Weddings today are an intimate affair. In the land of big, fat, Indian weddings, a sizeable number of couples are opting for an intimate experience, marked by simplicity. Why?
Because in the age of 24x7 visibility, bigger doesn’t always mean better. “Every aspect of our lives is so exposed to the rest of the world these days, courtesy social media, that an intimate, cosy setting seems more unique than the usual band, baaja baarat,” says Ravneet Gandhok, life coach.
Perks of an intimate fare
milind somanMy wife, Ankita, wanted to have a simple, understated yet meaningful wedding. We just had some close friends and family for the rituals. The intimate ceremony made it meaningful —Milind Soman, actor, fitness enthusiast (Photo: INSTAGRAM@MILINDRUNNING)
Most couples going the minimal way do not worry about size, scale — and most importantly — the drama. Planners say this is a growing tribe.
Ajay Modgil, wedding planner, feels size still matters but he gives his own ‘personalised’ twist. “Intimate weddings are little weddings with a big heart,” he says. One perk of a minimal wedding is more personalised social interaction with guests. It also a great way to keep every detail personalised. “You may have a shorter guest list but you can splurge on a customised décor element,” adds Modgil.
A rising tribe
Actor Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s low-profile, surprise gurdwara wedding was one of many ceremonies that are dotting the Indian landscape. Actor Shweta Tripathi also had a micro wedding in a beautiful ceremony in Goa. Says wedding photographer Adusyanti Chatterjee, “Soon-to-be-married couples have realised that a wedding is about them, not everyone else. The social obligation of holding a grand wedding has nothing to do with actually building a couple’s relationship in the marriage. They want to do away with this symbolic obligation of adhering to conventions of ‘joining two families and holding a big fat wedding’,” she says.
Mind you, the band, baaja and tamasha isn’t missing completely but the scale is smaller.
neena nealNina and Neale splurged on a five-star hotel at the beautiful coastal town of Kovalam, Kerala, and went for a personalised approach, like interacting with guests (Photo: F5 WEDDING)
Couples want to escape the pressure and fatigue that comes with planning a mega wedding, which they don’t get to enjoy. Says wedding planner Candice Pereira, “There’s no pressure to include traditions that have never resonated with couples. A small intimate affair with closest friends is in vogue.”
Nothing thrifty about it
Micro weddings aren’t necessarily about being thrifty. Says fashion designer Deepika Govind, “Recently, a bride had her wedding on an island in the Maldives, and the entire island had only the bride’s guests of 30-odd people.” Sometimes, couples go all out for a smaller number of guests. Since a lot of people are marrying at older ages than previous generations, they are often paying for all or most of the wedding themselves. The bride and groom really care about value and the experience of their wedding day.
Planning well still matters
Wedding planner Sonali Thakore has an advice for young couples planning a micro wedding, “A wedding is a wedding at the end of the day. In fact, since these are personalised affairs, more attention to details is needed by the bride and groom. They need to be involved in the process from the word go.”
Tips for a micro wedding
tip copyCustomised decor are in vogue
- Splurge on things you really love: be it flowers or food.
- Plan your guest list to include the very nearest and dearest.
- Splurge on special elements customised to your taste; things that wouldn’t be possible with a bigger budget.
- Play your kind of music.
- Take time to talk to your guests.
- Choose a destination or venue that is unique – mountain top, beach or a beautifully-decorated garden.
- Make guests participate in activities so that they feel involved and special.
Because in the age of 24x7 visibility, bigger doesn’t always mean better. “Every aspect of our lives is so exposed to the rest of the world these days, courtesy social media, that an intimate, cosy setting seems more unique than the usual band, baaja baarat,” says Ravneet Gandhok, life coach.
Perks of an intimate fare
milind somanMy wife, Ankita, wanted to have a simple, understated yet meaningful wedding. We just had some close friends and family for the rituals. The intimate ceremony made it meaningful —Milind Soman, actor, fitness enthusiast (Photo: INSTAGRAM@MILINDRUNNING)
Most couples going the minimal way do not worry about size, scale — and most importantly — the drama. Planners say this is a growing tribe.
Ajay Modgil, wedding planner, feels size still matters but he gives his own ‘personalised’ twist. “Intimate weddings are little weddings with a big heart,” he says. One perk of a minimal wedding is more personalised social interaction with guests. It also a great way to keep every detail personalised. “You may have a shorter guest list but you can splurge on a customised décor element,” adds Modgil.
A rising tribe
Actor Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s low-profile, surprise gurdwara wedding was one of many ceremonies that are dotting the Indian landscape. Actor Shweta Tripathi also had a micro wedding in a beautiful ceremony in Goa. Says wedding photographer Adusyanti Chatterjee, “Soon-to-be-married couples have realised that a wedding is about them, not everyone else. The social obligation of holding a grand wedding has nothing to do with actually building a couple’s relationship in the marriage. They want to do away with this symbolic obligation of adhering to conventions of ‘joining two families and holding a big fat wedding’,” she says.
Mind you, the band, baaja and tamasha isn’t missing completely but the scale is smaller.
neena nealNina and Neale splurged on a five-star hotel at the beautiful coastal town of Kovalam, Kerala, and went for a personalised approach, like interacting with guests (Photo: F5 WEDDING)
Couples want to escape the pressure and fatigue that comes with planning a mega wedding, which they don’t get to enjoy. Says wedding planner Candice Pereira, “There’s no pressure to include traditions that have never resonated with couples. A small intimate affair with closest friends is in vogue.”
Nothing thrifty about it
Micro weddings aren’t necessarily about being thrifty. Says fashion designer Deepika Govind, “Recently, a bride had her wedding on an island in the Maldives, and the entire island had only the bride’s guests of 30-odd people.” Sometimes, couples go all out for a smaller number of guests. Since a lot of people are marrying at older ages than previous generations, they are often paying for all or most of the wedding themselves. The bride and groom really care about value and the experience of their wedding day.
Planning well still matters
Wedding planner Sonali Thakore has an advice for young couples planning a micro wedding, “A wedding is a wedding at the end of the day. In fact, since these are personalised affairs, more attention to details is needed by the bride and groom. They need to be involved in the process from the word go.”
Tips for a micro wedding
tip copyCustomised decor are in vogue
- Splurge on things you really love: be it flowers or food.
- Plan your guest list to include the very nearest and dearest.
- Splurge on special elements customised to your taste; things that wouldn’t be possible with a bigger budget.
- Play your kind of music.
- Take time to talk to your guests.
- Choose a destination or venue that is unique – mountain top, beach or a beautifully-decorated garden.
- Make guests participate in activities so that they feel involved and special.
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