Manifest Spotlight: Luxury Wedding and Event Designer Ambika Gupta

Ambika Gupta, a renowned luxury wedding and event designer, is the founder of the A-Cube Project, a boutique design firm specialising in bespoke weddings, immersive brand experiences, and high-profile events. She has designed high-profile weddings in Italy, Bali, and Rajasthan, blending heritage craftsmanship with contemporary luxury and has an illustrious clientele that includes Alanna Panday, Kajal Aggarwal, and several other notable individuals.

A TEDx speaker, Ambika has worked with global designers and hospitality brands. Ambika’s firm, The A-Cube Project, is internationally recognised for its personalised, immersive event designs. The company has been featured in prestigious global publications and has won multiple awards for its creative event styling.

In Conversation with Wedding Stylist Ambika Gupta... 

Manifest: What led you to specialise in designing weddings? Tell us about the origin of the A-Cube 

Ambika: I have studied engineering, and this has helped me to understand the technical nuances of spatial planning and building solid and stable structures. However, transitioning into the world of weddings was purely by chance. I was studying journalism and mass communication at St. Xavier's College and was drawn to a small module revolving around 'event management.'  It was steered by Delna Patel and she sent me on an assignment to a hotel's banquet hall. As soon as I saw it, I started reimagining the layout and the elements I could add to make this space interesting. I was buzzing with different ideas. Years later, I moved to Chennai to help out with the family business. Even though I get bored easily, I realised that I loved meeting new people, learning about their stories, and connecting with them. A restless night then birthed an idea and a creative spark. I decided to do something in the event space and got the chance to do the decor for a family member's special day. I uploaded those photos on Facebook, and the decor went viral. There was no turning back. I still love meeting people, connecting with them, and learning more about who they are and what they do.  

 M: How would you describe your signature design aesthetic in one sentence?

A: Well, I would say, my aesthetic is a nuanced blend of local traditions, personal memories, and global aesthetics with a strong focus on experience-driven storytelling.  

M: What does ‘luxury’ mean to you in the context of wedding design, and how do you translate that into a visual language?

A: The meaning of luxury is different for everyone. In the context of weddings, too, every couple I meet has a distinct take on what the word means to them. For one couple, it could be a garden wedding filled with warmth, intimacy and their favourite memories and for others, it could be a Met Gala-inspired celebration, bringing together fashion, theater, and surrealism with reflective surfaces, velvet drapes, and luxe textures It is fascinating to see how many different design stories a wedding celebration can encompass but one thing remains common to all. Every couple wants their special day to be about family, loved ones and precious relationships amid a beautiful setting reflective of their deepest values.

M: Have your design values or creative inspirations evolved over the years?

A: I think the A-Cube Project has witnessed multifaceted growth over the years because we have evolved creatively with every project. Regardless of the scale of a wedding, we have a very meticulous process-oriented approach which goes beyond deliverables. We have developed very exacting standards for the quality of each project's execution, and we create a Bible of Submission for each client in order to alleviate their anxiety. This has helped us to work with clients across the world. Right from our staging to the contract, detailed mood boards, the 3D walkthroughs, to the last deliverable, every step is premeditated. The A-Cube Project has always been about nuanced storytelling, which has allowed us to be where we are today. 

M: Which artists, architects, or cultural movements inspire your work the most?

A: I'm heavily influenced by annual events like the Milan Design Fashion Week, where one can see emerging trends, new materials and much more. The evolution of various cultures and Indian heritage in particular really sparks curiosity in me, apart from untold stories from the past. Street culture, local communities and even the clients I meet also inspire many design stories. In terms of iconic personalities, I am hugely inspired by the classic and timeless elegance of the late Maharani Gayatri Devi and Audrey Hepburn and the exuberant art of Frida Kahlo, who also had a very distinct personal style. Most importantly, I’m influenced by travel and one of my favourite things is to sip coffee in a cafe and just observe street culture and then to explore local history and architecture. This curiosity forms my very core as a designer. Even as a child, I used to watch the content on the History Channel and National Geographic as well as several home improvements shows. Today, when I can travel to all the places I once longed to visit, I imbibe the beauty and richness of diverse global influences and infuse them into my work.

M: Can you walk us through your design process?

A: Every great wedding starts with a story, and we dive deep into the couple's story with questionnaires. This opens up conversations/ideas around who they are, their preferences, their journeys and shared goals.  From here, we build our themes and present them via a detailed mood board. Once all of us are on the same page, we dive into visualising the space with our 3D walkthroughs, followed by a lot of supporting documents. Only then do we go about executing the event. This way, we create a unique montage of memories that no Pinterest board or Instagram album can match. We create a curated, personalised, inimitable experience for them.

M: How do you start building a concept that feels personal to the couple but still visually spectacular?

