Vidushi Gaur

In a world where weddings are no longer just a celebration of love but an extravagant spectacle, Indian couples are turning to wedding planners to create dream events with the glitz and glamour of the level of IIFA Awards night.

From stunning, show-stopping venues to personalized experiences that reflect the couple’s unique personalities, the role of wedding planners is evolving from logistical support to that of a creative force that shapes every detail of the big day.

Dakshita Bhatla, the founder of DB and Spaces, has witnessed this shift in wedding ceremonies and that is driving the wedding planning industry.

Based out of Uttarakhand, Dakshita and her core team of eight work tirelessly to execute destination weddings across a variety of picturesque locales -Nainital, Mussoorie to the historic Jaipur and Udaipur.

“The pressure is immense,” says Dakshita, recalling moments when she found herself in a race against time to complete the venue setup before the arrival of the baraat. “Once, the baraat was at the doorsteps when we were decorating the stage with over 3,000 flowers. These situations can create a real panic for everyone involved,” she admits.

The grand entry of the bride and groom

The challenge of coordinating such large-scale events is compounded by the relative lack of skilled vendors in remote regions. In contrast to cities like Udaipur, which boast a well-established network of experienced professionals, destinations like Uttarakhand can present difficulties when it comes to finding local talent for specialized roles.

“Sometimes, the crackers won’t go off as planned, or an important item goes missing, and you see the panic on the couple's face. We feel that pressure too,” Dakshita shares.

These are not just logistical nightmares that wedding planners face. Weather is always a challenge. Dakshita recounts a particularly memorable instance when a bride and her sister insisted on an outdoor wedding setup despite dark rain clouds looming overhead. Meanwhile, the bride’s parents were adamant about moving the ceremony indoors. “We had to mediate carefully and come up with a solution that satisfied everyone’s wishes,” she explains.

The demands placed on wedding planners are also becoming bizarre.

A beautiful set for day sangeet

Dakshita recalls a bride requesting a custom-designed chair for her makeup session. Another bride asked for a specially curated diet plan to ensure she stayed in shape for the wedding events. Similarly, grooms are not immune to quirky demands. “One groom asked us to play the song from the movie Jodha Akbar movie number  Azeem-o-Shaan Shehenshah on a loop during his entry. It’s those kinds of things that make each wedding special,” she smiles.

The role of a wedding planner today goes far beyond organizing flowers and booking venues. It’s about crafting an experience that blends cultures, aesthetics, and personal style to create a celebration that feels uniquely tailored to the couple.

“Recently, couples have been asking for mandaps that seamlessly blend with nature, which requires my architectural knowledge,” Dakshita explains. She works closely with clients to bring their ideas to life, often creating 2D and 3D renderings of the venue and mandap designs to ensure everything is perfect before the big day.

Gift stall for the guests

Fashion trends also play a significant role in shaping wedding celebrations. After a period of pastel hues and light jewellery dominating bridal wear, brides are returning to the classic allure of red lehengas paired with heavy traditional jewelry. This shift has been fueled in part by the resurgence of traditional red in collections from top designers like Sabyasachi and Rimple & Harpreet. "The bold red lehenga with intricate embroidery is back in vogue, offering a timeless, regal feel,” Dakshita notes.

Meanwhile, millennials are bringing nostalgia to their weddings by embracing 90s-themed celebrations. Retro-inspired hampers filled with nostalgic treats like sugar cigarettes, Cheetos, and other childhood favorites have become a fun, whimsical way to engage guests. Even the wedding giveaways have taken on a new, personal touch, with brides and grooms opting for unique souvenirs like caricature artwork, luxury perfumes, and scented candles—items that have nothing to do with the wedding but create lasting memories for guests.

It’s not just ordinary couples who are seeking out these high-end, IIFA Awards-inspired celebrations. Dakshita’s team has had the privilege of curating extravagant weddings for celebrities, including Surbhi Jyoti, a star of the popular TV series Naagin, and Vineet Bhatia, the son of the first Indian Michelin-starred chef. These high-profile weddings, like the others Dakshita plans, are a combination of meticulous detail, creative flair, and seamless execution.

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“At the end of the day, trends come and go, but it’s the experiences we create that last a lifetime,” Dakshita concludes, reflecting on the heart of her work. “It’s our ethical responsibility to ensure that every couple walks away with unforgettable memories because, in the world of weddings, it's as much about spectacle as it is about love.” In this new era of wedding planning, couples are no longer settling for the ordinary—they're creating the extraordinary.