Everybody dreams of that perfect wedding and most people could do with a little help to make that special day perfect. This is where Nikkita Ram and Archana Ravinder step in. They take charge and chalk out the programme to make your dream come true. Since they were buddies from college, they decided to work together and use their strengths to their advantage. Since their first wedding three years ago, it’s been an upward climb for the duo.
How did you decide to become wedding planners?
We started thinking about what we should do in the final year of college. When this idea struck, we decided to start a wedding planning/event management firm. It took us a month to lay the foundation for Yukti. We researched extensively and got to know some of the best vendors in the city. Luckily our families and friends supported us; within a month we were planning our first wedding.
Is being a youngster in this field an advantage or disadvantage?
Personally, we wish to remain young forever. It’s our age that has taken us this far. It helps us connect with younger couples. Often, we think on the same lines.
So what kind of weddings have you done? Tell us about your experiences?
We come across diverse cultures and people, the experience of getting to know them and being a part of an event so close to their family is a great deal of learning for us. We have done both very traditional and modern weddings and some 'Hatke' (unique) weddings. Everyday we learn and experience new things, because every client has their own 'Hatke' idea, it could be a different kind of a theme or unique decor or anything that may stand out.
If someone asks you for a fun wedding, what would your core ingredients be?
All our weddings are custom made, tailored to suit the needs and ideas of our clients. We ensure that there is no monotony in our work in order to be fresh and unique. The core ingredients for a fun wedding would be something like organising belly dancers for an Arabian theme, a good DJ, a photo booth, fun accessories that will be theme based. Last but not the least a surprise element that will leave the guests spellbound.
How do you share and divide responsibilities?
A wedding is an once-in-a-lifetime experience for a couple and they do everything possible to leave a lasting impression on their guests. Convincing them that D-Day will be perfect and exactly how they envisioned is a big part of our work. I am the more talkative one so most of the time I do the talking but Archana chips in with some very crucial points that help seal the deal. We share our work. Say, Archana checks the availability of the cars and I check the number of guests to be transported. We find a great balance.
Do you have a rule book for all weddings?
You cannot have a stringent rule book for all weddings as every one is different. It may vary when it comes to venues, theme, budget and so on. Some things remain the same, but we do make one for every wedding. We also prefer it this way as it allows us to think and come up with something new.
Which has been the most memorable wedding you have planned for and why?
Last June we had done a Marwari wedding. Everything was more than just perfect. From the décor to the food, and the clients were warm and lovely people. The ambiance was beautiful; there was a feel good factor about doing the wedding. It was a midnight wedding and for the band at the baaraat we had specially called a group from Hyderabad. We also enjoyed ourselves at the wedding and it was more like a family wedding for us.
How do you keep up with the changing styles and customer requirements?
It is very important to research and learn the new things that are introduced in the market, as every client wants something new. We sometimes pick up ideas and elements from other cities. We have friends who keep us posted on the new trends in their cities. Sometimes we like to make things different with existing elements. We also go out of our way to meet some extravagant requirements and source it for our clients.
How many people work for you? How involved are you in each wedding?
Basically, it is just the two of us. We hire a team during the weddings; who work with us on a part-time basis. We use the same team for every wedding, so we are comfortable with them and they understand our style of working. We get involved in every wedding; our clients eventually become friends and we become more like family, as they entrust the most important day of their life to us. We understand the role we play on their D-Day and take our work very seriously.
TIPS:
* Book a good a venue as soon as the date is fixed as last minute bookings can be quiet troublesome.
* A proper guest list with details of arrival and departure is a must-do.
* Ensure guests stay in the same hotel or locality to avoid confusion and make their travel fast to the venue and back easier.
* Decide the theme.
* Co-ordinate clothes and gifts.
* Involving the family in the decision-making brings them closer.
* Couples must co-ordinate their attire; it should complement each other.
