[1]Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively made their wedding different by penning down their own vows for the ceremony — they vowed to make each other ‘laugh’. They are not the only couple to begin their journey together in a different manner.
Today, youngsters make every possible attempt to make their marriage more personal — from saving love letters to be sworn-on on the D-day to using their gift wrappers as wallpaper of their new home.
Harish, who got married early this year, saved the wrappers of all the gifts given by now his wife Ankita. “I could not possibly make use of them on the wedding day, but we used them as wallpaper in our house,” says Harish.
According to wedding planner Meher Sarid, personalising weddings is a very Western concept, which is now finding favour in India. “Generation today does not want a very simple wedding and often takes inspirations from weddings abroad. Many couples get their courtship photographs printed on the wedding invite, and the latest is the concept of books. Earlier, their courtship period was recorded and played back during the wedding, but now it is converted into a book. Once we sign the deal, we set out a photographer with the couple and he takes pictures of every little thing they do wherever they go — be it an uncle’s birthday, nephew’s naming ceremony or shopping for the wedding ring. All these images are collected and the best moments are compiled in a book along with a nice love story written by a professional,” says Meher.
Ashima Malik, of Vivaha Wedding Solutions, says that Indians are still conservative when it comes to making any change in wedding vows. “I have not seen couples experimenting with the customs and rituals as they have to toe the line where ceremonies are concerned. But they do many other things like choosing a colour theme or a dress code for their immediate families and everyone turns up wearing the chosen clothes. If it is a destination wedding, they print some nice pictures of the locals on their wedding invites to excite the guests,” says Ashima.
Dhyanesh Raj, of Adriyana Eventide, feels that more than the rituals couples concentrate on themes. “Many people want a really flashy wedding. They would ask for a fairytale concept where the bride will have an aerial landing. Or they ask for a theme like UFO in which both bride and groom take the aerial path. Then you have the jungle theme as well. All these are ways to personalise their wedding and make it an affair which the guests will never forget,” says Dhyanesh.
Talking about her marriage plan, Shweta Raina says she is making sure to meet the pundit before she sits for the pheras. “I would like to confess my love for my prospective husband before we proceed with anything. I know I need to bribe the pundit for this,” says Shweta.
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