The pandemic has hampered many wedding plans in the past year and a half. So much so that the entire idea of a big fat Indian wedding feels like a distant dream right now. The wedding industry continues to be in a lull as weddings continue to either get postponed or downsized amid the pandemic. And while there is so much to rue about the current situation, we are looking at the silver lining today i.e. the rise of the intimate wedding.
From at-home ceremonies to super intimate celebrations, we have seen a fairly different side of the Indian wedding in the past year. Now, while we really wish that the pandemic wasn’t the factor to drive this wave, a change was long overdue. We don’t have anything against the big fat Indian weddings, but intimate ceremonies certainly have their own charms. For starters, they are way more sustainable and personalized than larger-than-life soirees that had become the norm in the past couple of decades.
We recently stumbled across one such intimate wedding that took place at an ancestral bungalow and it looked like it was picked straight out of a fairytale. Impressed by the setup, we reached out to Aashna Saran, the founder of Aash Studios and the brain behind the beautiful wedding. She talked to us about the gorgeous wedding and also gave us some important tips on planning an intimate shaadi.
Inside Ananda and Sakshi’s Gorgeous At Home Wedding
Ananda and Sakshi tied the knot earlier this year at the groom’s ancestral bungalow in Mumbai. The Aash Studio team worked on a very short notice to turn it into an event to remember. The team worked tirelessly to give the venue an ‘English Vintage’ theme and the end result was a visual feast. From flower decor to the macrame accents, everything about the wedding exuded a dreamy vibe.
As Aashna shares, “Ananda’s place has a modern yet vintage charm to it—one thing that really stood out was the wall colour in their hall and we knew we had to use it as the mandap backdrop. The interiors of the house are also very pretty, so we thought of enhancing them instead of adding any structures to it. A lot of florals were used around the house and a special band was made for the dog.”
Here are some pictures from the ceremony that you’d want to bookmark for your upcoming wedding:
Things To Keep In Mind While Planning An Intimate Wedding
Planning to get married this year? Here are some Aashna Shah-approved tips to curate a hassle-free experience:
Begin With The Basics
You need to begin by deciding what kind of wedding you want. It can be an at-home intimate wedding or you can also opt for a resort or hotel for an elevated experience.
Pay Attention To The Guestlist
An intimate wedding means that you are going to invite very limited guests, which also implies that you need to be absolutely sure and thorough with your guest list. Plan in advance and print it out. From finding the right venue to the choice of menu, this list will guide you through it all. Also, consider live streaming the wedding for friends and family who cannot make it to the wedding.
Personalise The Experience
With intimate weddings becoming a trend, there’s a lot of scope for personalisation. To add a personal touch to your wedding you can:
-Go for a specially curated menu (with bride and groom favourites).
-Make arrangements for a sit-down dinner with name tags and napkins.
-Order customised masks and sanitisers for the guest.
-Order personalised favours.
Consider DIY Elements
While planning a home wedding ceremony one can explore a lot of DIY décor ideas. Here are some ideas that you can explore:
-Use the house’s potted plants for the aisle décor.
-Go for mix and match chairs.
-Use the existing décor of the house by enhancing it with flowers or cute little notes.
-Focus on the mandap and make it the statement piece at your wedding.
Follow The Rules & Regulations
For a stress-free event, it is important that you are aware of the current norms of your city before planning the wedding and abide by them.
Sanitization First
Sanitize the house pre and post-event and install a sanitization station. Also, make sure that the guest coming in for the wedding have been tested negative.
Lastly, remember that nothing is worth putting yourself and your family’s health at risk. Even if an intimate wedding is not really your jam, you can always throw a huge reception once everything is back to normal.
Featured Image: Instagram