging her beau. Explaining that T.J. Maxx is her “happy place,” Satayut married Drew Ellis in the size 8 shoe aisle of a T.J. Maxx store in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The highlight of this wedding was curious shoppers who waited long enough to watch the ceremony. 3-Nuptials inside a shark tank Yes, you read that right there is a wedding that actually took place inside a shark tank in reality. The happy couple April Pignataro and Michael Curry proclaimed their love to each other as they climbed inside a 120,000 gallon shark tank at Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, New York. The ceremony took place as sand sharks, nurse sharks, eels and a giant grouper circled around. The couple wore scuba gear and mikes that broadcasted their words to each other, as well as to friends and family. 4-Marriage while bicycling Talk about getting in shape for your own marriage? Well this couple took the initiative of being healthy a little too seriously as they had their wedding wows while cycling around in a beautiful city in Russia. The wows were taken as the couple was joined by 150 guests who also rode the cycle to watch the commitment ceremony live. 5-Chinese bride with 200 m-long dresses All the brides in the world want to look special on their wedding day but if there was an award for the most effort put in look so special then it would certainly go to this bride from Guangzhou, China as she accented her gown with a train that was over 600 ft long and weighed over 220 lbs. This was till early 2007, world's longest bridal train record which stood at 219 yards.
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Indian weddings are the ultimate celebration of indulgence, opulence, togetherness and unforgettable memories. Adding to the festivities, The Singleton of Glen Ordin association with the Vogue Wedding Show hosted a bespoke evening atTaj Palace, New Delhi, on 7th August with Reserve Brand Ambassador Nicholas Ord playing a befitting host. Introducing the guests to the finest malt selections from theUSL-Diageo portfolio, Nicholas curated an interactive masterclass that helped enthusiasts appreciate the Classic Malts and showcased some exotic cocktail concoctions that are sure to enhance any wedding celebration. Taking guests on a flavour trail, The Singleton Masterclass traced the legacy of the Singleton of Glen Ord 12 YO, whisky that has a special appeal for the Asian palate. The malt conversation further dived into busting myths on how‘Single Malt is not for cocktails’. Nicholas created an interesting mix of malt cocktails like the delicious Singleton Sour, The Singleton Maple-Smoked Rob Roy and Singleton Vanilla Julep with sweetened almond. Interesting recipes combined with a tasting session of The Singleton and mixology tips on the finest must have blends at your wedding bar, etc., were few among many highlights at this delightful evening that prepped the audience for planning the perfect wedding bar/party.
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At almost 7000 feet above MSL, Dalai Lama’s birthday was truly a treat to everyone and the responsibility to execute the celebration was bestowed onto Panchhi Events in the honor of the 14 Lama (Lhamo Dondrub) in McleodGanj, Dharamshala. The prime highlight of the show was the extensive use of LED screens with almost over 2000 sq. ft. of display on multiple levels. “It took us 4 days to transport all the equipment and material to the venue which was difficult to reach. We wanted to make sure that the people of McleodGanj go home taking some memories of Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday” –stated Rishabh Panchhi, Director, Panchhi Events (Dehradun, Uttarakhand) Artists from all over the world came and performed on auspicious evening. It was a two day show. The audience was pleased to see the royal family of Virbhadra Singh (CM of Himachal Pradesh) participating in the celebrations. Speaking on the overall execution Rishabh said, “We had to relay the entire show live to the audience of 3000 people for which multiple screens were used. The event was a huge success and we were very proud to have served for his holiness.”
