Modern Indian weddings are evolving from purely decorative events into immersive, story-led experiences. Creative director Oiendrila Ray Kapur emphasises personalised design, where florals, lighting, tablescapes and spatial planning work together to reflect a couple’s personality. She advocates restraint over excess, venue-sensitive concepts, sculptural florals, and sustainable, craft-driven details that feel warm, lived-in and emotionally resonant.
Wedding décor is moving beyond simply making a venue look beautiful. Today, couples are looking at every visual detail, from florals and lighting to tablescapes and spatial design, as an opportunity to shape the mood and experience of their celebrations. Enter a more personalised approach to wedding design, where spaces are designed to feel as warm as they look.
For creative director and space designer Oiendrila Ray Kapur, this shift has opened up exciting possibilities, particularly in the way florals, tablescapes, materials and architecture come together to create a cohesive wedding experience. From sculptural interpretations of traditional flowers to restaurant-style food spaces and thoughtfully layered tables, she believes the future of wedding décor lies in finding the right balance between artistic expression, personal storytelling and restraint. In this interview with Manifest, she shares her take on the wedding décor and tablescaping trends defining the festivities at modern Indian weddings.
Oiendrila Ray Kapur (ORK): I think what draws me to creating spaces and celebrations is the opportunity to tell a story through it. I have always been fascinated by how a space can make you feel even before anything is said, it creates a sense of being enveloped in a warm hug, visually. It should make you want to explore, take a moment and immerse yourself in the ambiance.
For me, it is never just about making something beautiful. It is about understanding the people, the occasion and the story behind it, and then translating that into a space that feels meaningful and memorable. I love that every project brings a different story, and that is what keeps the process exciting for me.
ORK: I think Indian weddings have become far more experience-oriented, and I see that as a wonderful shift. Couples today are thinking beyond décor and aesthetics and are increasingly focused on creating meaningful memories and thoughtful interactions for their guests.
There is a greater emphasis on making guests feel involved rather than simply being spectators. From personalised experiences and customised details to the way spaces are designed and moments are curated, everything is becoming more intentional and personal.
For me, the beauty lies in customisation, understanding the couple, their story, their families and their guests, and creating an environment that reflects them. It is no longer just about how a wedding looks, but about how it makes people feel and what they take away from the experience.
ORK: Understanding the client’s brief is an essential part of the process. It often means spending one-on-one time with the client, over a coffee or a drink, and simply chatting incessantly to understand their pulse, their personality and what excites them.
I like to begin on a larger scale and gradually work my way down to the minutest details. From gift hampers and personalised notes to music, floral selections and the smallest visual details, everything emerges bit by bit through conversations and exchanges. My job is to take note of those little keywords, stories and details that resonate with the client and weave them into a cohesive spatial story. That way, the space feels personal and reflective of them, without ever becoming too literal.
ORK: Yes, florals, tablescapes, lighting and spatial design all play an important role in transforming a beautifully decorated venue into an immersive experience. Lighting, in particular, gives us so many ways to create warmth, curiosity and highlight nuances within a space. It is an integral part of spatial design, because colours and light together set the mood and establish the atmosphere of an event.
Florals can either continue the colour story or completely break away from it, creating moments of surprise and drawing attention to particular spaces. They also have a wonderful ability to soften a space almost effortlessly. Adding unique elements, props and objects that connect back to the theme and story makes the environment feel more layered and considered.
Tablescaping plays a key role, because food is an integral part of most celebrations, and the way it is presented can say so much about the experience you want to create. For larger events, I like the idea of creating standalone, restaurant-like food areas, where the experience feels more personal and service-driven rather than like an impersonal buffet. For smaller, intimate celebrations, a beautifully curated sit-down table works wonderfully because it encourages conversation, shared stories and a sense of togetherness. For me, it is these layers working together that make a wedding feel lived-in, engaging and truly immersive.
ORK: Textures, colours and textiles play a huge role in defining how grand or understated a space feels. Richer colours, velvet, brass and gold can create a sense of opulence and drama, while pastels, softer fabrics and delicate prints can bring in a quieter, more understated elegance. The choice of materials and how they are layered is what ultimately sets the tone.
For me, grandeur is not necessarily about filling every available space. It is about creating a strong focal point, often the ceremony area and allowing the design language and visual rhythm to flow naturally from there. When the same thought, palette or detailing is carried through the space with restraint, it creates a sense of continuity without becoming overwhelming. Giving each element enough room to breathe allows the details to be noticed and appreciated. I believe that is where sophistication comes from, knowing what to add, but more importantly, knowing what to leave out.
ORK: For me, the client’s vision always remains the priority but, at the same time, the venue plays a very important role in bringing that vision to life. The selection of the space needs to complement the theme, mood and overall experience we want to create. Architecture, landscape, scale, natural light and even the character of the surroundings can all influence how the design eventually takes shape.
I feel that when the right venue is chosen for the right vision, there is a natural synchronicity. Rather than imposing something onto a venue, I prefer to understand what the space already offers and then build upon it. This allows the design to feel more organic, considered and connected to its surroundings, while still remaining true to the client’s personality and intent.
ORK: One of the most exciting shifts I am seeing in Indian weddings is the movement towards more sculptural and artistic interpretations of florals. Abstract floral art, where flowers are structured almost like installations rather than arranged as traditional, free-flowing garlands, brings a completely new perspective to wedding design. Even flowers like marigolds can be used to create unexpected forms and compositions. It gives something so intrinsically Indian a new visual language.
At the same time, I think the conversation around wedding décor needs to move more consciously towards sustainability. There has to be a reduction in the use of flex and other materials that are difficult to recycle or biodegrade, and this should be replaced with greater innovation in design and material choices. For me, sustainability should not mean compromising on beauty; it should push us to think more creatively.
I also love working with local craftspeople and the incredibly diverse craft traditions we have across India. There is so much richness in our materials, techniques and artisanal knowledge. Reinterpreting these crafts through a contemporary lens can create something that feels both rooted and relevant. I believe the future of wedding décor lies in this balance, innovation without losing our cultural identity, and beautiful design that is also more thoughtful about what it leaves behind.