D-day Diaries
SIMPLY KOLKATA gives a new and refreshing spin to your dream wedding planning.
SIMPLY KOLKATA GIVES A REFRESHING NEW SPIN TO YOUR DREAM WEDDING PLANNING AND GETS YOU THE LATEST TRENDS IN THE CITY OF JOY.
BY MALINI BANERJEE
The days of signing on the dotted lines when it comes to weddings are long gone. It is no longer about feeding the guests, doing hurried pheras and posing for photographs like a coy bride and groom. Photographers, wedding planners, invitation card makers, fashion designers, musicians, and even caterers are striving to embody the requests of modern day couples, who want to express themselves in unique and personal ways on their big day.
THEMES FROM A DREAM Weddings are a seven-day affair these days, if you are the sorts who like to keep it simple. Preparations begin months in advance, and the most important part of planning for most is to zero in on a theme that best suits their personalities.
OVER THE RAINBOW The biggest rage this season is destination wedding, and for a good reason too. It is a getaway, a holiday and a direct step towards honeymoon from
mandap, all combined in one. “Last year we saw a lot of weddings in Bangkok. This year, interna- tional destinations include Dubai. But many are still sticking close home and go to Jodhpur, Udaipur or Jaipur,” says Nidhi Poddar of Emerald Events. Vinod Bhandari of Wedding Xtraordinaire is the last word on wedding planning in Kolkata. He says, “Bangkok and Thailand’s time have passed. Right now, people are looking at exclusive destinations like Istanbul.”
The rest of southeast Asia is popular as well. “We have taken the first Indian wedding to Bintan in Indonesia, Thimphu in Bhutan, and would be making a debut in Siam Reap in Cambodia,” says Yuvraj Singh Johar of Veydaa Events, which specialises in destination weddings.
A CINDERELLA STORY The royal theme for weddings never fades, it’s only reinvented. From the elegance of imposing forts to regal jewellery and attires, the grandeur continues to fascinate couples. “There is something so timeless about doning your grandmother’s jewellery and feeling like a princess,” agrees Mallika Sabrwela, who has opted for a Rajasthani royal wedding.
ENGLISH VINGLISH Kolkatans these days are opting
for western classical
theme for their weddings. Doleful strains of the
shehnai have been replaced by weeping violins and a soothing harps. Indulgent parents are willing to fly down western classical musicians from abroad. “We recently did a wedding where we created the English wedding theme inside a hotel’s banquet hall. There was even an artificial lawn and a grand piano,” says Jaipuria.
CONTACT Veydaa Events, Merlin Villa, 88 A, Hajra Road TEL 40061416, 9038006789
CONTACT Wedding Xtraodinaire, Flat 12A Harrington Mansion, 8 Ho Chi Minh, Sarani
TEL 40035087
THE WEDDING PLANNERS
The reason why most people opt for a wedding planner is because they want to outsource the worries and concentrate on their big day without getting hassled, feels Bhandari of Wedding Xtraordinaire. “I once had to manage a wedding with four events packed in one day. We did the mehendi in the morning, the wedding and the lunch in the afternoon, and the
sangeet and the reception in the evening!” says Bhandari. “A guest asked us for idli and chutney along with a bottle of vodka for breakfast at 7.30 am!,” adds Johar of Veydaa.
