PACKING A PUNCH

Wedding organiser Harkirat Chaudhry's portmanteau is every bride's necessity: crushed tissue pouches and sunboard trousseau packs. Fit for holding anything from sugar-coated almonds to gold guineas.

BUILDING DREAMS

Plain pandals are a no-no. Bollywood in Delhi, Japan in Mehrauli, fort and temple replicas ... the more outlandish the theme the better.

"The wedding industry has generated employment on a large scale."
Meher Sarid, Wedding Planner

SCROLL CALL Indian motifs rule, preferably on imported recycled paper. Ganesh Pyne or crystal Ganeshas, both go well with scrolls in tissue envelopes or Borosil testtubes.

STYLE IS SUBSTANCE

Gaggle of brides-to-be rush to workshops for last-minute demo by special invitee Shovana Narayan on etiquette and poise. Limos are hot.

WEB WEB A relative abroad can't attend? Have it webcast live via firms like Shaadionline for Rs 75,000.

EYE FEAST
THREE RULES TO A FAB SPREAD: style, style, style.
At least seven cuisines must in an evening. Imported fruit, fat-free desserts are the craze. Innovation is key.

LIP SERVICE Salons like Ambika Pillai's churn out Madhuri-Aishwarya clones by the dozen for Rs 3,000-7,000.

DONNED IN SPLENDOUR: Sheetal and Parikshit Bardeja sparkle at their grandiose wedding reception in Delhi

FRINGE BENEFITS

A dash of arclights, thousands of candles or truckloads
of imported blooms liven up five-star banquets and
farmhouses, the favoured venues for multi-ceremony
bashes. Ludhiana's marriage palaces and Bhopal's
Shaadi Lawns are catching up.

"Universities may soon offer courses on wedding management."
J.R. Gupta
Wedding Consultant
On the rocks Tanishq laps up cash-happy customers buying diamond sets by the dozen. One for each occasion. Matching kundan chokers are still hip.