Dos And Don’ts Of Wedding Planning, According To A Wedding Architect

You have spent hours, not to mention years, building the picture-perfect Pinterest for your wedding. But when it comes to booking the venue of your dreams a year in advance or chasing the overbooked makeup artist you want for your D-Day, the to-do list can feel scarily never-ending. And amidst keeping track of your vows, attending to finer details — like the quality of flowers in your floral centrepiece or the font of your monogrammed napkins — can be an overwhelming task.

The secret then, to the nuptials you’ve imagined, is handing over the stress to the best in the business. Founder of Bling Mushrooms, Pritie Jain, who has most recently put together Radhika Merchant’s Vrindavan-themed griha shanti ceremony tells Manifest the dos and don’ts of building the wedding of your dreams.

In Conversation With Bling Mushrooms Founder Pritie Jain

Manifest: You describe yourself as a wedding architect. What does that entail?

Pritie Jain: The idea is to turn your wedding venue or space into something experiential for any event that the couple is hosting as part of their nuptials. An experience for both the couple and the guests to take back home. The space could be their home, a five-star hotel, an island, or even a lake. When you’re spending that kind of money, the grandeur is all about the experience, and what you’re creating at that venue with extremely intricate details. Which is where we come in!

M: What is one of the most significant changes you have seen in the past decade and a half?

PJ: Four years ago, the parents followed blindly what someone else suggested when deciding on the decor. Today, the couples are involved — either the bride or the groom, or probably both. A bride comes with her own research and Pinterest board and knows what is in, what is not. She does not want something that’s very easily available.

M: What are some of the things you see couples incorporating into their wedding design these days?

PJ: No one wants to follow trends — which is the best thing. I tell my clients to figure something that we have not seen anyone else do and let that become a trend. Couples have become very particular of what they like. They work with fresh flowers that are associated with soulful, personal stories, something I personally love. Earlier you would never see the madness for Pan-Asian or a Japanese counter as part of the buffet. But now in a sangeet, couples love to have a sushi counter as opposed to chaats, soups, and salads.

M: Weddings, especially in India, can be long and exhausting. How do you advise your couples to organise their events?

PJ: Ideally no more than two events a day. We always suggest doing things that are more intimate and meaningful for you and your guests. For example, at a wedding in Italy where we had a free half day, we we were doing this wedding in Italy got customised aprons, and chef caps for every guest and we did a ‘Make Your Own Pizza Lunch’ party!

M: How do you ensure sustainability in your practices?

PJ: We try to involve unique artisans and skills, and ensure everything finds a way back to the homes of the couple or their guests. For Radhika Merchant’s griha shanti, we used Benarasi cushion covers, linens, and throws. These were all items that they could later reuse in their home.

Dos And Don’ts Of Wedding Planning

Always have a tentative budget, and divide it in parts —for venue, catering and so on.

“It is best to work in reverse, so nothing comes as a shock,” says Jain.

Keep a written trail of every conversation

“No matter how many Zoom calls or telephonic conversations we have had, make sure every conversation is closed with written proof,” says Jain.

Leave no room for ambiguity

“When you say pale yellow, what shade of pale yellow do you mean? I must confirm

that shade with you in person before closing on a vendor,” says Jain.

Follow the timelines

“Some venues need to be booked more than a year in advance. Some artists, DJs, stylists need to be contacted more than half a year prior,” says Jain.