CONTENTS
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W E DDI N G PL A N N I N G
30 COVER Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority Opens Doors to Band Baaja Baraat, Indian Style!
10 HAPPENING The Doli Diary Creates A Magical Essence in this Mumbai Wedding
DE COR & DE S IG N
12 HAPPENING Krayonz Entertainment Plans a Fairytale Wedding amidst the Beaches of Goa
3 6 P H O TO F E AT U R E Wedding Venue Dubai creates a unique Black & Gold wedding with ‘NO’ Fresh Flowers!
17 POINT OF VIEW Aarti Manocha of Moments to Memories, 5-Steps to Ensure Successful Collaborations
3 8 I N FO C U S This Magical Sangeet by Effects Tech and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Brings A Fairy Tale to Life
1 8 I N S P I R AT I O N A Traditionally Decked-Up Wedding Executed by Expemark Communications at ITC Sunderban, Kolkata
40 HAPPENING Tamarind Global Partners Sumant Jayakrishnan To Cast A Magic Spell On This Lavish Wedding
1 9 I N S P I R AT I O N Concept Weddings Plans The Grand Bharti and Haarsh Celebrity Wedding At Adamo-The Bellus, Goa
42 F E AT U R E A Breathtaking Mexico Destination Wedding With Mesmerising Decor By L'Escape
2 0 F E AT U R E Meet the Exemplary Team Behind the Anushka-Virat Wedding in Tuscany!
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
DE S T I N AT ION S
4 6 I N S P I R AT I O N OMAGGIO Creates Mesmerising Aerial Acts for Weddings & Social Events
24 HAPPENING This Wedding in Malta is sure to give you Destination Wedding Planning Goals!
47 P O I N T O F V I E W Shibani Kashyap Discusses Creative Customizations and Unique Collaborations for Every Event!
26 HAPPENING A Vibrant Wedding Where Royalty Meets Eclecticism
I N D U S T RY WAT C H
2 8 I N S P I R AT I O N From Pool Party to Dancing Under the Stars, Wedniksha Ensured This Dubai Wedding Had it All!
4 8 I N FO C U S The ExCel Summit at WOW 2017 Inspires Audiences with Fascinating Insights & Delightful Case Studies
Disclaimer: i. ExCel magazine is published by EVENTFAQS Media. Pvt. Ltd. with RNI Registration MAHENG/2010/35733. ii. Every effort is made to ensure that the magazine’s content is correct. However, the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. iii. All material published in this magazine is copyright protected. Unauthorised reproduction in part or full is forbidden. iv. The publisher takes no responsibility for content used in advertisements and advertorials. It is assumed the advertiser has rights to use the content. v. The publisher takes no responsibility for photographs and information published in features which comes from external sources such as PR agencies, direct sources, etc. It is assumed that the parties involved have the right to provide the information for publishing purposes. vi. Any dispute/error liable vis-a-vis this magazine is strictly restricted to local jurisdiction in Mumbai only.
FROM THE EDITOR
58 52 ICWF ICWF 2017 Showcases & Celebrates the Best in the World of Weddings
VENUES 5 6 I N S P I R AT I O N This Kolkata Engagement Planned By Cineyug Will Make You Believe in Fairytales 5 8 P H O TO F E AT U R E Mr. P.P. Reddy’s 60th Birthday Bash saw Mushtaq Ali from Celebrations transform a Business Center into a Lavish Happening 6 0 F E AT U R E Taj Wedding Studio Showcases the Best in the Wedding Industry With A Taj Mahal-Dome Inspired, Tarun Tahiliani Showstopper at the show!
PHO T O G R A PH Y & F I L M I N G 62 HAPPENING Cappadocia & Paris Make this Pre-wedding Photoshoot As Magical As a Fairytale 6 4 I N S P I R AT I O N Badal and Raja Jain Share Trending Photography Moments From 2017
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hen Destination Weddings are fast becoming a norm, what’s the new trend to capture in the Indian Wedding industry? Is it possible that an iconic wedding celebration can actually put a destination ‘on the map’ for an industry, hungry for the ‘never done before’? This surely seems to be the case with Bahrain. Just 3-hours away by flight, like many of its better-known neighbouring countries, but still relatively unknown to Indians, especially in the events and weddings space. And what’s best is that the destination is truly an undiscovered treasure! The famous Mehta-Wedding hosted in Bahrain last year, sparked an interest not only amidst wedding planners, but in travellers in general. It’s only when you arrive in Bahrain that the destination’s brand positioning - Bahrain Island Weddings, comes alive! Made up of clusters of islands with water bodies running through the most unexpected turns of the landscape, Bahrain city couldn’t be better suited for a destination wedding. The icing of course is the Tourism Authority’s forthcomingness to truly partner planners in ensuring the celebrations they host leave the most special memories for its guests... karishma@eventfaqs.com
6 6 I N FO C U S Reels & Frames by Anand Rathi Executes A Unique Save the Date with Stop Motion Animation!
M E RC H A N DI S E & I N V ITAT ION 67 I N S P I R AT I O N A look at Trending Wedding Invites, with Puneet Gupta– The Master of Exquisite Invites
COVER PHOTO: STORIES BY JOSEPH R ADHIK PHOTO COURTESY: TAMARIND GLOBAL
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR KARISHMA HUNDALANI karishma@eventfaqs.com
FOUNDER / DIRECTOR VISHAL NAGDEV vishal@eventfaqs.com
EDITORIAL TEAM RUTU LADAGE rutu@eventfaqs.com MADIHA KHAN madiha@eventfaqs.com SHANTANU JAIN shantanu@eventfaqs.com
CFO & DIRECTOR JIMMY CHOUDHARY jimmy@eventfaqs.com
CIRCULATION RAMESH PATIL ramesh@eventfaqs.com ADMIN & ACCOUNTS NILESH PAWAR accounts@eventfaqs.com SAMEET ELKAR admin.mumbai@eventfaqs.com GRAPHIC DESIGN VINAYA PRASHANTH vinayaprashanth@gmail.com PRASAD KARAMBAT
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM JITEN JURIANI jiten@eventfaqs.com RADHIKA SETHI radhika@eventfaqs.com SHIVA CHOUDHARY shiva@eventfaqs.com MARKETING SERVICES TEAM DHWANI MUNSHI dhwani@eventfaqs.com CHARMI JANANI charmi@eventfaqs.com ZAFAR KHAN zafar@eventfaqs.com SANJANA BAWEJA sanjana@eventfaqs.com
Experiential Celebrations-ExCel is a bi-annual magazine published by EVENTFAQS Media-A multi-channel platform focussed on the events, entertainment and experiential industry. Visit www.eventfaqs.com for more details. For subscription enquiry: info@eventfaqs.com Editor: Karishma Jamnu Hundalani. This issue contains 72 pages including covers. Printed & Published by: Vishal Vashulal Nagdev on behalf of (or owned by) EVENTFAQS Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at VSSU Graphics, Unit # 36, Ideal Industrial Estate Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel-West, Mumbai 400013, Maharashtra, India, and published at EVENTFAQS Media Pvt. Ltd. 112, 1st Floor, Embassy Centre 207, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021, Maharashtra, India.
W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | HAP P ENI NG
The Doli Diary Creates A Magical Essence in this Mumbai Wedding Here is a fairytale wedding with unique centrepieces, an exquisite photo booth installation and multiple venues for each function. The Doli Diary efficiently planned and executed a gorgeous wedding in Mumbai, which was hosted in exclusive venues like Farzi Cafe for the Youngster’s party, the Ballroom of Taj Lands End for Pheras, the Poolside Lawns of Taj Lands End for Reception, and the Regency Ballroom of Hyatt Regency for After Party. Talking about the Youngster’s Party, the bride remarked, “My husband and I were very clear we wanted a themed youngster’s party for our friends. We chose ‘The Great Gatsby,’ a charming 1920’s, old school and classy theme. We wanted to take our frieWnds to the 1920's era by using props such as hats, feather hair bands and walking sticks.” The Pheras featured a traditional-themed decor. The Mandap had 4 box pillars which were covered in greens and clusters of orange marigold flower. The ceiling of the mandap was covered in beautiful marigold flowers. The centre of the mandap’s ceiling had gorgeous danglers with balls made from marigold and tassels 10
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suspended from it. The entrance was adorned with box pillar structures covered in greens and orange marigold flower clusters with leaves and flower tassels on the arch. Three lotus urlis were placed on either side of the entrance. The reception Décor had a vintage theme which consisted of an off white trellis frame beautifully decorated with flowers and green ferns. Flower vases were also placed on either side of the frame for a more gorgeous effect. A flower arch was created and the sides had urns and lamp posts with flowers on either side (pink and white). A bird cage and garden lamps were placed on either side. A 12 ft "LOVE" Photo Booth was created in the lawn area for guests to click selfies and group photos. Also adding to the beauty of the décor was a cherry blossom tree, with crates, glass elements, garden lamps, tumblers and candles placed perfectly. While garden lamps and candles adorned the walkway, paper lanterns were also hung from wires over the photo booth in the lawn area to add a scoop of dreaminess to the look. The dinner tables had round mirror plates with floral centrepieces with pink, peach and white flowers and candles along a string of pearls.
