Vandana Mohan founded The Wedding Design Company over three decades ago when the wedding industry didn’t exist in India. It rightly earned her the epithet of ‘master wedding planner’. She was later joined by her daughter Vedika Mohan who took on the role of creative director. Together, they have turned the company into a one-stop-shop for all things wedding.
T+L India: How has the destination wedding scene evolved since The Wedding Design Company was launched?
Vandana started this over 35 years ago and we can proudly say that she put the grandeur of Indian weddings on the world map. Today, the approach and perspective are more modern and give weddings by The Wedding Design Company a different, more enthusiastic, and newer perspective. Destination weddings have become much more popular today. While Rajasthan has always been a popular destination choice in India, over the years people have explored destinations like Goa, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and many international locations. WDC as a company has worked in over 35 countries. That in itself says a lot about the evolution and demand.
Wedding themes and decor have become more elaborate and personalised, with couples opting for a wide range of themes. Back in the day, it was all about the ‘ghar ki shaadi’, but today even that home wedding is detailed, customised, and personalised.The demand for professional wedding planners has grown, leading to a more organised and structured approach to weddings. Social media has had a significant impact on our lives. With people from around the world sharing their experiences and creating a trend of Instagram-worthy weddings, Pinterest being a reference point for everything, and with AI generated ideas and visuals, one must constantly stay updated.
T+L India: What are the trends that you foresee in 2024?
A lot of the western world is influencing Indian weddings. So, non-traditional attire and outfits are something we’re foreseeing for weddings to come. And in the post-pandemic world, revenge travel and shopping have been big. So, destination weddings, intimate or large scale, are back, and the need to celebrate is bigger than ever. Be it an intimate house function, or something as glamorous as a sangeet, the Indian wedding remains a big celebration.
T+L India: Both of you have organised many weddings in India and abroad, which destination is your favourite and why?
Italy remains a favourite. It offers a stunning backdrop for weddings with its beautiful countryside, historic cities, and coastal areas. It’s rich in culture and has some amazing food but other than that, the infrastructure available to host an Indian wedding is great—from venues and hotels to vendors. Italy is also well-connected to major Indian cities through international flights, making it relatively accessible for guests travelling from India.
T+L India: What has been your biggest challenge in putting together a celebrity destination wedding?
To keep it under wraps. Security and privacy are sacrosanct with that profile of people.
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Featured and Hero image courtesy: Vandana Mohan/Instagram
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