- Avarna Jain,
Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media
Is Dramatic Draping The Wedding Décor Trend Of The Year?
From creating draped installations from the ceiling to creating entrances with humongous and dramatic drapes, here is what the trend is all about
Will you ask your wedding planner for dramatic drapery?Instagram/ Sully Events, Sakharok Events, Instagram/ Her Maid of Honor
Wedding design is the delicate art of bringing out the bride and groom’s tastes and catering to the guests' visual senses in a memorable way. Indian wedding design and décor is known for its Nakashi installations, red carpets, colourful and vibrant flower arrangements and combinations, which is probably a direct reflection of the ornate art and jewellery design our culture has always been filled with.
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And for those who are all set to tie the knot in 2025, we’ve stumbled upon a design and décor trend that can add the right amount (and kind) of drama that you’re looking for in your spaces; Enter 'dramatic draping.'
What Is Dramatic Draping?
Somewhere in the middle of last year, dramatic drapery began trending as a decor trend for weddings. Fine Art installation artists and art direction experts such as Mia Sylvia Herrod and Cordero Atelier have been steadily setting the tone for trends to take centre stage and creating stunning art installations as well as backdrops using fabrics and textiles in exquisite and experimental ways.
Dramatic draping is a technique where drapes are created in enormous sizes, or in exaggerated ways to emphasize the fabric and complement the space.
Picture breezy fabric such as pastel shades of georgette draped from the ceilings for the reception, or a rich satin draped as the backdrop for an outdoor haldi ceremony, a corridor draped with champagne-toned brocade, or perhaps massive, chiffon, sunset orange bows and drapes on round dining tables for the cocktail night.
But Does The Trend Have A Future In Indian Weddings?
As we spoke to Chennai-based wedding design and decor company Vizha Medai’s co-founder, Sanjana Susaritha Ravi, to understand the practicality of the trend in Indian weddings, some things became clear.
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The Indian culture is rich and colourful, and while draping wedding venues with whites, or off-whites, may end up being too simple for most weddings here, there may be scope for variations of the trend. “Using off-whites for draping could be too minimal for Indian taste and sensibilities, especially in terms of weddings. But the design technique could work very well during the events leading up to the wedding; So, dramatic draping could look amazing during haldis, mehendis, cocktail nights,” shares Sanjana.
She also goes on the explain that many Indian weddings already consist of exaggerated or dramatic design elements. “Most Indian wedding designers use single isolated motifs and art styles and increase their sizes to create drama and allure at Indian weddings.”
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But evidently, no rule says we cannot start including dramatic drapery in Indian weddings. It’s just a matter of having the right vision and access to talented planners, designers and vendors to make the vision come alive.
“We have noticed that couples today want more than just décor—they want immersive environments that feel like an extension of their love story. Draping allows for that storytelling, whether it's a cascading canopy at the entrance, delicate fabric waves creating a dreamlike dining experience, or sheer textiles adding depth to an open-air setting. For Indian weddings, where we often design multiple events with varying themes, this trend can be seamlessly woven in. A sangeet under a billowing, jewel-toned tent, a pheras mandap framed with ethereal, layered drapes, or even a cocktail night with modern, structured fabric art—there's so much potential to adapt this trend while keeping the cultural essence alive. We see this trend making its way into Indian weddings, blending tradition with contemporary elegance,” tells us Reshma Ramaiah, Co-Founder and Director of USA Operations at Resh&Co.
So, perhaps there is a way to combine rich colours that align with the authenticity of Indian weddings and culture with dramatic drapery and make it more ideal for our rituals and traditional set-ups? Are you open to trying this trend for your wedding?
Where we give you a fast-paced look into everything you should wish list when you start to think about marriage. What to buy and how to dress, along with modern mithai and the homegrown fragrance makers to bookmark. Make special note of the feature on alta.
It has everything you need to make your wedding special. From the big comeback of red and pink in bridal wear to how the cool kids are wearing corsets to the celebration, there is only one way to get ready for a wedding —with enjoyment.
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