W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | HA P P E N I N G
W H O D I D W H AT ? WEDDING PL ANNING COMPANY The Doli Diary PHOTOGR APHY/CINEM ATOGR APHY Romesh Dhamija Productions WEDDING INVITATION DESIGN Customizing Creativity headed by Disha & Harsh E-INVITES Social Nomad Designs M AKEUP ARTIST Pakkhi Pahuja DECOR BY The Doli Diary – Farzi Cafe National Decorators – Taj and Hyatt WEDDING CAKE Deliciae by Bunty Mahajan CHOREOGR APHY Vibha Luhadia (Studio In The House)
When the couple completely trust the people that are working on their wedding they always get the best results. Amrita and Bhisham were one spectacular couple who had complete faith in everyone they had chosen for their wedding. They knew the photographer is the best person to decide which shots to take, they knew that the decorators will suggest the best theme and they trusted us as planners for everything. In the end we got beautiful results which is for you to see. NEHA WADHAWAN Co-founder, The Doli Diary
The entrance had a black board installation which stated ‘Welcome to the #ABTohForever Wedding Reception of Amrita & Bhisham.’ Crates with flowers, candle in jars, garden lamps were also added the installation. A red carpet was laid in the walkway till the entrance. A retro theme was used for the after party/mini sangeet which consisted of a box truss (40 x 24) over the dance floor filled with asymmetrical filament bulbs with black wire and crystals. Royal blue with champagne gold and glitter in gold were the colours the designers played around with. The wedding hashtag #ABTohForever in block letters was installed with bulbs. A flex dance floor was set up for the sangeet and a space was created where the guests could come and click photos with the couple before the sangeet began. J A N U A R Y – J U N E 2 01 8 | E x C e l
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The Rajputana Mehendi
Krayonz Entertainment Plans a Fairytale Wedding amidst the Beaches of Goa Mumbai based event management company helps a dream wedding come to life with exceptionally creative ideas and flawless execution.
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RAYONZ ENTERTAINMENT PVT. LTD. definitely knows how to accomplish the dreams of their clients, and that’s how they helped Anchal and Nikhil to make their fairy tale wedding as beautiful as they wanted it to be. Anchal and Nikhil’s wedding was a three day event set in a paradise that Goa is. The wedding was not only a celebration of love that will be cherished for a lifetime by the bride and groom but also enjoyed by their loved ones. Guests who especially flew to Goa for this grand ceremony were welcomed with gorgeous flower garlands and Punjabi Dhols that perfectly set the mood for a fun filled wedding celebration which was about to begin.
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Sangeet amidst the Palms
THE RAJPUTANA MEHENDI The mehendi ceremony was on the first day. A desi delight in a traditional Rajasthani theme, the Mehendi Ceremony saw the couple’s royal entry being captured in beautiful pictures and videos by Dream Dairies. The venue was an entertainment gala filled with fun pop up stalls, puppet show, rice name stalls, musicians, folk dancers, and bioscope to entertain the guests. Mehendi was followed by an after party that was set in an adorably lit Veri Feni Pub of The Lalit, Goa, where DJ Taher along with his team swooned the guests on their beats till the wee hours. SANGEET AMIDST THE PALMS Various arrangements were made to ensure the comfort of guests who geared up for Sangeet at Villa Lawns the following day. Where the DJ, bartenders and fireworks added magic to the entire function, Dream Dairies captured breath-taking pictures and videos of the bride, groom and the whole function. The stars of the night were treated with special performances by their family members that left everlasting smiles on everyone’s faces! A BEACH CARNIVAL A unique and special beach carnival party was arranged by Krayonz Entertainment on the next day. It was a day full of activities where guests enjoyed and let out their playful side in fun bull rides, trampoline, and moonwalker. Props like garlands, hats, frames and masks were also arranged at the specially set up photo booth for all the photo enthusiasts to capture the fun they had!
The Krayonz Entertainment team enjoyed planning and executing Anchal and Nikhil’s wedding. We had set mesmerising ambiences for each function and the couple loved each décor. It was a great experience working for them. ACHINT NAG Founder, Krayonz Entertainment
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THE SHAAHI BARAAT The Baraat was an extravagant procession with a magnificent groom's entry. The groom stepped out of a vintage car as the bride was waiting in her vanity van to step into the open doli, which was specially arranged for her by team Krayonz. The baraat saw guests dancing enthusiastically to the beats of desi dhol and a wedding band. A really fun mood was set for the night where the guests thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Krayonz Entertainment team’s thoughtfulness behind all the arrangements.
The Mandap was set up beautifully, we could capture the emotions during the baraat in the blink of a moment. We liked how Krayonz, decorated the complete venue for the event, especially the elevated stage for varmala, because of which we could click really beautiful pictures. We also wanted to give the couple and their families an emotional connect, and hence offered same day edits. The pictures were edited on the spot and we shared it with the couple and their families on the next day of the event. K ARTIK BHAGAT Director, Dream Diaries
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A MAGICAL VARMALA As flower petals welcomed the bride when she stepped in for Varmala, the guests were captivated with splendid fireworks and a gorgeous Varmala ceremony. The extravagant wedding was followed by a post wedding dinner that included sumptuous delicacies, groovy music and a grand couple entry. Bartenders set the mood for dinner along with the symphony band and yet again, in a truly desi sense, fireworks were displayed to embark the beginning of a lifelong companionship! Being in the event management industry since years make Krayonz Entertainment understand every aspect of a wedding function and deliver exactly what the client desires. Making every function of this fairytale Goa wedding a success, Krayonz Entertainment sets a benchmark for other event management companies by executing a wedding with every function as unique as it can be!
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | P OIN T of V I E W
Aarti Manocha of Moments to Memories 5-Steps to Ensure Successful Collaborations
The founder of Milestones to Memories speaks about collaborations not only with the best suppliers in the industry, but also the importance of working in the most collaborative manner with clients. As we speak to Aarti, we understand that her passion for planning and curating memorable weddings is commendable. And like it is for most successful wedding planners in the country, multiple strong and correct collaborations are struck through the process of wedding planning to ensure the best results. Here are Manocha’s 5-most important views on successful collaborations: #1 The Client’s Requirements are the Most Important “We first understand the client’s requirements for the event, and really listen in for all the nuances of every requirement.” #2 Give the Client Enough Options “Whether they want luxurious décor or décor that fits a budget, we have a range of décor specialists and companies we work with, including renowned decorators, where a personal rapport becomes essential. We offer them a variety of options for décor after carefully understanding what they want. The good thing is that MtoM has experience working with or is already associated with most established décor companies, so we offer the relevant list and leave it up to the client to decide.”
#3 Ease the Process of Selection “To make it easier for the client to choose a decorator or any other supplier, we provide them pictures of some of the supplier’s previous work, so they can choose the decorator based on those. It is important to showcase actual work, so the end result is in line with expectations.” #4 Co-ordination with Various Collaborations “We understand the importance of letting the couple and their family enjoy the celebration. Most of the time the essence of our work as planners is to ensure proper co-ordination with not only the decorators, but all other parties involved. For the couple / family it should all seem seamless, since we take on the aspect of working tightly together.” #5 Go the Extra Mile “MtoM is a bespoke wedding planner, and we like to be involved with our clients to provide end-to-end services. As mentioned we understand the client’s requirements and then go the distance to provide a solution in entirety, even if it means researching and establishing new/essential collaborations.”
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A Traditionally Decked-Up Wedding Executed by Expemark Communications at ITC Sunderban, Kolkata The extravagant wedding celebrated the union of the young couple in full galore!
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INTER HAD JUST STARTED setting in and leaves were beginning to shed from the trees in Kolkata, when the lush green lawns of ITC Sonar where set afire with multiple hues and shades of red to celebrate the wedding of Mrs. and Mr. Beriwala’s daughter. The day was a culmination of hours of planning between the client’s family and members of Expemark Communications (fondly known as the Markers) – during which multiple designs were conceived in favour of a better one. The theme was built around traditional Indian temple architecture and bright colours of red, golden, orange and amber dominated the setting. The challenge for the event management team was to finish a behemoth of a setting in space of a day.
Working round the clock, multiple teams concurrently pushed the limit of their fabrication skills to set up the “mandap”, reception area, food gazebo and welcome arena. Innovative use of ice sculptures, fountain and lights mesmerized all, creating a dream-like ambiance which accentuated the warmth and love the client’s family bestowed on one and all. ARINDAM BANERJEE Director, Expemark Communications Pvt. Ltd.
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | IN S P IR ATI O N Day 2 commenced with the traditional Mehendi function and keeping with the theme, all the guests arrived in green (or rather shades of green) which worked as a wonderful contrast to the eclectic and traditional Indian décor done with a contemporary twist. All the guests danced to the traditional dhol beats while the women got their hands decked in classy mehendi designs to accompany the bride who looked ravishing in her traditional attire decked with floral motifs. The Mehendi function was followed by the cocktail night themed– The Great Gatsby, which had all the guests roll in wearing the smartest tuxedos and the most gorgeous gowns. The night was filled with non-stop excitement hosted by Manish Paul, Krushna, RJ Mantra, and a very special heart touching performance by Sunil Grover. The family members too expressed their love and creativity in the form of graceful dance acts which kept the atmosphere lively. The D-Day started with the traditional Haldi ceremony which had all the guests decked in yellow, followed by the most awaited ‘Bharti Ki Baraat’, where Haarsh made an entry in a vintage Cadillac with full Band – Baaja – Baraat in true Indian Filmi style to swoon away the love of his life.
Concept Weddings Plans The Grand Bharti and Haarsh Celebrity Wedding At Adamo-The Bellus, Goa
The floral Vidhi Mandap looked enchanting on the beach overlooking the sunset at the Marquis Beach Resort (Candolim). Following the Baraat, Bharti made her entry walking under a sheet of flowers held up by her friends and loved ones, escorting her to the mandap where the beautiful couple exchanged the varmala and did the pheras as they pledged their love and lives to one another.
