It’s wedding season and the crowning jewel is the upcoming wedding of Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif. Unless you’ve been banned from the internet, you know that Vicky and Katrina take the safety of their marriage at Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur very seriously. So much so that wedding guests were given secret codes to allow only authorized entry. Not only that, nondisclosure agreements were signed and no-photograph clauses were issued. The couple want to keep the “show-sha” marriage a secret. While Vicky and Katrina have gone for the traditional destination wedding with confidentiality clauses, others in B-town have actually chosen indescribable nuptials lately.

Just as fans accepted the gorgeous wedding photos in Dia Mirza and Vaibhav Rekhi’s garden in Mumbai, Yami Gautam dropped pictures of her looking like a goddess as Aditya Dhar’s wife for her wedding. which took place in the middle of the hills of Himachal Pradesh. Ali Abbas Zafar took to social media to introduce his bride to the world after their low-key wedding ceremony, and despite the news of their nuptials leaked to the press, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa also had a toned-down ceremony in Chandigarh, far away. spotlights from Tinseltown. The move may have left the paparazzi off guard, but social media has praised the humble decisions of these celebrities.

Unlike the big, big Bollywood weddings of old that made headlines for the extravagance of the ceremonies and the money spent on them, some celebrities are now consciously making the decision to cut down on business with an emphasis on the bond of the couple. everything else. It not only set these couples apart from the rest, but also painted them as morally responsible duos who put the time ahead of their own dreams. The bonus? They can organize completely private events away from the prying eyes of the media. But what is the thought behind these minimalist weddings and how does it fit in with the image of people whose mere presence commands a frenzy? #BigStory by ETimes discovers …

Learn from the past

Exotic flowers imported from distant lands, a gourmet menu that could double as a gourmet world tour, long-distance wedding planners who get together, security guards hired by dozens – these are the elements of celebrity weddings that we are waiting for each other. But Yami, who had witnessed a few of these extravagant adventures herself, knew she didn’t want the same when it came time to walk down the aisle. His marriage in June 2021 to filmmaker Aditya Dhar was a reminder of the past when perfect candidates were not the order of the day. Speaking to the Bombay Times, the actress said, “From my understanding and experience attending weddings, I was sure what I didn’t want. I’m fortunate that Aditya and I share this thought. We are both opposed to the waste that occurs in weddings – food, flower decorations, and much more. Plus, it’s so hard to make everyone happy, so why not marry those who really care about you. The emphasis was only on the ceremony and not on us trying to please anyone. We were only two families to enjoy the moment.

Sustainability first

Weddings, especially in India, have never been intended to alleviate it. The Big Fat Indian Wedding is such a cliché for a reason. More than celebrating the couple’s bond, the three-day wedding rituals are more of an excuse for the whole extended family to get together and party. It is a kind of festival and the calculation of the numbers in terms of money is not only avoided, it is frowned upon. But according to wedding planner Priyanka Kalantri, the trend is changing, albeit slowly. “As we can all see, global warming and excessive pollution are our biggest concerns and because of this we face consequences such as floods, cyclones and erratic climate change. It is very important to consider sustainability when planning any event. For example, we can avoid waste at a beach wedding or even avoid too many fireworks. Small changes can also make a big difference, ”she explains.

And who better to lead the change than the celebrities who influence the masses. For Dia Mirza, who has long championed sustainable development, her marriage was another opportunity to set an example. Not only were all the plates for her wedding taken into account, so that there was no waste, she also provided water to her guests in glass bottles instead of plastic, and for the wedding favor, everyone on their guest list got a plant in hand-woven baskets from Meghalaya. Even their wedding outfits were designed around the same theme. Unlike her last wedding dress, which the actress revealed to have auctioned, this time around she chose reusable fabric, just like her husband.

