Wedding Designer Devika Narain Gives Couples Tips On How To Throw A Spectacular Bash

What inspires your wedding designs?

My greatest inspiration is the couple themselves. The psychology of spaces has always intrigued me, and I love how a family’s personal aesthetic transforms into an actual physical space. We weave our design stories around the couple’s personal story, their likes, dislikes, the venue they have chosen—all of which gives us enough to work off of!

What is your favourite part of a wedding? Seeing it all come together! The months before the wedding are spent planning and designing and there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing it all physically transform into something real.

What weddings trends do you think WE’ll see in 2018?

For the last decade, weddings have been about showmanship and grandeur. I have seen the shift in focus from grand to feel-good weddings. The emphasis is now on how guests feel and how their overall experience is. I believe the focus of a wedding should be on the family—it is the only time multiple generations of a family are together and that should drive the ethos of a celebration.

What is the one thing that brides and grooms should and shouldn’t do when planning a wedding?

The best way to plan a wedding is from the perspective of someone attending it. People plan and design the most beautiful weddings and completely overlook the needs of their guests. Space out your functions, provide sufficient seating, create experiences that engage guests, and induce conversations. Think about the food and what you and your family enjoy eating as opposed to what is fashionable. Be comfortable in your clothes so you can enjoy your wedding, spend less time getting dressed and more time at the functions. The biggest décor mistake I see families make (and I say family and not the bride or groom, because that’s what weddings are all about) is not being true to themselves. Weddings are about people coming together and that must be the driving sentiment behind everything you do. I see people following “trends” and doing things they see on Instagram or Pinterest that just don’t work for their guests.