30 Unique Ways to Transform Your Wedding Mandap

Brides Today Digital: What will weddings be like post corona? 

 “People will opt for more intimate gatherings with fewer guests,” shares Vedika Mohan of The Wedding Design Company, the planners behind Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s wedding at Lake Como. “Destination weddings will be restricted and most couples will consider hosting their marriage in their hometowns. The number of functions will also decrease, and the emphasis will be on the wedding day itself.”

 “I imagine smaller, more intimate weddings, at least till a vaccine is widely available,” agrees Devika Narain, who designed Virat Kolhi and Anuskha Sharma’s wedding. “The sustainable wedding is now going to take centre stage, with a lot more people putting thought into where things are coming from and where they will go. Both the spaces and the teams executing the weddings will be sanitised and basic health protocols will be set in place. And the hand sanitiser is going to be a part of every welcome! On a more positive note, I do imagine a lot more focus on quality over quantity, as couples would want only the best for their closest friends and families celebrating with them.” 

 “Post corona, there's going to be a rush of weddings,” adds Meera Ravi of the Bridal March Co. “Vendors and brides will opt for more eco-friendly alternatives. To give an example, you can say no to plastic bottles that abound at almost every wedding. Just place glass jugs, one on each table, instead.”

Brides Today Digital: What are some of the big mandap trends worth considering in 2020-21? 

 According to Vedika, couples are gravitating back towards more conventional and traditional mandaps. Working with the natural setting of the venue is also going to become a popular option. 

“Using nature as your wedding mandap backdrop is a huge trend,” explains Aakriti of Silhouette Events. “An intimate, at-home garden wedding, ceremonies by a lake, or a mandir wedding may sound simple, but they can feature mandaps executed with a great level of detail to create memories you will cherish for a lifetime,” she adds.

“Open-air mandaps are also very popular right now,” shares Saba Sheikh of Atisuto Events. “Mandaps in nude tones, using pampas grass and rattan accessories are popular with those wanting a more modern and organic aesthetic,” she adds. In her opinion, bold and monochromatic colour palettes will also gain favour. “There is a shift towards the ‘no mandap’ mandaps—designs that have no structures and are more like installations.

Brides Today Digital:  What mandap colour themes do you see being predominant in the coming year?

 “We would love to see all whites and gold or silver being used for the mandap,” share Neha and Jinal, co-founders of The Doli Dairy. “We love designing mandaps to complement the couple's outfits. Pastels are an everlasting trend, one that is also quite popular right now.”

Sabha agrees: “Pastels will always be in style. Monotones, nudes, and greens are some of the colour choices that have been trending of late.”

Brides Today Digital: What are some simple and easy mandap ideas that look truly striking?

“You can never go wrong with flowers!” says Vedika. “ A simple structure adorned with a profusion of flowers can brighten up the entire wedding.” 

If you are looking for a cost-effective and easy alternative, Meera suggests placing diyas all around the mandap. “This instantly boosts the overall look of the structure without much effort,” she shares.

According to Devika, the minimal mandap is back in fashion. “Create a simple, beautiful mandap complimented with a grand aisle. The best way to make any mandap look stunning is to play with volume and size. Identify one element— be it bells or red roses, and use a profusion of it. This will instantly make your mandap dramatic. The days of clutter are gone,” she emphasises. “And place your mandap in a space that is already beautiful—under a tree, framing a hill, or with the ocean as a backdrop,” she shares.

Brides Today Digital: What details and personal elements can a bride include to transform her wedding mandap?

 According to Vedika, it's all in the details. “Adding smaller items like kaliras, candle stands, matkas, or diya grids can instantly make any space beautiful.”

 “Create a beautiful ceiling with flowers, props, or fabrics—it will ends up being in all the photos,” suggests Devika. She also recommends using multiple versions of one element. “If you’re getting married at night, use lots of candles,” she says.

Brides Today Digital: Can you tell us about some of the most unusual mandap requests you have catered to? 

“One of my favourite mandaps was the one we created for a wedding in Jaipur,” Devika remembers. “The bride and groom wanted theirs on an infinity pool, with the hills framed behind them. (featured above) They didn’t want a traditional four-pole structure, so we created one using locally-grown bajra and wheatgrass to define the space.”

“One of our personal favourites is this transparent mandap set against the breezy backdrop of the sea,” says Aakriti.  “The idea behind it was to make it look like it was floating on the sea itself. It symbolizes peace, calm, and spirituality. Acrylic pillars gave us transparency to ensure clear vision, while the flowers added the necessary delicateness.”

“Ever since our lotus mandap (featured here) went viral, I've had many requests for creating unique mandaps,” says Meera. “I had another request for a floating mandap, which we are currently working on! One particular bride wanted her aisle to look like she was walking on water, just like the wedding from the movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, so we created a mirrored aisle for her.” 

Brides Today Digital: How can a bride make her wedding mandap more personal? 

The mandap is a very intimate space for any bride, and the blessings bestowed upon the couple stay with them forever. According to Aakriti, brides should consider personalised decor elements that can be retained, cherished, and passed on. “For instance, feature a divine chandwa with a hand painted Madhubani painting over the mandap—this is something that can later be used as a piece of art at your home,” she suggests.

“My recommendation to brides would be to add elements connected to their relationship and journey, which symbolise a strong emotion,” she adds. “Take this example of a space we created for a bride who had a keen eye for embroideries, colours, and flowers. We fabricated this ethereal space for the exchange of vows, where intricately hand-embroidered panels were erected in the backdrop.” (featured above)

According to Neha and Jinal, any element that tells a story or is connected to the couple’s life and relationship together can make a mandap more personal. “One particular couple had their vows printed out on the aisle,” they share. “Another of our brides loved shells as it reminded her of her proposal on the beach, so we strung up dainty shell hangings for the back of the mandap. Many couples request to add  photographs of deceased relatives close to their hearts, to ensure their symbolic presence throughout the ceremony.” 

Devika adds, “Including notes, ceremony cards, and details for guests on their chairs is a wonderful way to personalise your ceremony, and is easy to execute.”