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Natura is well known to rig inspiring aerial acts and seemingly impossible engineering solutions. Natura is usually called on to a celebrations project to execute one of its exquisite and clean Aerial Performances. Though, this was the first time ever, an event production company brought Natura on board for a private celebrations project as rigging consultants. Natura’s role was not to rig anything themselves but to make sure all the elements of larger than life decor were rigged safely from the temporary hangar specially created for this event. The event designed by the famous celebrations designer Sumant boasted of Chandeliers from max. 24 ft in diameter to min. 10ft in diameter, Along with these, there were fabricated frames, Lighting trussing, Stage elements. All of these weighed in the range of min. 300kgs to max. 1 ton. Natura worked with various vendors from Lighting, LED, and Trussing to fabrication vendors to execute this larger than life event. Natura were brought on board as rigging consultants and were responsible for making sure all the flying elements of the larger than life decor, were rigged and flown safely from the hanger and the truss grid. It was Natura’s responsibility to work with technical vendors and fabricators to create a safe and beautiful setting for the larger than life experential celebration. The team faced multiple issues to begin with, first they had to start with convincing the riggers from vendor’s team to wear a harness before they go up on hanger to rig. Natura had to convince vendors to use proper rigging gear like spansets, steel wire rope, etc. More than once team Natura had stopped work when things went beyond acceptable parameters of risk. This definitely delayed the work but thanks to Aabhas, from Scoop Brand who made sure everyone understood the importance of safety. Every single rig which was done was double checked by 2 head riggers from Natura team, who at times, even changed rigs and re did things themselves. In the end it all turned out really well, No one had an iota of doubt, about any of the rigs. Everything was double and triple checked, before being finalized, which enabled the production team to focus more on other aspects of the event.
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With over 10 million weddings being organized in India each year the size of the overall wedding industry is estimated to be somewhere around a whopping 100 million. Safe to say that it is currently a gala time for domain stakeholders. Given the size of the industry and the immense potential it holds, The 5 Guys Project embarked on a journey three years ago to carve a niche community with the establishment of the International Convention of the Wedding Fraternity. ICWF, a platform that encourages the wedding fraternity to engage and exchange, presented its 3rd edition at Hyatt Manesar from the 31st July-1st August 2015. The event was organized by The 5 Guys Project together with Mapsor. The first day of ICWF ’15 began with an inaugural address by Samit Garg, Convener- ICWF ’15, who kicked off the event by thanking the attendees for their support and emphasizing why platforms like ICWF are so crucial for the wedding planning industry. The keynote address was delivered by Sabbas Joseph, President, EEMA (Event & Entertainment Management Association). Mr Joseph in his address highlighted the importance of the 7 pheras at an Indian wedding and said that an event planner’s relationship with his client should be similar to the pheras. He said, “Much like the 7 pheras you should make 7 vows to your client, you should give your client the best and hold nothing back, be honest to them, ensure that more value is delivered than promised, the quality of execution is the best, work within the laws, insist on safety procedures and ask for payments first for vendors and aim to see them as your own families.” Creative director and filmmaker, Omung Kumar, who spoke on the nuances of architectural applications in set design, delivered the first session of the day. The noted art director and set designer shared with the attendees his experiences of designing sets for cult classic films like Black, Sawariya and Mary Kom. He later performed a live demonstration for the audiences of how he conceives, conceptualizes and executes the process of set designing. Maestro of floral décor, Tomas De Brunye, spoke on the alchemy of flora and delivered a power-packed session on how the floral décor at a social event can impact its overall theme and how the strategic placement of the smallest of flowers can transform the wedding scenery. Tomas too performed a live demonstration for the audiences which allowed the audiences to grasp the nuances of floral décor hands on. A special staging by presenting sponsors of the