A: As I mentioned before, all couples fill out a questionnaire that gives us insights into their roots, dreams and aspirations for the future. A deep dive into their design preferences, their memories and individual as well as shared journey helps us to build a concept that is an extension of who they are. We make it a point to weave their story, their culture and shared interests, etc, into every detail of the ambience and the decor. Our storytelling blends local traditions and nostalgia. Young couples today want their wedding to feel rooted but prefer a design language that is fresh and modern and on par with global aesthetics. And then sheer magic unfolds at the intersection of heritage and modern aesthetics. I truly feel that storytelling becomes most powerful when it is personal. 

M: How do you collaborate with wedding planners, florists, and production teams to bring your vision to life?

A: We have built strong relationships rooted in trust with vendors and other collaborators over time. Many of our collaborating planners and our florists, like Black Tulip Flowers, have become dear friends and work with us season after season. Given our highly process-oriented approach, when we come together to create, the collaboration works seamlessly.

M: What design detail do you obsess over the most, and why?

A: We obsess the most over structural stability as ensuring everyone's safety is our primary goal in any space we create. Our team, composed of multiple architects, ensures that the stability and safety of our creations are never compromised. Secondly, we spend a lot of time and care on florals as they are deeply loved by all and play a vital role in awakening the senses as well as bringing our themes to life.

M: You’ve been behind some of the most spectacular weddings of recent times. Could you tell us about one of your most ambitious wedding design projects to date?

A: Well, a recent wedding that was extraordinary in scale and detailing was designed by us in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One of the events, 'Janya - Threads of Love', was hosted at the luxurious St Regis and we created an ambience inspired by a sacred forest oasis with pastel blooms, lush greens, contemporary Indian prints and a summer sorbet palette. We also had tree installations and ombre theatre seating.

For another event titled 'Misri' at the Four Seasons Hotel, we blended fairytale romance with modern luxury. We created cascading floral arrangements in shades of lilac, deep wine, soft pink and white.  We incorporated romantic lighting in the decor with twinkling chandeliers and votive candles. The decor for 'Ghari' puja at The Ritz-Carlton was inspired by the vibrant colours of sunrise and included contemporary Indian prints and vibrant florals. The reception dinner at the Mandarin Oriental reflected the couple's personalities with a decor steeped in luxury and hues of black, grey and white, accented by silver.  For the mehendi at JW Marriott, we conjured a luxe poolside paradise, evoking an upscale beach club with a rustic twist. Seating included sun loungers, cosy sofa lounges with sun umbrellas, and rope-style cabanas. The sangeet at JW Marriott brought together fashion, theatre, and art, creating a Met Gala-esque glam event with hints of surrealism. An ombré palette of deep red and dusty pink, tied with black and rose gold, was used. Reflective surfaces, dim lighting, and luxe velvet drapes evoked a speakeasy-era glam with vintage and modern styling. The wedding and reception at Mandarin Oriental were inspired by roses and the "Fleur de Lune" concept. The decor captured a dreamy, celestial ambience with soft lights reminiscent of moonlit petals, elegant floral elements, and a blend of contemporary luxury with romantic mystique. 

M: Is there a project where the constraints, whether budget, location, or time, actually led to a more creative outcome?

A: I think that happens all the time. We are always juggling costs, even in projects which are extremely well budgeted, as we want to offer uncompromising quality while meeting the client's expectations. In this process, we sometimes have to innovate, as in the case of a client who was in love with Kutch heritage. As original Kutch fabrics are really expensive and hard to source, we found vintage pieces in a Chennai store which had pure Kutch embroidery! We framed these fabrics in a very cost-effective way and created a corner that guests could be photographed against. 

One of my earliest breakthroughs as a wedding designer was in 2016, when I sourced a truck from Chennai's Chor Bazaar for an engagement because the client wanted a quirky decor. This truck had broken wheels. It had no bumper; no back, and we created a back structure with metal and got an artist to paint it.  And so, we ended up making something innovative out of absolutely nothing. This happens every time we are given a challenge. We always find a way to creatively express ourselves

M: What has been your favourite wedding venue to transform and why?

A: It is hard to pick just one, as there have been so many!  We once designed a wedding at a heritage villa in Pondicherry and have also delivered unique design stories at the Taj Bekal Resort & Spa, Kerala, in Coorg, Kovalam, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and many more venues which are off the beaten track. 

 Even if we are working in the same hotel, we manage to make it look completely different each time. Simply because we are telling a new story, we are working on a specialised theme and with different budgets. Imagination and creativity play an important role in the transformation of a space. 

M: What’s the most unexpected design brief a client has ever given you, and how did you run with it? 

