Weddings Trends Post-COVID-19
En masse, weddings have been dramatically downsized, postponed, or canceled. Look trends for 2020 and 2021
Weddings in India have always been all about huge gatherings, boisterous celebrations, food and music. The pandemic and resulting precautions in place have changed this drastically. A 2017 KPMG report pegged the Indian wedding market at $50 billion. But with the coronavirus pandemic having brought about the lockdown, the scene has changed.
While slowly the reopening process has been kick-started, the government has implemented strict guidelines that limit large gatherings and events, with not more than 50 people in attendance at weddings.
Ankur Sarawagi, India Country Head, The Knot Worldwide said, “The impact has led to many wedding professionals up-scaling themselves as well as their businesses and embracing technology for the future, by strengthening their online presence and handling end to end solutions over the phone, both for the wedding ceremony itself or planning it.” They are witnessing weddings with restrictions with the help of technology like video calls or digital invites, thus broadening the horizons of possibilities for Indian couples.
The company has noticed these trends in the new normal of weddings and wedding planning.
Minimonies: Many are looking to have mini-ceremonies or ‘mini-monies’ on pre-planned dates with an intimate gathering followed by a more massive celebration sometime in the latter part of the year.
Safety measures: Welcome kits will have sanitisation kits. The guests could be asked for a medical certificate to ensure safety.
Guests by shifts: Having 1000s of guests and people following social distancing doesn’t work together. The couple might not want to let go of all invitees in the wedding list, but they can come in shifts to ensure there is no crowding and the social distancing norms are followed.
Food prep and serve: How food is prepared and how it will be served will take great importance. Sit-down plated meals will take preference over a buffet, making it easier to enforce the social distancing norms as also avoid long queues.
Hair and makeup: Masks are essential in these post-COVID-19 times, and if the bride is planning to wear it, then her lip makeup won’t be visible. Eyes and hair will take more focus. Proper and thorough sanitisation of the HMU team will be critical.
Venues: Closed venues will see fewer takers, and open-air ones will see significant demand. While the weather could play a spoilsport, it would be preferred to have a well-aerated and ventilated venue rather than the closed, air-conditioned space.
Digital: E-invites will have more takers now, and also video broadcasting of the ceremony for the family that can’t travel in.
Photography: Pre-wedding shoots done at exotic spots are no more an option, but it can be done with candid shots alongside natural elements like trees, sun, etc.
Original article in english by radhika sathe patwardhan