#Bhartikibaraat, planned and managed by Concept Weddings was spread over fun-filled 3 days in the picturesque environs of Adamo-The Bellus, Goa. A wedding is a fairytale dreamed by two souls and especially with a celebrity wedding, the fairytale is crafted to impress. With #Bhartikibaraat, the celebrity wedding of Comedienne Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa, Concept Weddings, a division of Sheer Event Management ensured their fairytale turned into a reality with the intensive planning and management. The wedding was spread over 3 days from December 1 to 3, 2017 at Adamo - The Bellus in Goa. The wedding as well as multiple functions were thematic with each aspect of venue decorated to reflect the theme and saw different types of fun-filled activities to keep the guests entertained. The hashtag associated with the wedding #Bhartikibaraat quickly became a social media trend. The wedding was attended not just by the extended families of the bride and the groom but also multiple celebrities from the industry. The first day was marked by a colourful and crazy pool party that stretched on till the wee hours of the morning where everyone including the couple to be got dunked in the pool as they celebrated life and danced their hearts away to the foot tapping music played by DJ Sohil.
A simple brief from Bharti what we received was–'I want a fairy-tale wedding that people will remember for a long time and I want one planner to do everything'. With over 15 yrs of experience in the wedding industry–that is the trickiest brief to execute–but with that same experience we executed a wedding that went down to become the talk of the town. AJAY PRAJAPATI M.D. Sheer Event Management Pvt. Ltd.
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W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G | FEAT URE
Meet the Exemplary Team Behind the Anushka-Virat Wedding in Tuscany! You loved every aspect of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s exemplary wedding in Tuscany, Italy, but we will take you behind the scenes. The wedding was beautifully executed by a team of experienced professionals who are known in the industry for only giving the best. Let’s see who made this wedding break all social media platforms! DEVIKA NARAIN AND COMPANY - DECOR DESIGNER Devika Narain and Company was born on the dining table of a small rented apartment with the simple goal of creating spaces that were personal and uniquely Indian. Today, her team of young designers work with local artisans and craftsmen to tell personal histories through spaces and celebrate the heritage of the Indian subcontinent with a modern sensibility. SHAADI SQUAD - WEDDING PLANNERS The Shaadi Squad is young, fun and approachable team led by Tina Tharwani, Manoj Mittra, Rriddhi Talwarkar, Pragati Malhotra and Saurabh Malhotra. They started their careers in film production where they managed set design, transport and everything else to do with some of the biggest films in Bollywood. They know how to bring their experience and expertise to you, to make your shaadi goals a reality. THE WEDDING FILMER - WEDDING FILM-MAKERS The award-winning wedding filmmaker Vishal Punjabi and his crew of internationally acclaimed technicians brings the magic of movies to wedding films. STORIES BY JOSEPH RADHIK - PHOTOGRAPHER Stories by Joseph Radhik is an international award-winning team of photographers who believe in stories; stories of love, laughter and happily ever after. DIVA CATERING (RITU DALMIA) - CATERERS Ritu Dalmia is an Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur. She is the chef and co-owner of the popular Italian restaurant Diva in Delhi, which she established in 2000. 20
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Celebrity Anchor
D E S T I N AT I O N | HAPPENI NG
This Wedding in Malta is sure to give you Destination Wedding Planning Goals! Held in the tiny European island country, this wedding planned by Wedniksha is flawlessly executed and keeps you hooked to the gorgeous destination in this feature!
E V E N T PA RT N E R S
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he 3-day wedding events spread across Malta, included a Welcome Dinner at The Bedouin Bar & Pavillion, Le Picnique at the Mdina City, Sangeet at The Ballroom of The Westin Dragonara Hotel, and the Baraat and Reception at The Saluting Battery. CALL IT A WELCOME PARTY OR WELCOME DINNER! Set by the beach, this Welcome Dinner was an absolute success in kick-starting the celebrations. This glorious event witnessed an amalgamation of different luxurious acts by some of Europe’s best artistes; such as a Fire Act, a saxophonist, and an instrumental band called Ember Trio that performed some of the chartbuster numbers with a twist! Later in the evening, Drumline drummers along with the DJ took over and the guests danced the night away.
WEDDING PL ANNING COMPANY Wedniksha Wedding Planners DECOR Criatures DESTINATION M ANAGEMENT COMPANY Blue Marble Destination Services
Welcome Dinner by the Beach
Fire Act
Ember Trio
The Le Picnique Lunch in the Sun
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D E S T I N AT I O N | HA P PE N I N G
Tree Huggers
Sangeet
Baraat
Reception
THE LE PICNIQUE LUNCH IN THE SUN This event was held to have a picnic setting with a European flee market vibe. It had various corners of game stations, a shisha counter, a massage station, a henna station as well as an herb inspired mocktail bar. “We had some of the finest artistes flown from across Europe such as a Digital Caricaturist, who would sketch the pictures of all guests, we had a Magician flown from London to deliver some of his best tricks and Revue Band with their upbeat tracks got the event alive! We also had Tree Huggers flown down to Malta to welcome all guests with a quirky twist. We organised various games that was led by a host, which was also a great hit with all the attendees” – Bhavnesh Sawhney, Director, Wedniksha. SANGEET–A MUSICAL Wedniksha conceptualised and scripted the entire event integrating all the family members and performances, which really set off this successful evening. After an array of family performances and roasts of some of the Bride and Groom’s close friends, one of the most renowned singers from Punjabi Music genre, Sukhbir, pumped up the crowd and set the stage on fire along with the Drumline drummers. BAND BAJA BARAAT &THE CLASSY RECEPTION The Reception was set at a heritage property recognised by UNESCO called the Saluting Battery, situated at Valletta, the capital of Malta. The Baraat Procession began from a point about a few minutes from the venue, which had Sukhbir once again getting the crowd excited, accompanied by one of the best dholwalas from London called Drumline. There was a moving DJ truck with DJ
Sameer and DJ AJ on it as well. At the reception we had the Bride and Groom’s seven vows said by their seven best friends and there was a cannon fire followed after each vow that gave a dramatic feel to this beautiful romanticism. "We also had fireworks across the sky to celebrate this holy unification. The key highlight of the night was the performance by Ustaad Raahat Fateh Ali Khan, popularly known as the epitome of Sufi music", says Bhavnesh Sawhney, Director, Wedniksha.
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alta being a mesmerising destination presented us with a wonderful experience in organising a rather remarkable wedding celebration. The venues were stunning, cultures so diverse, and people, extremely welcoming and hospitable.” BHAVNESH SAWHNEY Director, Wedniksha J A N U A R Y – J U N E 2 01 8 | E x C e l
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D E S T I N AT I O N | HAPPENI NG
A Vibrant Wedding Where Royalty Meets Eclecticism ELIE BERCHAN DESIGNS A ROYAL WEDDING WITH A TOUCH OF COLOUR IN MÖVENPICK HOTEL & RESORT, BEIRUT.
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lie Berchan’s creative team won hearts by doing this wedding on July 21, 2017 at Mövenpick Hotel & Resort, Beirut with an exceptionally unique amalgamation of themes. The couple wanted to host a royal wedding, with a touch of bold colours. Perfect for showing elegance and style at the same time, a fusion between royal and eclectic was chosen by the couple. Being two very different themes, Royal and Eclectic were the perfect fusion for this gorgeous wedding. The main colour used by the team for this celebration was pink in several shades. “As you can see in the images, we tried to keep the royal touch while adding a blast of colours, we felt this matched the couple’s personality perfectly.”
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D E S T I N AT I O N | HA P PE N I N G
After having worked with this couple for over 6 months the team slowly got to know the couple better, which helped them to execute their wedding as perfectly as they desired. “The young, vibrant, and refined couple wanted to create an experience that can best match the traits they share. After having several meetings, we finally reached this wedding theme that was a perfect blend of both, the wedding and the couple; A Royal Wedding with a Touch of Colour or Royal Eclectic as you may call it was chosen.” The experience created was a nice harmony of a modern, young, and royal twist. This theme also creates the solution that many couples like to implement these days -keeping things elegant and classy, while implementing a nice and new twist to the complete decor. The couple received the experience that they were hoping for – anelegant wedding that was still vibrant and fresh. The bright colour palette had different shades of vibrant colours. Centrepieces were created with setting flowers in unique shapes on each table to add a classy yet quirky touch to the décor. Keeping in mind the royal essence of the wedding theme, the team used gold in furniture and eclecticism in the entire décor.
In every single wedding, we usually outdo ourselves–this is why we are called wedding creators versus wedding organisers. ELIE BERCHAN
Elie Berchan Wedding and Events Creation
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From Pool Party to Dancing Under the Stars, Wedniksha Ensured This Dubai Wedding Had it All!
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ovember 21 commenced on a lavish note with a grand wedding celebration in the deserts of Dubai executed by Wedniksha. The evening of the first day kicked off on a high note with a glorious welcome dinner and dance at the Lake View Restaurant, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht course. Clinton and Band ensured the guests were on their feet and entertained through the evening. The next day, guests enjoyed a pool party organised at the Palazzo Versace Hotel where DJ Teri Miko rocked the floor. The Sangeet ceremony was celebrated later that evening with dinner and dancing under the skies at the Al-Maha Desert Resort and Spa. That was hardly it when Rahat Fateh Ali Khan arrived to marvel the guests with his music and truly they were blown away.
