Indian wedding decor and design in 2020: 2 experts give you the top trends

Once your destination and venue is finalised, it’s time to dream up what will make it look extra special. A major focal point of your wedding will be its decor and design, whether you envision an quiet affair or a big bash. Gone are the days of the predictable, when marigold garlands were a mainstay and roses-decked reception decor was, well, expected. Instead, couples are now customising their celebrations, adding personal touches, and rethinking tradition. And even if you want to travel the conventional path for all other elements, with just a few key decor swaps, you can make your ceremony feel fresh and unforgettable.

For inspiration, Vogue tapped in on the expertise of wedding professionals, Punit Jasuja of Second Floor Studio along with Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja of Shivan & Narresh to reminisce on the past decade and reveal their top tips to make your special occasion a tastefully done one.

It's all in the details

“I have only been working in the Indian weddings space in the past decade, so I have kept a tab on its transformation minutely,” says Jasuja, who has been the name behind several million-dollar events. “Over the past years, when families planned the various aspects of a wedding, they did so in isolation. But now, people realise that every element, whether mammoth or minuscule, needs to be an experience for the guests. For example, the decor needs to be a seamless blend with music, food, and every sensorial capsule. Everything is well-orchestrated, to the extent that food is served on specific cues to connect with the rest of the space,” he explains. The most reliable way to achieve this? “The wedding designer must work closely with the couple as well as their families to not just understand their requirements but also to translate their aesthetic through decor. They need to inquire about the details, beyond the mandap, buffet, and entrance—the table tops, fragrances, bathrooms etc." 

Marry the old with the new

“With Indian weddings, the most important elements influencing the spatial design area are traditions and cultural influences,” discloses couturier Bhatiya, who widened his creative vision with the launch Shivan & Narresh Celebrations in 2017. Speaking of how to find a balance between the norm and new, he elaborates, “With millennials and Gen-Z always on a lookout for new themes, traditions are now being fused with Western concepts, like a mehandi that turns into a brunch or sundowner.”

Out-of-the-box trends to welcome

“The wedding decor space is now open to innovative ideas and has surpassed the typical standards of simple accessories, drapes and the usual floral settings,” says Kukreja. “Various statement-making trends are becoming popular, from prints taking centre stage to addition of unique elements like antique objet d'art, artisanal cutlery and crockery. A soft play of florals and delicate lighting are trends that are currently brewing. Floral walls will be a raging trend; not only do they scent the venue but make for the most effective image backdrops.”

Jasuja agrees, “Fresh flowers are a continuing trend. Although calla lilies are my go-to, tropical ferns and foliage is also what I have been playing with of late. I have been dabbling with several digital solutions too—think huge LED screens, dramatic lighting and more. Event-wise, sangeets are metamorphosed into a night-club-esque appeal. And white decor remains my top choice for celebrations.”

The modern dream wedding

Given a blank slate, Jasuja would use no elaborate decor or design. “I would choose a plantation, a beachside or any other natural environment and capitalise on its natural beauty. I’d simply highlight it with light and flowers that surround the space. That would be my dream wedding!”

Bhatiya and Kukreja, on the parallel, say that their vision of a dream celebration includes, “clean lines, geometric shapes, and minimal design. Taking a break from a clichéd deep colour palettes, one can add a modern spin to their wedding with soft pastel hues against a strategic play of prints, delicate lighting and accented with florals that go beyond the typical and adapt to clusters of ferns, peonies and hydrangeas. The addition of artful centrepieces, mindfully placed water features, luxe furniture and a seamless layout also helps create a sense of flow in the event layout.”

Also read: 

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5 ways to make wedding decor look luxurious on a budget