The changing landscape of the wedding industry has paved the way for luxurious, intimate weddings in India with undertones of eco-friendly elements. By Anika Dhawan, Founder, Rani Pink & Rani Pink Gifts
India’s romance with festivities and weddings is a timeless love story that is woven into the fabric of every Indian household with much love, creating intricate patterns of nostalgia, traditions, and anecdotes. I adore all things rani pink and desi: sweets moulded by your hometown’s celebrated halwai; flushed cheeks of an excited bride; kites flying high in Old Delhi’s skies; your grandmother’s vintage cocktail sari; your mother’s most beloved possession—her blooming bougainvillaea; faces at the onset of Holi celebrations; pickled onions; the signage outside a darzi ki dukaan; glass bangles at your neighbourhood mela; bhudiya ke baal (cotton candy) on a stick; the tassels on a parandi—there’s a unique story everywhere and my company celebrates it that way.
Intimate Weddings
The year 2020 has been nothing short of an epiphany, where we have unlearned behaviours and have nurtured new ones to adapt to the ‘new normal’. It is time to rethink and restore, and environmental sustainability is the need of the hour. These changing scenarios and environmental and economic consciousness have paved the way for muted luxury and intimate weddings in India. We believe in thoughtfully celebrating occasions while eating that extra piece of samosa, nurturing the green canopies, dancing till the spoon and the dholak give up, grand gestures of love, golgappa competitions, and everything in between. The magic lies in customising every detail while creating a feast for the eyes.
When organised in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner, weddings and festivities bring along a tokri full of bonuses—it is easy on the pockets, keeps one’s carbon footprint in check, organic and locally sourced materials are hassle-free to deal with, and with all this, an extraordinary experience comes handy that would make your cheeks go ‘rani pink’ with joy.
Magic Of Fusion
With the magic of creativity and innovation, everything can be transformed into a wonderful experience. One can give a modern twist to desi ideas. Be it the decor, gifts for wedding guests, or goody bags for festivals, you can inculcate so many fun innovations. We like to ensure each product dresses up for the occasion. Our aim is to handcraft pieces that become mementoes for these occasions, and add a sparkling touch of our rich Indian heritage to them.
A theme of ‘French meets Jaipur’ can give the existing Indian local crafts and products a fresh vibe. One can plan the decor around beautiful earthen pots layered with bougainvillaea and palms. Using Jaipur’s blue pottery handicrafts and displaying it with block-printed powder-pink fabrics can turn out to be a very interesting idea. An extravagant bar of mithai and French tarts would also represent contemporary luxury in an Indian backdrop. Also, consider displaying vintage furniture painted in powder pink with an old school Jaipuri mirror as a decorative piece—it would be a delight to behold.
Get inspired by nature and make it a symbol of growth, positivity, and the beginning of a new journey. Imagine the beauty of taking your sacred vows under a huge banyan tree decked with delicate gajras and then feasting on a big Indian picnic with your guests. One can work on beautiful colour palettes; be brave with their selections, smart with their money, and extravagant in their choice of detailing. A bazaar theme would fill the air with a very vibrant fragrance when one is hosting an intimate wedding at one’s residence. Pull out beautiful durries, layer it with colourful cushions, work on different corners of food stalls, play old-school games with your guests, and do a pop of flower Holi with them post the ceremony. Celebrations are personalised expressions and we believe, stories and likings of the bride and groom should be sewn together with the threads of the wedding design, decor, gifts, and more.