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On the November 23, the couple exchanged vows to embark on their eternal journey. The baraat came in and the ceremony filled with rituals and customs was interestingly held by the pool side. Wedniksha creatively worked on designing this solemn moment into a most immaculate experience not just for the couple and family but also, the guests. The evening of the reception was held at the Hotel Palazzo Versace where the guests were entertained by two of the most popular singing bees of Bollywood – Vishal and Shekhar. The guests truly danced the night away thus, ending the most glamorous affair only to begin a glorious future.
The wedding of Avantika with Devvrat in Dubai has truly been special for us at Wedniksha. It was a great experience, right from it being the first ever buy-out of Hotel Palazzo Versace to having curated the dĂŠcor and entertainment with extravagance. We feel honoured to have had the opportunity to organise this wedding and received such a warm response from the family and guests. BH AVNESH SAWHNEY Director, Wedniksha Wedding Planners
We were very excited to host the Gupta wedding as over the pre-wedding visits and for the entire stay we got to build a special relationship with the families. They are very open hearted and warm which inspired us to do everything in our power to make their experience magical and memorable. For a hotel, there is always a challenge in creating these big events and we are so happy that Palazzo Versace Dubai was the only place that felt right to them. SANDR A TIK AL General Manager, Palazzo Versace Dubai
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D E S T I N AT I O N S | COVE R S TORY
Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority opens doors to Band Baaja Baraat, Indian style! From exclusive 5-star properties, a long list of event planners and decorators to stunning tourist hubs, Bahrain has it all for the perfect destination wedding!
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ITH THE DESTINATION WEDDING INDUSTRY booming, Bahrain is now eying more than a chunky slice of the lavish Indian destination wedding craze. With surreal landscapes and glitzy venues Bahrain can elevate the wedding to a completely new level. An emerging destination, Bahrain is now keen on capitalising on the growing trend for destination weddings and with this aim in mind, the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) was established in 2015 under the Royal Decree number (76) for the year 2015 issued by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of The Kingdom of Bahrain. BTEA has managed to identify that modern weddings are all about making dreams come true. Today’s bride and groom are constantly searching for that dream destination that reflects their personal lifestyle, their search for romance, adventure, novelty. And for couples who share that feeling, a destination wedding in the Kingdom of Bahrain is the best way to go.
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D E S T I N AT I O N S | COVE R S TORY
“In 2016, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) introduced a new project called Bahrain Island Weddings to promote the country as a wedding, engagement and anniversary destination as part of 2016-2018 Tourism strategy. This project is to tackle the Wedding industry and to position Bahrain within Indian wedding market as a prime regional wedding destination. The BTEA is happy to become a part the wedding planning process, organising logistics, venues, suppliers, and industry professionals. In order to ensure success of the project and to deliver the best results, we have formed a dedicated internal team as part of BTEA to work and operationalise the vision. BTEA will bring you the best. They will also manage all government-related logistic. So, if you’re getting married anytime soon, consider hosting your celebrations at the Kingdom of Bahrain. You will thank us for recommending it.” H.E. Shaikh Khaled Bin Humood Al-Khalifa Chief Executive Officer
Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority
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Bahrain boasts of the most attractive wedding venuessuch as the island, desert, heritage, beach and the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). To start with, Bahrain has brought all the direct and indirect Wedding industry stakeholders under a one stop-shop government owned and operated portal www.bahrainislandwedding.com as the first of its kind in the GCC region (Gulf Cooperation Council). Bahrain has a large number of international hotels. Not to mention, the number of modern facilities that make nuptials a sheer pleasure are easily accessible to the hosts as well as the guests. Above all, Bahrain’s friendly nature, open minded, atmosphere history, and tolerance have time and again proven that when it comes to planning the perfect destination wedding, they have you covered. Right from the Visa to the Transport, BTEA has a strong system in place, ensuring the bride and the groom along with the wedding party are completely at ease at every stage of the wedding. A tie-up with Gulf Air makes reaching the destination hassle-free. Apart from offering luxurious 5-star properties for the wedding, Bahrain also has special venues to cater to smaller, more off-beat pre-wedding events. With a complete list of planners, decorators, caterers, logistics, and merchandise suppliers, every aspect of the wedding has been looked into. To name a few of the best properties Bahrain offers: Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, Jumierah Royal Saray, The Ritz-Carlton, ART Rotana Hotel & Resort, Crowne Plaza, Gulf Hotel Convention & Spa, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa, Sheraton Bahrain Hotel, Al Areen Palace & Spa, Downtown Rotana, Golden Tulip Bahrain, 32
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“Bahrain’s friendly nature, open minded and atmosphere history make nuptials a sheer pleasure” Dr. Ali Follad Tourism Advisor
Why should an Indian wedding planner/an Indian family consider Bahrain for their wedding? Relations between India and Bahrain go back generations, with various socio-economic and cultural ties between both countries. Bahrain’s attractive wedding venues such as the island, desert, heritage, beach and the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) make it a perfect choice for any Indian family for their wedding. Moreover, Bahrain’s friendly nature, open minded and atmosphere history make nuptials a sheer pleasure.
InterContinental Regency Bahrain, Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain, The Diplomat Radisson BLU Hotel and Residence & Spa, The Domain Hotel and Spa, The Grove Hotel & Conference Centre Bahrain, and Wyndham Grand Manama. Guests can also choose a beach-front villa, book a private atoll or select offbeat venues like Bahrain International Circuit, Capital Club, and The Royal Golf Club. Additionally, BTEA (Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority) is happy to become a part the wedding planning process, organising logistics, venues, suppliers, and industry professionals. In 2016, BTEA introduced a new project called Bahrain Island Weddings to promote the country as a wedding, engagement and anniversary destination. Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA)’s scope of work includes all sectors related to national tourism affairs in the Kingdom: organize conventions and trade exhibitions in the Kingdom of Bahrain; attract international, regional and local conferences to be hosted in the Kingdom; establish, manage, promote and maintain the Authority’s conventions and exhibitions centres directly or through specialized companies or firms BTEA establishes solely or in partnership with others for the same purpose; grant licenses for conventions and trade exhibitions, supervise and assess them.
What are some of the highlights Bahrain offers to destination wedding seekers? Bahrain sets itself apart from other destinations through various attributes like the flying time from India which is below 4hrs. A large number of international chain of Hotel options. Amazing banquets and various venues for every event make it a most desirable destination to conduct Indian weddings. Which would be a personal favourite location in Bahrain recommended? Manama, the modern capital and largest city in Bahrain, is also a great place to witness our cultural and historical ties with India. You can wander from street to street and you’ll find a bustling and colourful Indian enclave reflecting the Indian Culture in Bahrain. You can also find the delightful religious space of the Hindu Temple of Lord Shri Krishna, which was founded over 200 years ago in Manama Souq. What has been your vision for the Bahrain Island Weddings website? Please share your insights on how the website works and how it benefits planners? Since we started to develop a brand identity called “Island Wedding”, it was vital to develop a website (www.bahrainislandwedding.com) and social media accounts (@bahrainweddings) to act as an A-Z directory of all the leading service providers who have wide experience in their industry. The website is an opportunity for every wedding planner, or any couple interested to have their special ceremony in Bahrain, to explore the diverse service categories and choose the right partner who can help make their event a grand success.
Photos Courtesy: Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and Seven Steps
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Wedding Venue Dubai creates a unique Black & Gold wedding with ‘NO’ Fresh Flowers! Dubai based wedding planning company uses creative ideas to execute this classily lavish Abu Dhabi wedding. Wedding Venue Dubai came up with a classy Gold & Black theme for this extravagant wedding on September 15 at the Aloft Hotel, Abu Dhabi. Not having any fresh flowers on the stage was a peculiar challenge given by the client for this wedding, so Wedding Venue offered its creativity and came up with metal flowers and light bulbs to add an elegant touch to the wedding without using fresh flowers, which is a common practice today! The unique Black & Gold furniture for the wedding created an exquisite style statement. A tunnel of white silk orchids made for an entrance and exceptionally set centrepieces with white & lime coloured flowers added to the beauty of the event.
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D E CO R & D E S I G N | P HOTO F E ATUR E
In order to create an impact we had to add a decor element. We came up with lighting bulb strips suspended in different heights and added iron flowers in gold finish at the bottom to create an impact. R AVNEET K AUR
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This Magical Sangeet by Effects Tech and Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Brings A Fairy Tale to Life
GMR Grounds near Shamshabad Airport in Hyderabad were lit up with the dreamlike Fairy Tale décor theme to celebrate the Sangeet ceremony of Hasini and Anuj. Even as the entire venue was decorated in a fairytale and an enchanted forest theme, the stunning bride-to-be cast a spell on friends and family dressed in a stunning princess gown designed by a Dubai based fashion designer. A magical castle was designed with entry points decorated with mirror hangings. The dining area was styled with different mirrors for illusions and creative reflections. Decorated with metallic painted mesh, the craftsmanship of the décor was not only out of the box in reference to the ideation but also a very creative choice. The venue was filled with mirror walls and flower-like mushrooms made from acrylic for a one of a kind experience. Top celebrities and Bollywood biggies including Shiamak Davar, Karan Johar, Vaani Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Nargis Fakhri attended the lavish sangeet.
