Wedding designer Ambika Gupta, the mind behind actor Kajal Aggarwal’s knot ceremony, shares her experience of planning a celebrity wedding amid the COVID pandemic. By Team Viva
When actor Kajal Aggarwal and designer Gautam Kitchlu’s wedding photographs recently went viral on social media, there was curiosity as to who planned this dreamy affair? Well, thanks to Chennai-based wedding designer Ambika Gupta and her team. With the theme, ‘Kashmir to Kanyakumari’, the wedding’s design focussed on bringing together the best of the worlds the couple comes from.
Here are the excerpts of our conversation with Ambika, founder of the A-Cube Project, as she talks about her experiences of planning a celebrity wedding.
What were the challenges while planning the wedding, keeping in mind the COVID-19 scenario and limitations?
Well, yes the distancing had to be maintained. Kajal and her family were extremely particular about safety and we rigorously followed all protocols without compromising on the aesthetics and the keen eye for detail they wanted. We observed COVID-19 precautions as specified by the Maharashtra Government and the 60 to 70 guests and members of the crew who were present at the wedding had to go through health clearances beforehand.
How did you actually land this project of planning Kajal’s wedding?
It was completely serendipitous! Kajal’s sister Nisha took a brief look at my portfolio and after a few calls and meetings, we were on. Not a flashy person herself, Kajal wanted her wedding to be understated but elegant. Keeping that in mind and noticing their roots in the respective cultural legacies that she and her husband share, I came up with the complete idea. During a question & answer round, Gautam told me that he is from Kashmir and hence, I came up with the “Kashmir to Kanyakumari” theme and we brought it all to life in just over 35 days.
Any special details you focussed on...
Drawing from diverse cultural references, we ideated and designed the ambience of the Brijwasi Krishna Bagh — a Radha & Krishna-themed Puja at Kajal’s home where the bond of the couple was depicted against a pastoral backdrop — Vrindavan with swings, a floral arch dotted with peonies in shades of pink, stunning origami birds and brass bells hanging from a tree, complemented with peacock feathers, flutes and floral details.
For the Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies, the Soufflé S’il Vous Plaît — an otherwise tropical French bistro at Churchgate — was transformed into a Kitsch Mandi as a tribute to the artisans of India who have been hit hard by the onset of COVID-19. Kajal wore a specially-handcrafted weave by Madhuraya creations, which was an initiative to support weavers and revive traditional crafts. She has a soft spot for the unsung weavers of India and her wedding was the perfect opportunity to give back to them in some way.
How did you gave the French ambience an artisanal touch?
Since Kajal has always supported small businesses, she walked urged us to turn the French ambience into an authentic artisanal experience. We curated and designed a backdrop made of Pettis, or traditional contraptions used by coconut tree climbers. Handmade with love by tree climbers of Kadamba Vanam farms in Parmenkenni, Tamil Nadu, and hand-painted by local artists, we bought them from the farmers itself and that was a beautiful way to support the farmers in these hard times.
We also used Kutch workmanship in furnishings, traditional dry palm weaves all around, and Chettinad consoles and brass pots with banana leaves.
How did you decide the venue?
The wedding venue was the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, where Kashmiri design details were incorporated as a special, heartfelt nod to Kajal’s husband Gautam, where he comes from. The theme — ‘Shikara: A Voyage of Love’ — drew from the idyllic and serene beauty of Kashmir, by mirroring mountain ranges and the majestic Dal Lake. The mandap was majestic and reminiscent of a pyramid. This was an ode to hilly terrains of Kashmir and also representative of the merging of the self and the soul. It was held together by gold frames and translucent baby pink screens. The mandap also bore intricate details of a Shikara, with panelling reminiscent of Kashmir’s houseboats with their wooden jaalis. Adding to the warmth were powder blue pashmina embroidery pieces captured in diamond set frames. Each guest was given a silver bell with a personalised note.
How was the overall experience? Any takeaways...
Well, I think, everyone enjoyed the intimate scale of the wedding along with the layered beauty of each design and detail. The experience for me was even more rewarding because of my client, Kajal, who is an extremely down-to-earth person and her entire family was wonderful. Very sweet and warm. Kajal and her family treated all of us like an extended part of the family. My biggest takeaway from this wedding has been the personal bond I developed with the family. It has only hit me post the wedding that I actually did a celebrity wedding.