Out: done-to-death wedding themes. In: a completely customised celebration. We don’t just mean using your favourite flowers for the installations, but weaving in bits and pieces of your love story, interests and personalities into various aspects of the big day. And no, it doesn’t have to be drastically different even as we find ourselves in the social distancing era. “The guest list of an intimate wedding is smaller and the logistics relatively simpler, but the decor should be that much more detailed because it’s still your wedding day,” reinstates Ambika Gupta, renowned wedding designer, planner and the founder of The A-Cube Project. The pro behind the decor of actor Kajal Aggarwal’s mid-pandemic nuptials in October 2020 shares her two cents on personalising your walk down the aisle.
Meaningful touches
Create a sense of pride and personalisation by punctuating the space with aspects that are meaningful to you as a couple. “Personalisation comes from personal stories. A wedding becomes that much more special when you incorporate memories of places you have travelled to, a moment you have shared, a favourite restaurant, a book, a song or a film you bond over or an artist they admire. Anything that is significant can be a part of the wedding theme,” adds Gupta.
Sign language
Got a favourite quote or song? Turn it into a wedding sign. And we love if it’s of the neon variety as the welcome signage or bar decor. For a recent wedding, Gupta and her team customised a mammoth scroll as the ceremony backdrop with the couple’s vows printed on it.
Memory display
What better way to put your personal stamp than with pictures? “Include a memory wall with framed pictures of you together. Or create a photo booth where your guests can make their own memories,” suggests Gupta. And a photo wall can work anywhere: at the entrance with a simple wood unit, as a gorgeous backdrop for your vow exchange, at the buffet behind a delicious spread of desserts, or any other place you’d like to draw attention to.
Conversation starters
“Choose locations that are conducive to your personalities and match the mood of your big day. But decor wise, incorporate elements that draw people in to have warm conversations with each other. They need to feel relaxed with comfortable seating, rugs, cushions, candles and flowers.”
Royal treatment
Your big day should be planned as a fun and festive occasion for you as well as your guests. “It is absolutely necessary to make every guest feel special and welcomed by investing time and thought in creating unique giveaways and gifts with personalised notes.” Ditch traditional table numbers in favour of city names you have travelled together or your favourite flowers. Keep flower petals in potli bags and small bells on every chair for guests to ring during the pheras.
Earth-friendly elements
No longer limited to eco-warriors, Gupta feels, “Now, it is more important than ever that we switch to more sustainable materials than using non-biodegradable stuff. Work with things that come from Mother Earth and can be absorbed back. My favourites are organic elements like terracotta, macrame , bajra stalks and pampas grass.”
Scent story
After figuring out how your venue will look, you can decide how it will smell (taking a cue from the Duchess of Cambridge). A distinct fragrance has the power to trigger memories even years later. You can try an online home fragrance service for recommendations or blend your own by layering fragrant fresh flowers, candles and even room sprays.
Statement sanitization stations
Sure, safety and sanitization cannot be compromised, but you can get creative with it. “Before the pandemic, we used to leave funny hangover kits in guest rooms. Now, we prepare sanitization kits with really quirky messages. You can also give masks with fun taglines and personalise sanitizer bottles. You can also have fun signages on stations and in various corners of the venue to remind people to be safe but to also have fun.”
Curated cocktails
Go a step further than just customising your catering. Keep your guests refreshed with custom cocktails that capture your favourite spirits and flavours. Then, give it a fun name.
Photography: Shot Stories by Varun Suresh, House On The Clouds, The A-Cube Project, Unsplash
As seen in Khush Wedding 29. Download this FREE issue here