Ambika Gupta, Janki Desai, Anika Dhawan And Devika Narain Are Reimagining Weddings With Clutter-breaking Ideas

India's ₹10,79,000 crore wedding industry has been growing steadily and as of FY 2024, has become the second largest in the Indian retail market. What defines it are however not just the boggling numbers but the sensibility and intentionality of some of its most celebrated designers. These inspiring women entrepreneurs are imbuing the concept of a big fat Indian wedding with surpassing authenticity, nuance, refinement, and substance. They are also transforming the meaning of luxury by rooting celebrations in culture, deeply personal storytelling, India's design heritage and eco-sensitivity.

Ambika Gupta : Be it spirited Gen Z clients or celebrities like Alanna Panday, Kajal Aggarwal, Eka Lakhani, Sakshi Sindwani or Aadhi Pinisetty and Nikki Galrani, multiple-award-winning designer Ambika Gupta is the first choice of discerning clients in search of nuance and depth. Her process-oriented approach, architecturally sound design, immersive 3-D drawings and inspired mood boards bring to life personal stories in a culturally rooted language. Her company, The A-Cube Project, is one of the few design firms to expand into the Middle East so swiftly, opening its Dubai office in 2024 as ACUBE.ME. Apart from destination weddings across the world, she has also designed breathtaking sets for Amazon Prime Video's 'Made in Heaven-Season 2', Netflix's 'Dubai Bling', soft launch of Mona Kattan's brand 'Juice', Gaurav Gupta's set for India Couture Week '24 and Karan Torani's campaign shot at the iconic Red Fort. She is now expanding her expertise to retail spaces, interiors, and events. Known for her memory-laced installations, scent-driven aisle experiences and multi-sensory themes rich in metaphor, Ambika has been featured in the New York Times for her work on Van Gogh-inspired event during Covid. Be it Indian iconography, heirloom-infused tablescapes, mandaps layered with symbolism, theatrical scale or quiet, intimate details, her work has a distinct poetic lyricism that sets her apart.

Janki Desai : Janki is the founder of the event design firm ALTAIR and has designed the weddings of Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar. Since its inception in 2016, Altair has designed weddings across the world with out-of -the-box ideas. Janki's mantra is to bring newness to wedding design and customize it. Altair's mission, according to her, is to enhance self-expression, and curate thoughtful events that the clients will treasure. "Contemporary India and Minimalism is our playground," says the team behind Altaire. Janki believes it is the perfect setting that enhances an event without distracting from it and is known for creating stunning wide canvases as well as intimate experiences detailed with Indian design ethos. She routinely transforms grand venues like Surajgarh Palace in Jaisalmer and Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa in Mahabalipuram, into warm, cosy and personalised spaces where every architectural feature integrates into a personal narrative. She also incorporates curated multisensory elements in her design to rekindle nostalgic memories from the past.

Anika Dhawan: The Founder & Artistic Director of Rani Pink is the creative force behind the wedding celebrations of Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja, Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal, Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul. She brings timeless Indian aesthetics and culture to the forefront of her design stories but not without a touch of refreshing modernism. Rani Pink's maximalist, whimsical, quirky and nostalgic design ethos is also personalised to the last detail so that each celebration is an extension of the couple. According to her, "intimate setups, sustainable choices and meaningful little details full of heart" are necessary to tell a wedding story authentically. Rani Pink designs celebrations through a historical and cultural lens and makes the most of Indian craftsmanship. Be it Rajasthani block prints, vintage chandeliers, pearl-encrusted tassels, marigold-filled courtyards, zari, gota, brocade or Phulkari accents, Anika knows how to create layers upon layers of artisanal textures.

Devika Narain : Devika Narain and Company was famously born on the dining table of a rented apartment with the dream of creating and curating personal and uniquely Indian events. Today, her team of young designers works with local artisans and craftsmen to tell personal histories and to celebrate Indian heritage with a modern sensibility. Devika is the soulful designer behind the weddings of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha, Richa Chaddha and Ali Fazal. She has carved a niche for her sustainability focused, hyper-personalized and mindful experiences. Her events are waste-conscious and packed with upcycled décor elements. She also unabashedly celebrates Indian artists, craftsmen, painters, carpenters and even florists whose ingenuity she admires. As she says, "I've dedicated my entire life to the appreciation of things that are made by hand and of the people who make them!"