Independence day, August 15, is the day I willingly gave up my independence. I tied the knot with my wife of 22 years and the love of my life. The days before the wedding were filled with about as much excitement and stress as one human being can take, checking with the caterers, updating guest lists and losing sleep over which flower arrangement would work best. Luckily for me, all that stress was borne by my wife. My contribution was restricted to turning up on time.
Now as a wedding planner and compere, I wonder whether every couple I meet goes through the same roller coaster ride of emotions.
But like everything else, ‘That Special Day’ has also undergone a sea of change. From ‘traditional’ being the key word, ‘unique’ and ‘different’ are the only words that make up a wedding brief. Francis Gomes of Silver Bells says, “We have seen the structure of weddings change in the short span of 10 years that we have been in business. People now expect more, and they are willing to pay for it.”
Couples are no longer willing to trust their best friends and friendly neighbours with the most important day of their lives. Now professional wedding planners come in with an army of people, from flower arrangers to flame throwers, each determined to give your guests a night they’ll never forget. The cake, always a topic of conversation, now has more airs than the queen. From fountains spewing sparkling water to a built-in firework display, this seemingly simple piece of confectionary is an event all by itself.
Sometimes people go overboard trying to be different. I remember one wedding where the cake table was specially fabricated in the shape of a chariot. A blower was supposed to dispense confetti through a small nozzle attached to the table top. At the appropriate time, the switch was thrown but nothing happened. We could hear the blower motor but the confetti would not come out. Later we learnt that the cake had been placed over the nozzle blocking it. The cake is always matched, of course, by elaborate décor. I’ve seen it all; from a beach-inspired setup to millions of aromatic candles creating a fairytale aura, Bollywood could take a couple of pointers on set design.
There was a time when wedding bands could blindly predict ‘Faithful’ as the couple’s choice for their first song. Cassius of Alcatrazz says, “I remember a time when every couple had Faithful as their bridal special. Now, almost every bridal special we are asked to do is different.” One of my ideas for a different beginning was to have the bride dance with her father first, before being lovingly placed in the care of her husband. Some couples even choose to sing the wedding song themselves, a dedication of their love to each other. I’ve even had situations where the bridal song has been played at the very end. That didn’t go down to well with some of the older, more traditional folks, but I think they forgave us when they saw the blissful looks on the faces of the couples.
No matter what the bridal couple wants, there is only one rule to ensure that your special day goes off without a hitch. Leave your worries to your compere and let your only job be to enjoy yourself.
Love is a beautiful thing, and I thank all those couples for letting me be a part of their love story.