event- Turkey Tourism- highlighted the exquisite experientialvenues in the country and was met by great enthusiasm by the attendees. The highlight of this session was the especially curated magic show that weaved the presentationtogether. To enable the attendees to experience the Turkish hospitality, they were served with Turkish tea and a beautifully prepared brunch platter. Post lunch a session on the evolving demand for customized entertainment was organized and saw the likes of Roshan Abbas, Director-Encompass, Karan Soorma VP, Cineyug and SamitGarg, Co-owner E Factor Entertainment, speak about customized experiences and the value creation in this process. Another session highlighted the courageous story of Mr. Vikas Gutgutia, Founder, Ferns and Petals. Speaking on his journey to becoming the intellectual entrepreneur he is considered today,Mr Gutgutia explained how his self-belief and the constant drive for innovation turned his entire life around and made him what he is. Day 1 of the ICWF ’15 ended with networking sessions and entertainment night followed by cocktails and dinners. The beginning of Day 2 of the convention was marked with the presence of Sumant Jayakrishnan, a globally renowned set designer. Mr Jayakrishnan delivered a presentation showcasing some of his best works in design and the process that went into its execution. The second session of the day was based on the theme of designing the experience quotient in private social events. This was an interactive panel discussion chaired by Vandana Mohan, Founder, The Wedding Design Company, Mitja Preslovsek, Interactive Multimedia expert, MarutSikka, Culinary Designer and was moderated by Roshan Abbas. The session began with Mitja Preslovsek showcasing examples how technology can be used to elevate even the most simplest of events and experiences and then the other panelists too shared their opinions on the kind of experience that can be generated at social events using technology and culinary presentation without taking away the spotlight from the event itself. Guests were served a scrumptious kebab platter, courtesy Mr Sikka, to add another dimension and enhance the experience of the session. Another session was a winner’s roundtable that featured last year’s winners of GIWA- The Great Indian Wedding Awards. The panel was moderated by Atul Nath, Candid Marketing and was chaired by VijayArora, Touchwood Entertainment;Neelabh Kapoor, Studio Neelabh and Bhavnesh Swahney, Wedniksha. The session started with each of the panelists showcasing the efforts that went into the productions of their award winning weddings last year. The panelists also spoke about creating a manual for every event that they execute to submit award winning entries for GIWA. A session on the Black and White business of weddings and the final session of the ICWF ’15 was chaired by fashion designer Manish Malhotra, the Prince of Udaipur Lakshayaraj Singh Mewar and Karan Soorma Vice President, Cineyug. The session began with individual presentations by the panelists showcasing their experiences in the domain of social events and focused on how the face of wedding planning and the overall industry has transformed over the years. The conference was followed by recognizing the best of the lot from the wedding community through The Great Indian Wedding Awards 2015. The evening ended with entertainment and a cocktail dinner and also saw ice installations, photo booths and a 3D video show.
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Indian weddings are the ultimate celebration of indulgence, opulence, togetherness and unforgettable memories. Adding to the festivities, The Singleton of Glen Ordin association with the Vogue Wedding Show hosted a bespoke evening atTaj Palace, New Delhi, on 7th August with Reserve Brand Ambassador Nicholas Ord playing a befitting host. Introducing the guests to the finest malt selections from theUSL-Diageo portfolio, Nicholas curated an interactive masterclass that helped enthusiasts appreciate the Classic Malts and showcased some exotic cocktail concoctions that are sure to enhance any wedding celebration. Taking guests on a flavour trail, The Singleton Masterclass traced the legacy of the Singleton of Glen Ord 12 YO, whisky that has a special appeal for the Asian palate. The malt conversation further dived into busting myths on how‘Single Malt is not for cocktails’. Nicholas created an interesting mix of malt cocktails like the delicious Singleton Sour, The Singleton Maple-Smoked Rob Roy and Singleton Vanilla Julep with sweetened almond. Interesting recipes combined with a tasting session of The Singleton and mixology tips on the finest must have blends at your wedding bar, etc., were few among many highlights at this delightful evening that prepped the audience for planning the perfect wedding bar/party.