It was a magical event and working together with Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla was an amazing experience. SAROSH PATEL Director, Effects Tech
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D E CO R & D E S I G N | HAPPENI NG
Tamarind Global Partners Sumant Jayakrishnan To Cast A Magic Spell On This Lavish Wedding The Tirupati inspired theme wedding was styled by Sumant Jayakrishnan and executed by Tamarind Global. A royal traditional wedding ceremony and reception at the GMR Grounds, Hyderabad was flawlessly put together by Tamarind Global, on September 23, 2017. Sumant Jayakrishnan was brought on as the Décor Designer, where the décor elements followed the royal and traditional theme, which included, beautiful floral décor, lotus motifs, Tirupati and Mysore Palace influences with a grand dinner area setup. The wedding saw 17,000 sq. ft. of production, where the barren GMR ground was converted into a marvel in just 20 days of setup time with over 500 workers. A 1,57,000 sq. ft. of a support-less hangar was created with a height of 75ft. The buffet layout was 1,200 feet long and the dessert counters spanned 200 feet. Parking was created for over 3,500 cars. The outside facade at the entrance was made with 109 lit temple tops and the inside was divided into elaborate sections for a dinner seating, VIP areas, and a royal entrance with elaborate floral pillars. The entrance also displayed 2 giant 36 feet lion structures on either side welcoming the guests. 40
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The entire theme and inspiration was taken from Tirupati with the lotus being the key motif. The dining area was inspired by Mysore Palace and had a two tiered Mezzanine created to accommodate 300+ people. The highlight was the stunning lotus mandapam of 42ft x 42ft, which was situated inside a water body 7,500 sq. ft. big with 1,80,000 litres of water and surrounded by 4 lotus structures which surrounded the 18ft dais on which 109 pandits sat chanting through the ceremony. A total of 5000+ diyas across the venue, over 5000 light fixtures and 200+ chandeliers interspersed with string art and florals which created a spectacular effect. A giant Gopuram of 47 feet was created between the mandap and dining area. Top VVIPs from CMs to Governors attended the function. The entertainment featured traditional music and pandits chanting - music was specially curated for the entire function. The catering was provided by Foodlinks and the function saw close to 10,000 guests in attendance.
This was one of the most challenging projects as we were working against time but managed to create a massive 17000 sq.ft. grand setup in the span of 20 days on a completely barren ground. The final output was quite striking. KUNAL R AI Head-Wedding & Events Tamarind Global
The South Indian Temple, it’s surrounding Temple Tank alongside elements of the lotus were the main sources of inspiration for the mandap and the main space. The interpretation was very modern, with an underlying sense of lightness guided by flame and light guiding the design detail and design vocabulary. In contrast, the peacock and the Mysore Palace structures were the source of inspiration for the dining space. This time, the sense of lightness of being was achieved by the use of mirror and ribbon work within the design. SUM ANT JAYAKRISHNAN J A N U A R Y – J U N E 2 01 8 | E x C e l
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A Breathtaking Mexico Destination Wedding With Mesmerising Decor By L'Escape
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IVYA AND ANAND’S glamorous wedding was planned by L’Escape Destination Weddings. And the mastermind behind this magnificent wedding was L’Escape’s power couple–Jasprit Kaul and Raun Kaul. And who better than the very own wedding planner taking us through this gorgeous union? Here is take on the wedding by the couple: The bride and groom were so incredibly beautiful and their bond so strong, on all accounts this wedding was breath-taking. It truly was unrivalled for the region and remains one of the most talked about Indian Weddings in Mexico. I can remember every detail of this wedding but my fondest memory was when I walked into the bridal suite and saw Divya veiled in her custom designed Archana Kochhar wedding lehenga. I literally gasped, I was so taken in by her beauty. THE CAPTIVATING DÉCOR! The Sangeet decor was styled to accommodate an evening of dance performances. Located on a roof top terrace with an open view to the sky, the couple set up a gigantic LED screen and performance stage overlooking the resort property. The styling rivalled any great event. The bride and groom arrived dancing on the bow of
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the boat and made a grand entrance. The evening started with a flavoured Mojito Bar with fresh hand muddled Mojitos and finished with a grand dinner served in the ballroom. Divya always dreamed about having a lotus-inspired mandap. The challenge was how to create that vision and still honour the tropical environment in which the couple had decided to host their wedding. The beachfront Mexican Palapa located at the luxurious Rosewood Mayakoba Resort, in which the couple were married was nestled on the sandy beach. With both production and logistical challenges the finished look for Anand and Divya’s wedding was a magnificently lush floral backdrop designed in the shape of a lotus symbol set against billowing white fabric panels. A lush floral canopy hung over the entire mandap area so that the couple were married under a bed of florals. The Palapa was completely converted into an elegant ceremony space. For the couple’s wedding reception, the vision was to convert the organic/natural Palapa into an elegant reception venue rivalling even the most beautiful ballrooms. With a combination of mirror tables and luxury linens accented by opulent floral details the guests were transported to a magical and uniquely styled beach front locale.
D E CO R & D E S I G N | F E ATUR E
It was important to bring this beautiful couple’s wedding dreams to life. This is not always an easy task when working in destination locales as access to supplies and decor is limited. To meet the client’s expectations many components had to be shipped from the USA into Mexico which comes with a different set of logistical challenges. This couple’s vision was unique, they set the bar for luxury weddings in the Mayakoba area. They proved that anything is possible, you just have to dream it! Jasprit Kaul and Raun Kaul
E N T E RTA I N M E N T | I NSP I R ATI ON
OMAGGIO Creates Mesmerising Aerial Acts for Weddings & Social Events
“For me the maths and physics behind setting up a rigging line, helps me imagine the amazing possibilities for a performance”, says Tino Sanchez, Director, Omaggio. Tino Sanchez has been a household name in the musical theatre business in Spain and Mexico for years. With an outstanding career in London at the Westend, he has choreographed and directed acclaimed musicals which continued to have a successful run. Passionate in the artistic development of Omaggio – a performance company at par with the world, made in India with young Indian artists. With his expertise and global experience, Omaggio now offers the Indian market an International performance product at affordable rates and low cost logistics. Aerial acts work best for pre-wedding functions and wedding ambiences. The ideation process is totally dependent on the needs of the client. For this, Tino adds 20 years of his experience and creates flying magic. Aerial acts are customised as per the requirement of the client. The venue plays an important role for an aerial act. A minimum clear height of 16 feet is needed. A box truss can be put up for rigging up the aerial lines. The aerial act can be combined with dance or video interaction or even live music. Tapping into the needs of the event market today, the client is always looking for spectacular imagery. In step with these needs, Tino started to first train and develop his performers for few years in skills like aerial silks, hoop, flying bridge, trapeze, and vertical wall dance alongside developing this acrobatic skill set, and they were also trained in rigging and set up for the aerial acts. He himself trained from aerial rigging experts in Spain and attended workshops in easy and effective new age rigging techniques. A UK based pro rigger David Greeves also gave Omaggio team various workshops and continues to help build Omaggio´s vast aerial acts.
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Tino insisted on the purchase of all Omaggio equipment from Spain a leader in this industry and his home country. Every piece of equipment is not only certified but also with in the usage time frames for the optimum performance of these products. “For me the maths and physics behind setting up a rigging line, helps me imagine the amazing possibilities for a performance”, he continues on passionately “Without the use of high tech motors to create flying movements in aerials actsthe key is to really enjoy and understand the rigging process with all its innumerable possibilities.” He personally loves the organic feel of counter weight systems as opposed to the mechanical effects of a motorised system. This also suits the budgets of many agencies who want to offer their client something special at a reasonable price. An inspiring mix of hours of training, high fitness levels, creating new permutations for rigging lines, and pushing the bar each day is what makes an Omaggio Aerial act designed by Tino, a spectacle. He surprised all the event companies at EEMAX 2017 with an innovative and entertaining aerial act and received the best compliments from EEMA ex- president Brian Tellis as well as EEMA President Sabbas Joseph. Offering out of the box performance for weddings, social and corporate events Omaggio strives at performing for many more events.
E N T E RTA I N M E N T | P OIN T o f V I E W
Shibani Kashyap Discusses Creative Customizations and Unique Collaborations for Every Event!
In an exclusive interview with EVENTFAQS Media, Shibani Kashyap discusses her act, how it can be precisely curated to suit every event type including weddings and also how she ensures her music remains relevant and innovative. Excerpts below: What according to you sets you apart as a LIVE performer? I’m not just a singer, I’m a composer and also play guitar. So I can do unplugged gigs with just me and the guitar, when an event demands a tighter set-up. When I perform with my band, I play my Yamaha silent guitar series which is ideal for a stage performance. I sometimes team up with 2 female violinists on stage combined with my guitar sounds very unique! Moreover, my performance repertoire has a lot of variety: I perform Sufi, Jazz, English classic, Bollywood, EDM, Punjabi Folk and even Bengali. I like to innovate with different genres, for instance I have created a new property: Bolly Jazz, which is a mash up of old Bollywood songs with jazz classics. How is your act customizable to different formats of an event? For a large concert I use a six piece band, along with two chorus singers and eight dancers, and we add in special props, so it not only sounds powerful but also looks visually attractive. For smaller concerts, we can downsize it to just me with a six or a five piece band, me with six dancers also makes for a great visual and aural set. If it’s a very intimate setting, then I use a very organic unplugged sound: Three musicians in addition to myself on the guitar and vocals. The musicians would be one Cajon player, a saxophone player and one bass guitarist. This sounds soulful!