DOLEFUL SHEHNAIS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY WEEPING VIOLINS AND SOOTHING HARPS TO APE WESTERN WEDDINGS
CONTACT CJ’s Events, 44b, Syed Amir Ali Avenue TEL 9831 651399
CONTACT Emerald Events, Nidhi Poddar, 26H 6 Radha Madhav Dutta Garden Lane TEL 9831550052
PREPARATIONS
Wedding preparations begin months before the D- day. Most makeup artists, experts and columnists rec- ommend signing up for bridal packages a month or two in advance so that the bride is naturally radiant on the wedding day. Bridal sessions at Spalicious include two sessions of skin lightening, aromatherapy massage, facials sessions, and two sessions of body polish. Sawasdee Namaste Spa offers 45-day packages that pack in all kinds of luxuriating treatments including four facials, two body scrubs, two body wraps, two foot spas, two body massages and hot stone therapy. Sundeep Bansal of Embody Aesthetics and Laser Clinic, says, “A lot of clients sign up for body contouring. We give them customised makeover, and slimming and toning therapies. A lot of brides sign up for skin treatments like hyper pigmentation or dermabrasion.” While body contouring starts at Rs 6000, skin treatments start at Rs 3,500. And if you thought wedding preparations ended at spas, you are in for a tough time. What
about those months after the wedding when you’ll have to drape a sari in under five minutes? Stylist Dolly Jain can teach you that handy skill. She teaches not one, but three different styles of wearing a sari.
CONTACT The Sawasdee Namaste Spa, 15 Burdwan Road, Alipore TEL 30686660
CONTACT Spalicious, 24 Sarat Bose Road TEL 24750166 CONTACT Embody Healthcare Clinic 5A, Robinson Street TEL 40032244
CONTACT Dolly Jain TEL 9831812133
PHOTOS SAY A THOUSAND WORDS
The most common trend that has caught on is candid photography. Most couples want moments that express their chemistry the best captured on camera. “I make it a point to meet the couple for coffee and
MOST COUPLES WANT PHOTOGRAPHERS TO CAPTURE THE CANDID MOMENTS THAT BEST EXPRESS THEIR CHEMISTRY
know their story before I take on their shoot, especially if they want a pre-wedding shoot,” says Rajesh Gupta, a photographer. Another trick is to be invisible and blend in with the crowd. “I want them to get used to me. The couple should be so used to my presence that they’d forget I am there,” he adds. Commercial photographer Avantika Meattle gave up her career after photographing her friends; weddings gave her a new high. She says, “I like to know the couple’s habits and hobbies. It’s best if it’s a love marriage and the bride and the groom are comfortable with each other. The camera often notices things like that,” she says.
CONTACT Rajesh Gupta TEL 9831002369
CONTACT Avantika Meattle TEL 98101100193
CONTACT Shudhashil
Mullick EMAIL shuddhomail@gmail.com
CLOTHES THAT MAKE THE COUPLE
Anamika Khanna and Sabyasachi still rule the roost when it comes to weddings, but upcoming designers are also catching up. The biggest trend right now is to hire a separate stylist to work on all the looks apart from investing in a designer outfit. It is more cost effective to pick a designer who will style the look for a reasonable fee. Another resurgent trend is that of going back to one’s classic roots. Classic saris of Bengal or handloom weaves from different states are favourites in every girl’s trousseaus. Popular picks of stores across the city range from a bright yellow Dhakai Jamdani to a beige red Benarsi, all so uncommon because of the combination, yet so rooted in tradition. Some prefer the tried and the tested. “I wanted a classic Benarasi for myself. I picked one in deep crimson from Sriniketan,” says the recently married Anupriya Sen Sharma. When it comes to jewellery a lot of brides are shying away from heavy pieces. “At Rs 30,000 a kilo, gold prices are still a deterrent. That is why a lot of brides are sticking to very light weight pieces, since a necklace alone can cost about Rs 1.5 lakhs,” says Suvankar Sen of Senco Gold.
CONTACT Sabyasachi, P- 545 Lake Road TEL 40648239 EMAIL sabyasachiretail.kolkata@gmail.com
CONTACT Pranay Baidya, 4 B Allenby Road TEL 9831145264
CONTACT Sriniketan, Hiland Park, EM Byapss TEL 24634296
CONTACT Senco Gold: 7&8, CIT Road, Entally, Dr Lal Mohan Bhattacharya Rd, Sealdah, Raja Bazar TEL 22847811
CONTACT PC Chandra, 49C, Gariahat Road TEL 24618734