Since its launch in 2015, Shaadi Squad has been mounting glitzy celebrity weddings—from Virat- Anushka to Priyanka-Jonas—at exotic locales. Co-founders Tina Tharwani and Saurabh Malhotra are the driving force at every one of these weddings and ensure that they become life-changing experiences.
Excerpts from the interview with Tina Tharwani & Saurabh Malhotra, Co-founders of Shaadi Squad:
T+L India: What’s new with Shaadi Squad?
Tina & Saurabh: This year we’ve tapped into two new destinations— Bali and Andaman.We never looked at the Andaman as a potential wedding destination because of logistical and operational constraints but are very excited to foray into this region and see what lies ahead.
T+L India: Which destinations in India offer a transformative wedding experience, according to you?
Tina & Saurabh: Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Andaman Island, Wayanad in Kerala, and Jaipur in Rajasthan offer unique experiences for guests.
T+L India: What are some sustainable practices that Shaadi Squad incorporates in its preparations?
Tina & Saurabh: We consciously try to incorporate the local culture and craftsmanship of the destination where the wedding is happening. For a wedding that we executed in Jaipur last year, we identified a local hand- block printing manufacturer and curated giveaways for guests entirely based on this printing technique. We have been recommending sustainable packaging options to curate hampers for our clients and work with a brand named EcoKaari for our weddings that recycles plastic to make foldable trays and bags. The waste generated at the end of a wedding we planned in Chennai was taken to a local recycling centre. We have sourced unique fragrances for guests from a small village called Kannauj that has been distilling scents in India for decades. I think the easiest way to make the wedding sustainable is by sourcing things locally and empowering the local craft.
T+L India: Can you share one unique wedding you have been a part of?
Tina & Saurabh: Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s intimate wedding in Tuscany will always hold a special place in our hearts. The entire wedding was kept under wraps and planned in about four months. This was also the first big celebrity wedding we did, and nothing supersedes the amount of love we received and keep receiving for this one!
T+L India: What trends do you see in the Indian wedding market in the future?
Tina & Saurabh: Post pandemic, people have gravitated towards more and more intimate, subdued, and personalised affairs. Gone are the days of outlandish entries of brides and grooms. New-age couples want their weddings to be fun, understated, and close-knit. People want to focus more on the experience. Food and bar experience has taken a wonderful shift—interactive eclectic food stations are preferred. People want to explore offbeat destinations and boutique properties and ensure that guests have enough space to enjoy the destination without keeping the itinerary too crunched.
TAB Selects
An emerging wedding destination in India: Ranthambore
One destination that has inspired you: Tuscany, Italy
Related: Indian Elegance: 10 Enchanting Wedding Destinations For Your Big Day