If it’s a very small stage then it’s just me and my guitar, unplugged and real! My Recent Jazz Band Set Up: I am very delighted that I had the opportunity to launch as the headline performer at the WOW AWARDS ASIA 2017, held in New Delhi recently. Apart from singing old and new jazz classics, I also blend old Hindi film songs to add a sense of nostalgia along with an English jazz song. I have been getting an amazing response for this act. It is ideal for award shows, corporate launches, pre-wedding functions and auditorium concerts. What is your take on collaborations with other artists? Have you been part of collaborations in the past? I have collaborated with Mika Singh in a song called Soneya where I sang Punjabi for the first time, and the song brought me a lot of popularity. I recently collaborated with an L.A.-based reggae band, called Big Mountain for the song 24 Hours Irresponsible. The music of this song is reggae and the song came out in the Indi Reggae space. I have been getting lots of offers and enquiries after this collaboration. These are 2 very successful collaborations and I plan to do more. Apart from these, I have also teamed up with Sufi artist like Mame Khan, Swaroop Khan and the Nizami Brothers to bring a folk fusion in my act. Have you done any innovative acts or are planning for one, which could be integrated into LIVE events? Yes, I have done a very innovative and interesting act in New Delhi. I teamed up with the famous qawaals: The Niazi Nizami Brothers, and performed a Jazz Qawaali session, to promote and globalize Qawaali and Sufi music! As Jazz is like a dialogue and Qawaali is also like a dialogue, it’s an expression of the thought that both the forms of music are somewhere related to each other. J A N U A R Y – J U N E 2 01 8 | E x C e l
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I N D U S T R Y WATC H | I N FOCUS
(L-R) Ali Bakhtiar, Mahesh Shirodkar, Rajeev Jain, Dr. Ali Hassan Follad and Kainaz Sethna
The ExCel Summit at WOW 2017 Inspires Audiences with Fascinating Insights & Delightful Case Studies Much like in its previous edition, The Experiential Celebrations (ExCel) Summit at WOW 2017 once again drew insights and celebrated successful case studies that inspired and set new benchmarks for the Wedding and Social Events industry.
MAHESH SHIRODKAR Managing Director Tamarind Global
The summit consisted of two sessions this year that included a panel discussion and a case study presentation featuring some of the best work done in the Indian weddings domain. PLANNING DESTINATION WEDDINGS IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY Moderated by Rajeev Jain, Director, Rashi Entertainment, this session looked at factors to be considered when planning weddings in an unfamiliar destination. This session was powered by Bahrain Island Weddings, the specialised wedding promotion division for Bahrain. Speakers for the session included Mahesh Shirodkar, Managing Director, Tamarind Global; Kainaz Sethna, Co-founder, and Director, Seven Steps; Ali Bakhtiar, Director, Al Bakhtiar Designs; and Dr. Ali Hasan Follad, Adviser of Tourism, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority. 48
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KAINAZ SETHNA
Co-founder, and Director Seven Steps
I N D U S T R Y WATC H | IN F O CUS The common thread and case study connecting all panelists in this session was the recently executed Mehta-wedding planned by Seven Steps and Tamarind Global jointly, in Bahrain, with Ali Bakhtiar as the specialised décor expert on the project. The wedding was executed with the specialised support of the Bahrain Government with Dr. Ali Hasan Follad as the main point of contact. Commenting on Bahrain as a wedding destination, Mahesh Shirodkar, explained, “Bahrain turned out to be a pleasant surprise as a wedding destination. As Indians, we may not be familiar with the destination, and have some pre-conceived notions on conservativeness etc. But I’d like to point out that this is in fact not true at all, and we had tremendous flexibility while managing this project.” Kainaz Sethna, Seven Steps added, “When you collaborate and have the right support in a destination, I think that’s the most important aspect to elegant the experience. The possibilities are endless when there’s initiative from the destination as well. That’s exactly what we experienced in Bahrain.”
ALI BAKHTIAR
Director Al Bakhtiar Designs
Showcasing the enhanced partnership that the government is offering, Dr. Ali Hasan Follad, explained, “We want to encourage Indian Weddings in Bahrain, and I will tell everyone here the same thing I mentioned to the Mehta-Family: We will treat the wedding as our own family’s wedding, and our support will reflect exactly this!” Moving forward on the topic of Unfamiliar / Off-beat destinations to host weddings in, Ali Bakhtiar spoke about the importance of having global expertise and the production capabilities to execute exception décor concepts in such destinations. He explained, “Ali Bakhtiar Productions has facilities in the Middle East and in Europe, which makes us exceptionally poised to not only bring in our design capabilities but also ensure the correct value in producing these designs.”
ABHISHEK KAUSHIK Director Designs by Abhishek
DR. ALI HASSAN FOLLAD
Adviser of Tourism, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority
DISCOVERING DESIGN EXPERTS@WOW 2017 Curated by Aarti Manocha, Founder & Director, MtoM Events, the objective of this session was for the audience to get an insight from a varied set of Design Experts in the Wedding space. Each of the 5 speaker’s presented a unique concept/brief for a challenging wedding design project they were involved in and showcased their décor ideation and execution process. Abhishek Kaushik, Director, Designs by Abhishek presented his unique expertise on The Art of Engaging guests with especially curated Decor and Design, from the moment they arrive at a celebration. The importance of creating memories by involving your guests with experiences they can share. Ali Bakhtiar of Ali Bakhtiar Designs LLC with over 20 years of experience in weddings and events, interior design and architecture, took the audience through a never seen before, exclusive, high-end Royal Wedding. Nafisa Sheikh, Founder, and Owner, Purple Tree Events showcased how personalization, and customization in wedding celebrations can have many interesting manifestations, if paid careful attention to! Vishal Chand, Co-founder, Wedding Duo; showcased a unique scenario, a challenging one actually, when the client gives no particular ‘brief’, how one can still create a palette of ideas, and have it manifested beautifully in design. Anushree Agarwal, Director, Theme Weaver Designs, presented the unique planning, décor and execution details of her most challenging project, her own wedding!
NAFISA SHEIKH Founder and Owner Purple Tree Events
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I N D U S T R Y WATC H | I N FOCUS
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Wedding Duo
Motwane Entertainment & Weddings
WeddingNama
Jodi Clickers
Salt Experiences & Management Pvt. Ltd
YS Design Studio
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I N D U S T R Y WATC H | IN F O CUS 44. ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN FOR AN INTIMATE WEDDING CELEBRATION Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Antalya Wedding
GOLD
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Barcelona Wedding
SILVER
Krayonz Entertainment
Sagar Weds Subiya
BRONZE
45. ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN FOR A LARGE FORMAT WEDDING CELEBRATION Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Antalya Wedding
GOLD
Motwane Entertainment & Kickstart Entertainment
Jindal & Jasani Wedding in Vienna
SILVER
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Barcelona Wedding
BRONZE
46. ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN FOR A MILESTONE CELEBRATION Salt Experiences & Management Pvt. Ltd.
Hero Argentina Launch
GOLD
Fountainhead MKTG
Aditya Birla Awards For Outstanding Achievement 2016
SILVER
Aura Integrated Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Nasscom
BRONZE
47. F&B EXPERIENCE - CONCEPT, DESIGN, PRESENTATION Rakhee Jain
Lohia Sangeet
GOLD
Rakhee Jain
Lohia Cocktails
SILVER
48. DECOR / AMBIENT DESIGN AT AN INTIMATE WEDDING CELEBRATION Wedding Duo
The Belgian-Style Countryside Ring Ceremony
GOLD
Weddingline Events & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
Akshat & Alisha Wedding Celebrations
SILVER
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Barcelona Wedding
BRONZE
49. DECOR / AMBIENT DESIGN AT A LARGE FORMAT WEDDING CELEBRATION Motwane Entertainment & Weddings
Rajan Doshii Wedding at The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
GOLD
Sky Productions
The Mid-Summer Night Dream Wedding
SILVER
Sky Productions
The Salvador Dali Post-Wedding Party
BRONZE
Tamarind Global & Ali Bakhtiar Designs
Ras Al Khaimah Pre-Wedding
BRONZE
50. DECOR / AMBIENT DESIGN AT A MILESTONE CELEBRATION Motwane Entertainment & Weddings
SS10 Celebrations at Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi
GOLD
Designer Events Inc.
"Once Upon a Tea Time" - Baby Shower by Designer Events Inc.
SILVER
The Wedding House
Celebrating Generations
BRONZE
51. PHOTOGRAPHY OF A SOCIAL / WEDDING CELEBRATION WeddingNama
MissSFVirtualWedding
GOLD
WeddingNama
Forever Starts Today
SILVER
WeddingNama
Walk with Me
BRONZE
52. VIDEOGRAPHY OF A SOCIAL / WEDDING CELEBRATION Jodi Clickers
Harsh & Priyanka's Wedding Cinematography
GOLD
Jodi Clickers
1920s Gatsby Style Cocktail - A Film By Ramit Batra
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Ram Bherwani Productions
Kamal Weds Palak
BRONZE
Ram Bherwani Productions
Palomi Weds Romil
BRONZE
53. INVITATION / MERCHANDISE FOR A SOCIAL / WEDDING CELEBRATION YS Design Studio
Journey of a Lifetime
GOLD
Pink Whistle Man
Letters of Ipshita and Som
SILVER
Pink Whistle Man
Karan and Aparna - Eco Wedding
BRONZE
54. USE / INTEGRATION OF A DESTINATION FOR A SOCIAL / WEDDING CELEBRATION Motwane Entertainment & Wedding and The Wedding Design Company
Jindal & Jasani Wedding in Vienna
GOLD
Motwane Entertainment & Weddings
SS10 Celebrations at Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi
SILVER
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Barcelona Wedding
BRONZE
55. USE OF EXPERIENTIAL / NON-TRADITIONAL VENUE FOR A SOCIAL / WEDDING CELEBRATION Motwane Entertainment & Wedding and The Wedding Design Company
Jindal & Jasani Wedding in Vienna
GOLD
Wed Gurus
The Spectacular GVK Reddy Wedding
GOLD
Motwane Entertainment & Weddings
Meera & Prashant's Wedding At Lio, Ibiza
SILVER
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Barcelona Wedding
SILVER
Gandhi Corporation
The Grand Indoor Wedding
BRONZE
56. INTEGRATED EXPERIENCE (THEME INTEGRATION THROUGH ALL ASPECTS) Motwane Entertainment & Wedding and The Wedding Design Company
Jindal & Jasani Wedding in Vienna
GOLD
Wedniksha Wedding Planners Pvt. Ltd.
