A wedding can look spectacular in photographs and still leave guests remembering the wait between functions, the confusing transfers or a dinner that arrived too late. Equally, some of its most memorable details might barely make it into the album: a thoughtfully chosen menu, music that gets three generations dancing, or the ease with which one celebration gives way to the next.
For Nishita Aggarwal and Sahil Sachdeva, founders of The Event Designer, these considerations belong in the same conversation as flowers, lighting and the mandap. Over more than 13 years, the duo has developed an approach that brings design, planning and hospitality together, treating each as essential to how a wedding feels.
Their starting point is getting to know the people getting married. Where do they like to travel? What do they enjoy eating? What are the family dynamics? And how might the venue’s architecture or setting shape the celebration? Those answers inform decisions that extend well beyond a colour palette.
In this edition of Manifest Approved, Nishita and Sahil discuss the partnership behind their company, the influence of social media and the small decisions that help a wedding feel personal.
Manifest: How did The Event Designer begin, and what did you want to bring to the wedding industry?
Nishita Aggarwal and Sahil Sachdeva: The Event Designer began with the belief that beautifully designed weddings could also be efficiently managed. We wanted to bring creativity, planning and execution together under one roof.
Our intention was always to go beyond the paperwork and logistics associated with wedding planning. We wanted to create a complete experience in which the setting, hospitality, entertainment, food service and every other aspect worked together. More than 13 years later, that remains our guiding principle.
M: How do your individual strengths shape the company?
NA & SS: Our complementary skills are a large part of what makes the partnership work. We approach things differently, and stronger ideas often emerge from that exchange.
One of us might look at an idea through a creative or design lens, while the other considers the planning, its potential and the details needed to bring it to life. Over time, we have learnt how to debate ideas with each other and when to trust each other’s intuition.
M: What defines The Event Designer’s signature when every wedding comes with a different brief?
NA & SS: We don’t have one fixed aesthetic. Our signature is in the way we approach the entire wedding, from the first conversation through to execution.
We consider the family dynamics, destination, architecture, culture and purpose before deciding what a celebration should look like. We believe luxury lies in the details, including those that may not be immediately obvious but leave a lasting impression on a guest.
Whether a wedding is grand or intimate, we want it to feel coherent, personal and memorable. The design may change completely from one celebration to another, but our attention to detail, service and the overall experience remains consistent.
M: How do you translate a couple’s personality into a celebration without relying on obvious themes?
NA & SS: Before we begin designing, we spend a lot of time getting to know the couple. We explore different aspects of their lives, from their travels to their food preferences, and use those conversations to inform the creative process.
Those references can find their way into the venue, menu, music and design without becoming a literal theme. The aim is for everything to feel natural, as though the celebration could only have been created for that particular couple.
M: Has social media changed what couples ask for?
NA & SS: Social media has transformed how couples and families approach weddings. They arrive with a greater awareness of design, visual storytelling and how a celebration will photograph. Their references may come from weddings, fashion, travel or hospitality around the world.
But the focus cannot be solely on creating an image. A good photograph matters, but it should never come at the expense of the guest experience. We try to create visually appealing moments that also feel natural when you are physically present in the space.
M: How do you give multiple functions distinct identities while making them feel part of the same wedding?
NA & SS: We see a wedding as a continuous story. Each function should have its own mood, energy and visual identity, with something connecting it to the others.
That connection might come through colour, materials, music, flowers, architecture or even the way guests are arranged. We also consider the setting and time of day. A daytime celebration can feel lighter and more intimate, while an evening event allows for a more theatrical approach.
The aim is to introduce variety while maintaining a sense of continuity.
M: Which destinations are attracting your clients, and what makes them interesting to design for?
NA & SS: Clients are looking for places with character. Rajasthan remains a popular choice, while destinations such as Dubai, Thailand and Bali, along with locations across Europe, the wider Middle East and the USA, also hold appeal.
What excites us is the possibility within a destination’s architecture, landscape, culture and hospitality. A palace, private estate, city hotel and beach resort each offer a different starting point.
We treat the location as part of the design itself. Understanding what makes it distinctive helps us shape the celebration.