Even as weddings get bigger and grander, the responsibility of ensuring a perfect event is increasingly being left to wedding planners. For the bride, the bridegroom and their families, it is a memorable occasion they want to enjoy. From choosing the invitation card, deciding on the caterer, co-ordination for putting up the traditional arches, arranging for vehicle parking, hiring stage décor and bridal make-up experts, ordering garlands, making provision for guests' entertainment, and requisitioning of mehendi artists, are all taken care of by these wedding planners.
“It is a dream day for the couple and their families,” says S. Sudarshan of Mark 1 Communication Group. Parents want to enjoy it without the stress of getting into the details of organising various logistics associated with a wedding. And the couple is aware of the latest trends to make it a special occasion.
The wedding planning industry is growing at more than 100 per cent in this region and it gained momentum during the last few years. “During the last three years, there is a massive change in the outlook and requirements of customers,” he adds.
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Creativity coupled with modern technology have unleashed a host of options. For instance, invites sent through voice SMS and CDs are catching on.
Several large-scale weddings have a kids' corner with jumping castle, tattoo, caricature and special food, and a section for women with bangles, mehendi, and tarot reading.
Different elements such as fibre, pearls, drapes, lighting, flowers and wood are used to decorate the entrance, sideways, dining area and main stage. Entertainment may even include performance by an international artist.
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Sky is the limit for spending.
However, the average cost that a client is ready to shell out for the décor is about Rs. 1 lakh.
North Indian weddings mostly have outdoor decorations. The antique appeal is catching on now, he says.
K. Krishna Gopal and K. Nagaraj of Backdrop Designers and Stage Decorators add that the industry is constantly innovating and people accept the new trends. Theme-based weddings are common and the involvement of decors, at least for the traditional arches and main stage, is only going up. Coimbatore has advantages such as availability of good caterers and those who work on flowers. It only needs more number of bigger wedding halls, they say.