Antalya Wedding
SILVER
Wed Gurus
The Spectacular GVK Reddy Wedding
BRONZE
57. INNOVATIVE USE OF AVL TECHNOLOGY AT A SOCIAL / WEDDING CELEBRATION Wed Gurus
The Spectacular GVK Reddy Wedding
GOLD
58. EXPERIENTIAL CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR Motwane Entertainment & Wedding and The Wedding Design Company
Jindal & Jasani Wedding in Vienna
GOLD
Wed Gurus
The Spectacular GVK Reddy Wedding
SILVER
Sky Productions
The Gigantic Udaipur Wedding
BRONZE
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I N D U S T R Y WATC H | I N FOCUS
ICWF 2017 Showcases & Celebrates the Best in the World of Weddings
With over 450 delegates in attendance and a horde of top national and international speakers from the wedding industry sharing the tricks & insights behind their craft, the 5th edition of the International Convention of the Wedding Fraternity (ICWF) closed curtains on a high note. The convention was organized at Andaz Delhi from July 21 to 23, alongside ICWF’s flagship awards property, the Great Indian Wedding Awards (GIWA) that celebrated excellence and outstanding performance across a wide range of categories in the experiential domain. ICWF is an initiative of the 5 Guys Project and is supported by Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA). The Co-conveners of ICWF are Samit Garg, Jaideep Singh, Mandeep Malhotra, Atul Nath, Rajesh Varma, Jai Thakore and Pritesh Sharma. Gitikka Ganju Dhar carried forward the proceedings of the convention as it’s hostess as well as content curator for the third time in a row. THE CONVENTION, SPEAKERS, AND SESSIONS While Day 1 of the convention was set aside for registrations and various networking events in the evening, Day 2 saw the conference begin with a welcome note by Samit GargDirector, E Factor Entertainment, followed by an address by Hedo Siebs, GM, Andaz Delhi. Sabbas Joseph- Director, Wizcraft International and President- EEMA rendered the opening address, following which the rest of sessions proceeded. Some of the top Indian and international speakers at ICWF this year were Colin Cowie, Tom Wolfe, Tomas De Bruyne, Sefa Yamak, Shiamak Davar, Jai Thakore, Benny Avisar, Ameya Dabli, Nitin Sood, and Emin Chakmak. The topics of the various sessions at ICWF included- Lifestyle in Wedding Design; In Vogue: Trends in the Realm of Weddings; Theatre in Bollywood Formats; There is Bengal 52
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Everywhere: Inspirations from the East; The Treasure of the Balkan; Be Different, Be Original: The Theory of Design; Art & Fashion in Food; From the Winner’s Table; Money Matters; Scholaring Talent; The Perfect Pictures are not so Perfect; and Monetisation in Weddings: to be or not to be. The convention was high on entertainment as well as artists Vipin Aneja, Thaikudum Bridge, Shadab Faridi and Ash King took to the stage and gave scintillating performances. GREAT INDIAN WEDDING AWARDS GIWA 2017 received around 500 entries across 25 categories. Big winners from the evening were: Cupcake Productions, YS Design Studio, Marriageuana, Aashishtaj Photography, Meraki Luxury Hotels, HRH Group of Hotels, Studio Neelabh, AP Events, Ankita Chugh Weddings & Events, Amaahyaj, Pink Whistle Man, Momentum Group, Dezinz era, Milestones to Memories, Puneet Gupta Invitations, Jodi Clickers, Cake Design Company, Rainmaker Events and Entertainments, Gandhi Corporation, Taluka Tent Decorators, XTRAVAGANT & Fragrance Flower, WeddingNama, Mundota Fort and Palace, Touchwood Group, Rashi Entertainment, Poojan Décor, HR Films, CineLove by Luxmi Studio, WEDgurus, Spark Events, Rakhee Jain Designs, Allure, a2z Events Promotion Entertainment, House on the Clouds, Event tadka, Fairmont Hotel Jaipur, Makeupbymanjari, Aradhana Khanna Makeup, MEW, WDC, Ram Bherwani Productions, Wedding Umbrella, Purple Tree Event Solutins, Key Events, Cineyug Celebrations, Le Chaat Factory, Eclairs, Dance Era, and Meeta Kochar. The partners and sponsors of ICWF 2017 and GIWA 2017 were: Main Sponsor - Turkey Home; Associate Sponsor Weizmann Forex Limited; GIWA Trophy Sponsor – Swarovski; Hospitality Partner – Andaz Delhi By Hyatt; Celebration Partner- Ardware Music; Ernst & Young – Official Tabulators; Community Partner – WedWise; and Online Media Partner – Shaadi TV Live.
V E N U E S | INSP I R ATI ON
This Kolkata Engagement Planned By Cineyug Will Make You Believe in Fairytales Anant Goenka & Garima Bajaj’s engagement at the Nicco Park Ballroom, Kolkata, was an event adorned with a unique yet elegant Sufi theme! The engagement ceremony of Anant & Garima was on August 4, 2017. It was a Sufi night theme event, for which the décor was done by Henna Patel. The event began in the evening around 6:00 pm and went on until late hours at night. The guests enjoyed soulful Sufi music sung by the very talented Raja Hasan. The décor was a soothing combination of plush green & orange with a hint of gold, where while the bar was designed in a forest theme design. The ceiling of the entrance was beautified with suspended white flowers, adding to the Sufi theme were the Moroccan doorways that paved way for guests to enter the fairy-lit space. Anant and Garima presented a magnificent entrance for an exquisite entry that had Sufi dancers dancing around them holding hand pyros. The artist, Raja Hasan, mesmerized the audiences with his soulful Sufi melodies, sending the guests into a trance, wishing the music never end. The engagement ceremony was followed by a grand three-tier white cake & magnificent gold confetti blast, accompanied by drinks. In terms of the food, it was a global treat, from famous regional Indian delicacies to Italian, Chinese, American live counters, the delicacies were not only a feast for the eyes but also the stomach. A whole section was dedicated to desserts, a variety of native sweets, western cakes & pies. The hosts left no stone unturned in serving the best to their guests. 56
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V E N U E S | IN S P IR ATI O N
As the Goenka family adds another leaf to its dynamic family tree, Anant & Garima’s engagement marks the beginning of a charismatic journey of splendour & enigma. Pulled off effortlessly by team Cineyug Celebrations & set in the backdrop of soulful Sufi theme, it was a night to remember. NOUREEN MOR ANI Business Head, Cineyug Celebrations
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V E N U E S | P HOTO F E AT U RE
MR. P.P. REDDY’S 60TH BIRTHDAY BASH Saw Mushtaq Ali from Celebrations transform a Business Center into a Lavish Happening The 60th birthday celebration of Mr. P.P. Reddy was held in Hyderabad, where the Hitex Exhibition Center was transformed completely for the occasion. The birthday bash was designed by Mushtaq Ali-Celebrations and saw eminent Tollywood personalities in attendance. Keeping in mind the flamboyant lifestyle of Mr. Reddy, Celebrations designed an Artdeco theme and worked with black, gold, white, red, and purple palette for the décor. The walkway was adorned with chandeliers and with laser-cut side panels. Highlighting the age, a life-size ‘60’ was created with light bulbs, as a photo op. The stage was of two levels; designed with in-lit lasercut panels with a giant chandelier at the center. A diamond shape throne made of mirrors was also placed on the lower-level of the stage for the grand entry of Mr. P.P. Reddy. Giant stairs led to the higher-level of the stage. The venue had two bars, an in-lit laser cut island bar of 30X30 feet and a VIP molecular bar. The dining area had different kinds of seating arrangements so that guests could enjoy the whole lavish buffet spread. Making the whole celebration splendid and mesmerising, Mushtaq Ali of Celebrations stunned everyone with his creativity!
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V E N U E S | P HOTO F E ATUR E
The theme decided was Art Décor and Great Gatsby, so everything the client wanted was larger than life. Inspired by Mr. Shetty’s flamboyant lifestyle, we chose the event to be blingy, glittery and in gold colours. The focal point of the décor was the stage and the chandelier – replicated by the Turkish Hagia Sophia. It was a challenge for us, because 60th birthday is a special occasion and we wanted to make it memorable. And with added effort slowly and steadily we planned everything and it was a hit, which made us feel proud of our team and hard work. MUSHTAQ ALI J A N U A R Y – J U N E 2 01 8 | E x C e l
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V E N U E S | FE AT URE
Taj Wedding Studio Showcases the Best in the Wedding Industry With A Taj Mahal-Dome Inspired, Tarun Tahiliani Showstopper at the show!
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HE TAJ WEDDING STUDIO, a platform to bring guests and wedding planners to speed on trends and what is timeless about weddings, presented everything one would need to plan a bespoke wedding. With the help of curated experiences with major brands in the wedding industry, Taj allows guests to plan their weddings in the most unique way and experience the glory of the best moments at the same time. The event saw industry experts talking about the strengths of the Taj brand, which include destination weddings, banquet trends, planning celebrity weddings, menu planning, food and beverage pairings. INTRODUCING THE TAJ WEDDING STUDIO Taj is synonymous with luxurious hospitality and for more than a century, it has brought together the unique beauty and traditions from across India in an experience. The Taj Wedding Studio inspires creativity in every aspect of wedding celebrations. And along with the partners and patrons who expect nothing but the very best, the Studio crafts meticulously curated experiences that are deeply rooted in authenticity.
