In 2022, decor and design for pre-wedding celebrations has really come into its own. It’s no longer second fiddle to the main event. Need proof? Just take a closer look inside the festivities of some renowned names in Bollywood, from Armaan Jani’s OTT sangeet to Shibani Dandekar’s boho-chic mehndi ceremony. If you’re putting together your pre-wedding mood board, our celebrity-inspired decor book is heavy with inspiration. Here’s your ultimate cheat sheet.
Sangeet Armaan & Anissa
First step
Priti-S Sidhwaani, founder and director of DreamzKrraft - The Wedding Company, who was behind the impossibly glamorous setting for Bollywood actor Armaan Jain and celebrity stylist Anissa Malhotra’s star-studded sangeet party feels the starting point for couples should pinpointing the vibe they want to achieve. “If you want an artist-centric setting, then the layout of the venue should be more like a bar. If family performances is the focus, then theatre-style seating works better. A shorter stage is apt for an intimate setting,” she says.
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If given free reins to design a sangeet or cocktail party, Priti would go for a “Gardens of the World theme with an Arabic palatial garden vibe. We would love to play with lots of metallic tones and monochromatic colour blocking. We would also recommend introducing the option of scenting the venue, since these functions are usually held indoors. Lots of grazing stations put around the venue is another suggestion.”
Wedding wardrobe
It may seem counterintuitive, but Priti’s mantra is decor before wardrobe. “The outfit colours should be planned after the couple finalises the decor themes. If the decor colours and backdrop is neutral and metallic, then they can opt for stronger, jewel tones to make their outfits more striking. Since everyone will be dressed heavily, enough moving space must also be considered while planning the decor.”
#Trends2022
“The biggest decor trends for this year are using a lot of monochromatics and bringing the destination into the functions. For example, if in Bahrain, then we design an Arabic inspired theme for one of the functions, thus synergising the theme with the location of the wedding. Consider replacing theatre seating patterns with speakeasy arrangements, thematic bars and casual lounges that allow guests to interact.”
Mehndi Farhan & Shibani
First step
Given that Shibani Dandekar has been a long-time friend and #PSMuse, couturier Payal Singhal wanted to be part of her and Farhan Akhtar’s pre-wedding celebrations in February 2022. For the Bollywood couple’s rooftop sundowner mehndi event hosted by Payal, she chose the theme as a Mexican fiesta meets mehandi mela, which was inspired by the couple’s time in Tulum a few years ago. “What makes any celebration truly special is sentimental elements, and that was really the focus of the mehendi.” In case of a multi-cultural celebration, she says, it’s important to feature cross-cultural references for a genuine coming together of two people and families.
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Honouring any sentimental memory, be it a vacation, favourite song or favourite colour, can serve as a meaningful and memorable starting point. “For Farhan and Shibani, we borrowed a personal moment from their journey as a couple for the theme itself. From the Mexican colours to the Indian twists, the menhdi was a true blend of both cultures and also an ode to two individuals coming together in a relationship!”
Wedding wardrobe
Being a couturier, Payal places her bet on wearing not just occasion-friendly, but also theme-appropriate outfits. “The mehndi was the perfect occasion for Shibani to embrace her inner gypset, a sentiment that the brand is all about too. In keeping with the theme, we also designed her ensemble, featuring our signature PS backless choli and kalidaar sharara pants,” revealed Payal. “The bridal party, too, decked up in tandem with the dress code, Indian Bohemian. Our bestselling looks from our recent collections ‘Sanat’, ‘Suroor’ and ‘New Normal’ fit the bill.”
Eye for detail
“Considering how our theme fused two distinct cultures, the food had to reflect the same spirit too. We worked with Le Kitchen to create a fun menu that would accentuate the ‘Indian Fiesta’ vibe. We also created a mini mercado market for the favours that guests could pick themselves. There were bangles, gajras (an ode to Shibani’s Maharashtrian roots), Payal Singhal X Paio shoes and potli bags.”
Photography: DreamzKrraft - The Wedding Company, Sam & Ekta, The Tilted Lens
As seen in Khush Wedding Vol 10/Issue 3 • 2022 KW26. Buy this issue here