A typical Indian wedding conjures up images of a beautifully decorated stage, the bride and groom at its centre, vowing to spend the rest of their lives together. Beyond them, a sea of people watching. Including the bride’s uncle’s new astrologer and the best man’s breakdancing troupe from college.
But for some couples, the tides are shifting, stars are realigning and the guest list is dwindling. An intimate desi wedding sounds faintly contradictory, and yet, it has snuck up on us. Lists that used to run well into the hundreds are now tapering off in the fifties and, gasp… even twenties. Why are couples going down this lean route? Or rather, how are they getting away with it? According to Krish Sheth and Shefali Sharma, whose 55-person wedding took place in Rishikesh, the trick is simple: make sure your sibling gets married first. “Both our families had their fill; they’d already called everyone they wanted to,” shares Sheth.
Photographed by Raabta Studios
But the couple didn’t begin with a number in mind. After months of searching, they found a property that felt right, Anand Kashi by the Ganges. It had the warm energy they were looking for and, more importantly, a limited capacity. So, the venue wrote the guest list. Years of attending large weddings had already planted the seed. “It’s like an attendance register,” Sheth says. “You show up, say hello, pose for a photo and move on.” Anyone they didn’t have at least three core memories with, didn’t make their list.
For those working behind-the-scenes, this shift has been a pleasant change of pace. The pandemic was certainly a catalyst—proof that ceremonies could still feel complete without being excessive. Wedding planner Priya Maganti of RVR Eventz & Design, who recently hosted around 180 guests—intimate by her standards—knew every guest there by name. “By the end, people didn’t know if I was the planner or part of the family,” she laughs. That closeness changes everything. With fewer guests, you actually get to host, to make sure people have eaten well and to be present.
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