A: Well, once a client wanted us to envision their Mehndi as a board game.  Now this was a rather rare brief.  So, we ended up making life-sized board games, including Jenga, Snakes and Ladders and even turned carrom boards into cocktail tables. There was another client who loved Impressionist art and Van Gogh's works. This project that we did during COVID-19 was featured in The New York Times. It had installations inspired by Van Gogh's famous paintings like 'Starry Night’ and 'Sunflowers.' In another instance, we used projection technology much before it became normative in weddings. 

M: What are some of the biggest challenges wedding designers are facing in 2025?

A: Well, each wedding comes with its own set of unique challenges connected with logistics, weather conditions, vendors, unexpected twists and last-minute supply issues. Outdoor venues always require contingency options like shaded areas or alternative spaces in case of a sudden downpour.

M: What are the challenges of designing unique weddings in an era of social media-saturated visuals?

A: Creative integrity is sustained by intention, curiosity, and a deep connection to the ‘why’ behind a brief. Originality entails going beyond mere aesthetics and expressing something honest and rooted. For instance, for couples hailing from different cultural backgrounds, we study both cultures deeply to create a new, authentic visual language rather than a generic fusion. Our storytelling brings meaning back into the design, making a wedding personal, emotional, and a narrative journey rather than just a visual spectacle. For example, for Shaan and Anisha’s wedding, we created a Love Conservatory in Turkey. This was inspired by Anisha’s childhood memory and featured a glasshouse entrance, lush blooms, vintage garden elements, hand-embroidered hankies, a vintage landline for voice notes, and a letter wall for messages.

M: How do you ensure every wedding design feels bespoke when references are often drawn from Pinterest or Instagram?

A: As I mentioned before, we get the couple to fill up a questionnaire to get to know them better. We also have conversations with them that give us crucial insights. Taking cues from the couple’s Instagram feed comes later. Our goal is to understand their individuality, their roots and also their shared aspirations and dreams for the future. The goal is to keep the wedding celebrations rooted in their own story. Every little detail is bespoke. For instance, for a bride who loved Impressionist art, we created installations inspired by Van Gogh's famous paintings. For Aadhi Pinisetty and Nikki Galrani's mehendi ceremony, we recreated their first visit to Bali as a couple. The theme was, not surprisingly,  'Bling It In Bali!' To bring it to life, we decked the couple's garden in undertones of dull gold,  a lot of verdure, cane furniture, leather accents with touches of white, brown and green and also Nikki's favourite bling elements. We infuse every personal story with beauty and multisensory experiences that the couple and their guests will never forget.  

M: What design trends are you seeing dominate the luxury wedding space in 2025?

A: I have mentioned before that couples now want to personalise every moment of their wedding. The era of a one-size-fits-all design language is over. They want to celebrate their roots but also want to express who they are today. Be it their travels, their favourite destinations, colours, scents, foods, memories, their plans for their shared future, their faith and their spiritual beliefs, everything can now be distilled into their wedding. Nobody is going for cookie-cutter celebrations. Take the Mehendi of Sakshi Sindwani with Raghav Arora where we recreated a big-hearted 'Pyaar Ka Pind' steeped in the warmth of rural Punjab. A lot of detailing and personalisation also went into creating a spiritual ambience for a Sukhmani Sahib path at home to honour the couple's spiritual beliefs and their devotion to Guru Nanak.

M: Is there a particular material, structure, or visual language you’re excited to experiment with this year?

A: We are excited to experiment with facets of emerging technology and creating even more inventive art installations. We've also expanded to the Middle East, offering services beyond weddings to include interiors, events, mall spaces, and store window displays.

M: What’s one trend you wish would retire, and one you’re hoping to lead in the coming years?

A: We don’t believe in working with the idea of trends; we prefer to set them. We are always looking to explore and expand our knowledge, pushing our boundaries to improve every year. Our work from five years ago is still highly regarded today, demonstrating our commitment to timeless and impactful design.

M: Who should come to the A-Cube Project for their wedding? 

A: Clients who seek to create something truly personal, experiential and are open to exploring new and challenging design concepts should come to us. We thrive on pushing our boundaries, as some of our best work originates from these challenging moments.

M: How would you define your style of work?

A: I would say it is experience-driven, rooted in culture, has a global aesthetic, and is highly personalised. As I mentioned before, we are process and detail-oriented, and we take pride in design that is very intentional and evocative. We are also very professional, and our understanding of structural soundness, spatial planning, logistics and people management is always on point.

M: How far in advance should clients reach out to you?

A: Clients typically get in touch with us anywhere between 1 year to 6 months in advance. This time frame allows us sufficient time to understand their vision, ideate, and create something truly special for the couple, considering the extensive behind-the-scenes work involved.

M: Can you give us an insight into the pricing details of your services?

A: That varies from client to client.