Wedding planner Ankita Chugh reiterates how a durable keychain can certainly be a reality instead of burning a hole in the pocket by purchasing a gown that wouldn’t see the light of day after the main ceremony. “Designs evolve so much that you don’t have to stick to very expensive design elements anymore. Now it’s about wearing something different with momentum and grace! Whether it’s Rhea Kapoor wearing sneakers with traditional Indian clothing or celebrities wearing their mother’s heritage saris, it’s a clear shift from a conventional approach to a more unique and trendy way of looking. things, ”she emphasizes.

Be in tune with the times

With the pandemic refusing to end and the Omicron variant of the coronavirus emerging as a new threat, the way the world turns is changing by the minute. Turbulent times have hit every business and the world of cinema is no exception. For most of the past two years, people in the film industry, just like most of us, have had to stay at home, wiggling our fingers, waiting for work to resume. But as the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, it seems the celebrities have come to terms with their new way of life. This period of isolation also forced them to self-reflect on things that really matter, and now this new line of thinking is reflected in their actions as well.

Celebrity wedding photographer Joshua Karthik explains how the pandemic has helped heighten the focus on low-key weddings. “Indian weddings look larger than life due to their emotion – there is real laughter, joy, merriment and more. A setting in the largest of places pales in comparison to one that is perfectly designed for your backyard if everyone is having fun at the wedding. Sustainability has been an important consideration for brides for quite some time now, and we’ve seen this trend towards more conscious choices take hold long before the pandemic. The pandemic did not bring about this change, however, it has certainly sharpened attention around this idea, ”he admits.

Besides the obvious moral ramifications, the lockdown, even when lifted, limited the number of guests who could attend. This meant shrinking the guest list and, by extension, the scale of the wedding itself. Kajal Aggarwal, who married at the Taj Mahal Palace in November last year, insisted that the Covid restrictions did not take away from their joy or excitement about the wedding. However, they had to have every guest present tested for the coronavirus and then quarantined them before they could attend the ceremony.

Privacy has a price

When Varun Dhawan mapped the waters of the Arabian Sea to marry his childhood girlfriend Natasha Dalal in the quaint town of Alibaug, it was also an effort to keep things private as the guest list had to be kept to a minimum due to Covid restrictions. While the paparazzi also attended the scene, they were posted outside to try and get a glimpse, but none of the attendees or even those employed in the wedding preparations were allowed to speak to the media in order to keep things secret. It wasn’t until the couple got married and went out hand in hand that the flashes finally exploded. Ask entertainment photojournalist Manav Manglani if ​​he hates low-key private weddings because they don’t provide good photo opportunities for them and he shrugs, “Everyone has their own. The pandemic has changed a lot of things. We always do our best to get pictures. Of course, the bigger the wedding, the better it is for us photographers ”.

Ankita returns to add, “Celebrities like to keep their weddings very united, usually with just their families, and then host parties to make room for whole paparazzi and invite their A-listers. Unlike large luxury weddings, weddings of celebrities are more focused on making it small, chic, minimalist and there is a clear approach to keeping it smart but frugal. For them most of their spending is their place as they are always looking for unique options. . For celebrities, a lot of things, from decor to food to location, are very expensive because of the merit of their brand.

Money matters

What also cannot be overlooked is that low-key weddings pay off. And these celebrities, with their fully Instagram-friendly marriages, are now inspiring real-life couples to follow their lead. “We don’t compromise on quality or layouts, but yes, looking at the current scenario, there are times when some things aren’t available or take longer to customize. But anything is possible if it’s well planned in advance, ”says Priyanka, adding that many real couples who wanted to attend elaborate wedding ceremonies are now opting for a more economical approach and instead spending the rest of the money on it. trip. “Keep the guest list limited, watch their health and safety, choose an eco-friendly venue, have less fireworks, use local flowers and decorations, masks for guests can be personalized, encouraging to use it and we can even use digitization to enhance the wedding experience, ”suggests Priyanka for a low cost but absolutely breathtaking wedding ceremony.