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WHAT IS THE TAJ WEDDING STUDIO? Each session at the event helped in planning a wedding in an intimate setting exclusively for Taj patrons. The Taj Wedding Studio showcased exclusive access to the very best of every element that makes a wedding or celebration a lifelong memory. The ‘by invitation only’ event featured handpicked leaders from not only the host city but also from across the globe via a mix of experience zones, showcases, installations as well as one-to-one dialogues. The Taj Wedding Studio witnessed attendance by the best wedding planners, the right TG who are planning weddings and brands who make weddings special. Each panel discussion and master class at this event brought Taj's strength to the forefront. Tarun Tahiliani-a key fashion designer presented a Taj Inspired Clothing line too. “Inspiring Creativity in every aspect of wedding celebrations, just as you imagined”, is the overarching thought behind Taj Wedding Studios. The event hopes to meet over 50 business to business brands and 250 customers.
V E N U E S | F E ATUR E
The Taj Wedding Studio culminated with its inaugural edition, in which it was showcased how weddings can now be tailor-made to luxurious new heights, at the Taj Lands End in Mumbai on October 31.
shining with stamped spun sugar, platters of mithai shimmering with edible crystals, and the fragrant notes of mogra wafting from the gorgeous, towering floral confections–created an exquisitely delicate effect that made one believes in fairytale weddings.
As a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, the recently launched platform by the Taj Group of Hotels and Resorts, infused creativity into weddings and promised to turn this celebration into a lifelong memory. The Wedding Studio blended timeless style, impeccable service, sophisticated decor that go beyond expectations and signature luxury. It brought together the finest nuances of a wedding celebration with a unique flair which is the hallmark of Taj and is inspired by the experts in the industry.
Speaking at the event, were Amit Chowdhury, executive chef at the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai and Director of Catering; William Spinner from The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York; Tarun Tahiliani, Vandana Mohan, Kainaz Sethna, Mahesh Shirodkar, Adhuna Bhabani, Pernia Qureshi, Minal Bajaj, Chinmai Sharma, and Parveen Chander were among the panelists attending the event.
The finest from this industry spoke at panel discussions and shared views with guests on new trends, and how space is evolving. Audiences were enlightened with insightful master classes and live demonstrations that covered 360 degrees of wedding curation. Carefully ornamented space of The Wedding Studio glowed like a bride at the Taj Lands End. The decor chosen for the studio was an authentic reflection of the grandeur of an Indian wedding matches with the impeccable Taj hospitality. In the main ballroom, a 45-feet trestle table took pride of place, adorned with goodies perfectly chiseled pastel macaroons stacked high, croquembouche
The guests at the launch event also experienced a fusion that celebrated style and sophistication at Tarun Tahilian’s latest collection called ‘Tarkanna’. The elegant, yet striking showstopper lehenga reflected inspiration from the signature Florentine dome of The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. The fashion show with its fitting resonance with the Taj brand, made for the perfect finish to the event. All in all, this inaugural edition of the Taj Wedding Studio exuberated opulence, style, and finesse while showcasing expertise and the best of the best from the wedding industry in the most Experiential manner.
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P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | HAPPE N IN G
Cappadocia & Paris Make this Pre-wedding Photoshoot As Magical As a Fairytale WeddingNama brings Ravina and Aaditya’s dream come true with a unique pre-wedding photoshoot.
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avina & Aaditya wanted a fairytale photoshoot in the world’s most romantic city, Paris. Usually couples hire local photographers but these two liked WeddingNama’s work and wanted them to take their pictures. So the save the date shoot was planned in Cappadocia, Turkey, and a pre wedding photoshoot in Paris. To make sure that the photographs looked unique, the couple and photographers had many discussions including dress selection, location recce, etc before they kick-start. The couple got married in Mumbai and had a 3000 people sangeet function in NSCI, Dome, the scale of which, is unparalleled till date. “Their Cappadocia & Paris shoot videos were played at Dome and everyone was awestruck!” said Ankita. When asked how the pre-wedding photoshoot experience was for the bride, Ravina said, “We wanted to do something really different for our wedding shoot. We were tired seeing the same old indoor photoshoot pictures. We just thought of doing something 62
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different other than the usual and Ankita and Akash from WeddingNama helped us execute it. It was the most beautiful feeling! Only and only having a photo shoot in Paris would create memories for a lifetime! Saying yes to Paris was definitely faster than saying yes to marriage! Haha! Because Aaditya loves traveling and discovering new places. The most special and unforgettable memory was when we both ran along with our photographers and team to catch the Eiffel Tower lights which shines hourly just for 5 minutes! It took us 3 minutes to reach the spot and we managed getting our best shots in the last 2 minutes. How the couple found WeddingNama; Ravina explained, “We were going through Instagram to check the profile of various photographers and we spotted WeddingNama there. By seeing only a few pictures I was very sure who I want to select as my photographer. But I gained a lot more confidence when I met them. It was a fabulous experience with them, they made every shot look magical. I can't believe it's been 1 and half year to our marriage but our shoot is yet remembered as the top destination photo shoot! All thanks to Aaditya for making it happen and Ankita & Akash for making the most of it!"
P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | HA P PE N I N G
Earlier, people used to travel within their own country and shoots never lasted for more than a day. Nowadays, shoots can last anywhere between 3-10 days! People want their photographs/films to look different from the usual and WeddingNama wants to make this happen for them. Location plays a major role in this. There is extensive travel involved and a lot of research goes into finding the perfect location. For instance, we found out about the amazing landscape of Cappadocia and how the hot air balloons rise up together at the same time every day. Till date no one else has gone there for a couple shoot. ANKITA ASTHANA Founder, WeddingNama
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P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | I NSP IRAT ION
Badal and Raja Jain Share Trending Photography Moments From 2017
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EDDING PHOTOGRAPHY has evolved and become extremely glamorous. And for Badal and Raja Jain, who have made a mark in this industry, it is all about capturing moments and converting them into memories that are filled with love and laughter. As we know photography trends are changing every day, Badal and Raja Jain share the trends of 2017, which were done using drones for faraway shots, bridal portraits for the royal Indian brides, wedding hashtags for a quirky effect, lost in love photography for all the lovebirds, first look photos, story tales of the bride, groom and their families, the trending technique of OCF (Off-camera flash) or strobes to capture amazing pictures, and the adorable wedding proposal photography.
We promise our style will never command and control but just capture the day as it unfolds–it is a day for you to enjoy first of all. BADAL AND R AJA JAIN
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P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | IN S P IR ATI O N
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P H OTO G R A P H Y & F I L M I N G | I N FOC U S
Reels & Frames by Anand Rathi Executes A Unique Save the Date with Stop Motion Animation! The couple met in an arranged marriage setup (though it hardly seems so given their chemistry). As both of them have a keen eye for visual art, they wanted their wedding invitation to be something visually appealing and not the regular pictures or videos. The more time Reels & Frames spent with the couple the more they realised that they have some unique differences. The inspiration for the save the date was the Target stop motion commercial. While the production value is extremely high and these kinds of concepts are usually limited to commercials and film, the team decided to take a stab at it. The most challenging part was putting the script together because that ties up the whole story. The shoot was also challenging because the couple had to shoot for 10 hours straight for two days while lying on their back. Other challenges included rotoscoping animation and illustration. “We underestimated the work required but fortunately solid teamwork pulled it through, continues Anand Rathi.
We wanted their friends and family to know about their personalities, announce their wedding and keep it fun and quirky while doing this. ANAND R ATHI Founder, Reels & Frames
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M E R C H A N D I S E & I N V I TAT I O N | IN S P IR ATI O N
A look at Trending Wedding Invites, with Puneet Gupta – The Master of Exquisite Invites
If you think, glittery diamond studded invites are ‘in’, think again as Puneet Gupta is here to surprise you with trendy wedding invites. After a plethora of elegant and simple wedding invites ruling the market, it’s now time to add some quirkiness to the wedding, with invitations. The gorgeous water colour invites have topped the list of trends. Its serene beauty of a soft hue based picture is perfectly portrayed in the latest invite trends. 3D pop up invitations and Caricature based Invitations are also ruling the charts. These invites add a quirky and fun element to the wedding. The kinetic movement of the 3D paper pop ups act as a surprise for the onlooker. Water colour based invitations have recently joined Puneet Gupta’s design hat. This wedding card is interweaved with a nautical theme along and a blend of water colour effect. “In sync with the latest trend, we have experimented this theme with comedian Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s wedding card”, says a representative of Puneet Gupta. The nautical invite starts with an etching of a beach where Bharti and Haarsh are indulged in a tug-of-war and are confidently holding a banner that bears their wedding hashtag #Bharsh. The invitation card beautifully incorporates the couple’s fun personality in every insert. To add a comical element in one of the inserts, a 3D pop up of Bharti carrying Haarsh on her shoulders with the tagline ‘Dulha Hum Le Jayenge’ can be seen. With Bharti and Haarsh beautifully portraying their inseparable bond, the invite comes to an end with a 3D pop up of love laden hearts, hot air balloons and fancy fairy lights. Offset printing, Gold UV, thermographic printing and embossing are some of the techniques used to produce this masterpiece.
In this world of mass production, Handmade is the true luxury and 2018 is going to be a celebration of handcrafted master pieces. PUNEET GUPTA The Master of Exquisite Invites
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