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With a population of 1.2 billion, it is no surprise that India is sold on the idea of weddings. During peak season, on any given auspicious day, thousands of people are known to tie the knot in our country. Big cities, small towns or villages, if you’re somewhere near 30 chances are your family has spent the last decade deliberating your wedding. Stereotyped across the world for our inherent miserly nature, ironically when it comes to weddings Indians suddenly develop a no-holds-barred attitude. And so with every passing year the business of weddings is flourishing leaps and bounds. It is actually the perfect business model – demand is high, unbounded cash-flow, forecast is perennial and possibilities are endless. But wait. Ever stopped to think who may be the ultimate beneficiary of this upswing? (Drumroll)…AND THE WINNER IS…well, not you! We’ve been made to believe that when there is great advancement within an industry the entire economy stands to gain from it. But if this was true, shouldn’t the payback be somewhat noticeable by now? What happens when money raised does not trickle down the funnel? When business becomes the monopoly of a selected few? The rich become richer and the poor even poorer. Sadly, thats exactly the model our wedding industry is based upon. If Bittoo tikki walla is contracted at a wedding and his live tikki station is operational for a standard duration of three hours within which he sells an average of 30 tikkis/hr at the rate of 1 tikki every 2 minutes, then he sells all of 90 tikkis on each stall. Even if there is a minimum of 3 stalls, thats 270 tikkis consumed at the party. The standard rate of a popular tikki walla at a wedding exceeds 1.5 lakh Rupees. If a plate of 2 tikkis is retailed at Rs 30 thats Rs 15 per tikki as opposed to Rs 210 per head at a wedding. We think you get the point being made here. “There is unfortunately a complete disconnect between the private sector and the government with regards to wedding – and the potential of it as an industry. Weddings even today are seen as largely private affairs. YOU spend what YOU can afford and that really is your own business that does not concern anyone else”, says Chetan Vohra of Wedding Line. He adds, “10 years ago, having a DJ was still a luxury reserved for the classes. Today there is a DJ at every function for no matter who and at what budget they have. Such is also the evolution being seen in decor, in F&B and in the number of functions you “need to” host. Everyone wants bigger and better – and it does not matter if they can afford it or not – they must have it because they want to secure their social status, and this social status is so strong that it eclipses all before it.” Baraats have become a public nuisance and there is no state intervention to alleviate this problem. “The simple ghori now has to contend with elephants, camels, chariots – sometimes with up to four horses, vintage cars, DJ set ups on the move and, of course, if its Delhi then the famous Car-o-bar cannot be left behind. Baarat processions in modern times are probably comparable to political processions or rallies. If you have the might – you have the right”. Says Vohra. Although one needs to notify the local area police station as a forewarning of the anticipated baraat, a simple box of ladoos can relax the rules to a great extent. It seems the government has turned a blind eye to the immense potential to raise revenue from the wedding industry. And because it is not profitable for the government it does not excite the state enough to invest in. While the ‘baraat’ causes road blockages, there are no government standards for health and safety at the venues, state owned lands for weddings are highly restricted and provision for parking is often poor. Vohra says, “It is indeed a pity that we in India have not matured to look into these aspects of revenue generation or simply develop a broader mindset. Our monuments and palaces come with a list of do-nots that sometimes exceed the checklists associated in making an event happen. I did once speak to someone to explore the possibilities of doing a social event for a client at the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta. The official was at first amused and then proceeded to reprimand us by giving us a sermon on how it was against the culture of the state and these were public areas allocated for the general enjoyment of everyone and could not be hired out even if it was for a day. There is a serious dearth of government approved spaces for weddings and events across the country. Mumbai has the Turf Club and then the set of Gymkhanas that line Marine Drive where one is at the mercy of private cartels that operate without check, simply because they are privately run. Delhi has people being restricted to commercial or private farm houses, but again have very few parks or landscaped gardens that may lend itself to the kind of clientele that is willing to spend money on a venue, that would add to that special day.” The state needs to realize that if money could be raised from leasing state owned lands and monuments it could be channelled towards the maintenance and upkeep of the neglected historical establishments. The not-so-fortunates could be given subsidies on land and state-run facilities so that a dream-wedding is a privilege available to all and not just a monopoly of the classes. “It is indeed sad to see how easily people stray to avoid taxation and thus choose alternative routes. The downfall of India came with the invention of “Jugaad” and that has come to rule us today. Everyone wants to fix what is not right, rather than be right and have to avoid the fix altogether. There seems to be a certain thrill in beating the system, similar to the school-boy who snuggled in a little chit into the exam – not knowing that he is not cheating the system but himself in the longer run”, adds Vohra.
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