In conversation with India’s best event planner Samit Garg: how are exotic weddings organized

Are you tired of all the weddings you go to seem cut by the same pattern? This usually occurs, especially when there are few venues in a city and all weddings are held there. But, although space is a very important part, there are many details with which you can get out of the conventional and make an original wedding.

If you are one of those who go beyond the traditional and want to give a close and personal view into how extravagant weddings are organized.

Theme party

This is something that very few dares to do since, thematic tasks multiply, and a wedding already involves a lot of preparation. But the results are much more spectacular. You can use the theme only for the decoration, furniture, and food on the menu, or you can go much further and even demand a dress code for the guests to come together and come dressed up.

For example, we can think of a Mexican-style wedding. In this case, you cannot forget guacamole, nachos, fajitas, or tequila for the menu and very colorful decoration, full of cacti, natural flowers, mariachi hats, candles and lanterns to set the scene. Another example is celebrating a themed wedding around a television series that, thanks to platforms like Netflix or HBO, has managed to make us such fans of television productions.

The arrival of the bride and groom

You have always been characterized by being an original couple, so on your wedding day, you cannot appear there with the classic black car adorned with flowers and fabric bows. Opt for a different form of transport like a sidecar, a tandem, a caravan, or even a hot air balloon.

Music for the cocktail

There is nothing better than starting a wedding with music to cheer up the guests from the first moment. If any of the bride and groom knows how to sing or play an instrument, it maybe he/she who starts the show. If this is not possible, you may know a friend who belongs to a music band, and surely, he will be very excited to be part of your big day that way.

But, if you do not know any musician within your circle, we recommend you leave aside the classic DJs, which are very good for after-dinner drinks and opt for a saxophone player, a violinist, or even a brass band.

Custom messages

On your wedding day, you will surely be excited that all the people you have invited come, each of them for a reason. Surely you have a special memory with each one or something nice to thank them for. And, a day like this may be the best time to take advantage and dedicate a few words to them.

You can leave a small message in each place so that when they occupy it, they read it, they recall the moments lived together, and they get excited. Or if you are a person of few words, you can leave a photo with each of them.

Kids’ corner

In recent years, many newlyweds have chosen to do weddings in which children are not admitted, so that parents do not have to be aware of them and they can enjoy themselves without worries. But, most couples do not want to separate the parents from their children and choose to incorporate a corner where the little ones can entertain themselves.

The usual thing is to hire an entertainer to take care of preparing the games and supervising the children. You can hire small shows with a juggler or clown and organize DIY workshops, face painting, cupcake making.

Chill out corner

If you want to give a different touch to your wedding, this little corner will help you do it. It is a relaxation area, with a very careful decoration, in which the guests can sit down to chat, to rest from the dance and to enjoy the tranquility of the environment. Ideally, it should be located outdoors, if space permits, and separated from the banquet area.

Various sofas, poufs, beds, cushions and low tables will form the basic furniture, although you can also include some carpet, blankets or other decorative elements such as an old bicycle or vases with flowers. The colors that predominate in this type of area are neutral tones and materials such as wood or linen, although the decoration and details usually include brighter and more cheerful colors.

Fireworks

Is there anything more spectacular than fireworks? With a pyrotechnic show, you will be able to capture the attention and have all the guests looking at the sky. There is nothing better to end a wedding and give it a unique touch than having this set of lights and colors.

If you have decided on this option, we recommend you think of a professional who knows security issues since their manipulation can be dangerous, and nobody wants to have people injured on their wedding day. You should also make sure that fireworks are allowed in the space where you are going to celebrate the wedding.

Video vs. photos

Photos are something you cannot miss at a wedding, but there are many couples who forget about the videos. We love them because it is how the best emotions are captured and when the most natural images are collected, both of the bride and groom and the guests.

We want to present you with two ideas for the video format, which are far from traditional. For the first one, we will need a professional who, in addition to knowing how to record, knows how to edit. It consists of recording a video during the cocktail party with messages from the guests to the newlyweds, to later edit and reproduce it at the end of the dinner.

The second is very similar, but the video is recorded during the after-party. The good thing about the second option is that the guests, after a few drinks, are less shy on camera and improvise more. The bad thing about this is that the mounted video will not be able to be seen that same day.

Wheel of Fortune

An original game to cheer up the guests is to include a lucky roulette in which, in each segment, there is a test or a prize for them. In this way, they can interact with each other and have fun doing something different. Surely everyone will be curious when they see roulette, and little by little, they will dare to try it.

Moving on, we are joined by the most important personality when it comes to eventful weddings…

Samit Garg, the Founder and CEO of E-Factor, an event management company in India has pioneered a great number of events. Garg has crafted over 150+ elitist wedding experiences in more than 15 countries and three countries for some of the most top-notch clients.

Some of the biggest names in their portfolio include The Mittals, The Goenkas, The Modis, The Jindals as well as Bollywood celebrities including Shilpa Sheet and Raj Kundra wedding and the iconic wedding of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachan. Today, Samit offers his valuable insights on an eccentric wedding experience and what are the ingredients of success.

What makes a wedding successful?

It’s the couple. Neither the wedding cake, nor the carioca carnival, nor the live shows make a wedding extraordinary. The bottom line is that the people in their weddings exude who they are as a couple. I always say that a successful wedding is one that manages to transmit in every detail the personality of the bride and groom.

What is the latest fashion in relation to weddings? What was discontinued?

Authenticity is the quintessential fashion. Today the bride and groom are more spontaneous. They do not pay as much attention to what they will say, nor do they comply with certain traditions that do not have much meaning for them. Freedom and limitless creativity are the hallmarks of these times.

How long should you start planning a wedding?

There is no minimum or maximum time to start organizing a wedding. It depends on the type of wedding planned and the personality of the bride and groom.

On the day of the wedding, how are the times calculated so that everything goes well?

You have to carefully plan the times so that everything goes smoothly that day, without big plateaus or unnecessary runs. People argue about the ideal times; for example, the preparation of the bride, the reception cocktail, the catering service, the dance sessions, the assembly, and the disarming of the party, etc. are. Of course, each wedding is unique and has its own dynamic, but there are ways to make everything happen harmoniously.

What do you recommend to a couple who wants to start planning their own event?

The first thing is to define what will be the personality of the wedding, which will be your identity or concept. This is: identify your influence as a couple so that everything you decide next has that mark. Then I suggest reserving the room and the church or temple. From that moment on, they can uncork a bottle and start celebrating