It isn't easy being a wedding planner these days. Not only do the brides and grooms want it grand, they also want it different
A maelstrom of emotions simmers beneath the razzle-dazzle of Indian weddings, most of which last for at least three days. Ecstatic brides can morph into bridezillas at the drop of a hat, and nervous bridegrooms have been known to become obsessive groomzillas. Throw in warring mothers, grumpy fathers, inquisitive aunts, avuncular uncles and a brood of nieces and nephews into this mix, and watch the drama unfold. In the eye of this brewing storm are wedding planners, the firefighters, who have to douse the flames before they erupt into a conflagration.
After seven years in the wedding planning industry, 34-year-old Candice Pereira—co-founder and creative director of Marry Me Weddings—knows that no amount of planning or colour-coded excel sheets can avert the one ingredient essential in this multi-starrer: Last-minute chaos. Pereira recalls one nuptial where every ‘I’ was dotted and every ‘T’ crossed except for the bride’s trousseau. “She had so many changes that fittings were going on till the last minute and she hadn’t even tried some of the clothes. The families couldn’t wait and had to leave for Goa, and the bride started panicking. I finally flew down the designer’s tailor to do the final alterations at the venue itself,” says Pereira. The moral of the story: Be prepared.
Arora recalls one wedding where they wanted to change the décor of a sangeet, scheduled to be held at the The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, a few days before the event. The couple had chosen a white palace set, but Arora had misgivings about this. Just days prior to the event, she decided that a pink Rajasthani look would work better. “I made the groom come to our godown, where we were working on the sets, to see the progress. He trusted me and was super happy,” she says.
It’s all about making it different. The last thing a wedding planner wants is to be accused of putting together a ‘me-too’ event.
(This story appears in the Nov-Dec 2014 issue of ForbesLife India. To visit our Archives, click here.)