Marriages aren't always made in heaven, they're planned

PUNE: If marriage is a journey of a lifetime, a good way to start would be with a wedding to remember.
With yet another season upon us, city-based wedding planners and event managers aver that today it's more about customising weddings to individual personalities than themes. In short, ensuring the three-four day events leading up to D-day are in sync with one's lifestyle, beliefs and priorities.Budget no bar.
According to Jehan Sataravala, head of a city-based events company, "Most clients today are particular about ensuring that the wedding reflects their singular selves. The more flamboyant ones would choose a huge palette of colours - the quantum of floral arrangements would be much more, opulent sets and backdrops, complete with LED displays and hydraulic stage, would be more their style. They would also want big stars and singers for their sangeets and pre-wedding parties."
On the other hand, more subtle choices would include a single-colour theme, a more sedate line up of entertainment, and simple backdrops and less elaborate floral arrangements, which, said Sataravala, have their own innate charm.
Affirms wedding planner Rashmi Hira: "Couples nowadays are very sure in terms of what they want -Colours, backdrop, motifs, and interwoven themes. Sometimes guests too are asked to stick to the dress code or theme. For instance, if the sangeet has a Rajasthani theme or the cocktail a retro theme, everyone is asked to dress accordingly.
Many a times, the accessories are provided for as well. For a masquerade party once, the guests were able to select from an array of masks, chains, crowns and so on. Every aspect, from the play of colours to the choice of lighting is supposed to incorporate the uniqueness of a couple."
To that end, outdoor wedding destinations with an equally customised settings and select guest lists are a hot favourite. Take your pick from a beach wedding at a resort in Goa, or a regal do featuring elephants, pagdis and nagaras at a hotel-cum-palace in Rajasthan or give the party a flavour of the exotic Orient in Malaysia, Thailand or Hong Kong, says event manager Gazal Madaan.
"I have always been one for the sea and sand," says a 27-year-old bride to be. "Most of my growing up photos have beach backdrops anyway.
A similar story holds true for my fiance, who is also from the Konkan coast. So instead of 500 guests in a five star hotel in Pune, we thought it would be nicer to take just a 100 select guests to a resort in Goa. We are looking at a cocktail party with a live band in a resort, while the pheras would take place inside the hall of the same resort. I have always disliked stuffy weddings-and even though some elements have to be kept formal, keeping in mind the solemnity of the marital vows-“I thought it would be so nice to have a wedding which is fun, informal and gives the guests a chance to have a nice holiday too."
IT professional Mira Desai is clear that when she gets married, every pre-wedding party will incorporate her love for music, particularly rock and pop. "Whether we get a band or a deejay, I want those songs playing in the background," she says. "As long as we don't attempt to tamper with the main ceremony, I don't think the family elders should have a problem."
Customisation also extends to the food, says Sataravala. From the client who would have no buffet - only live counters - to another who ensured true blue Japanese chefs held forth at an authentic Teppanyaki, to another who painstaking sourced a host of chaatwallas from remote corners, the bedrock of the wedding party is without a doubt, the food. "Good food, menus that are far from run-of-the-mill and prompt service are high on every client's wish list."