'Young couples steering away from traditional wedding themes'

A year-round calendar of exhibitions providing bespoke and customised solutions for wedding wear, planning, decor, gifting et al is a result of the burgeoning demand of young to-be-married couples, who want every aspect of their special day to be "individualistic", says Ramola Bachchan, the organiser of the Runway Bridal event.

In the ever-changing and expanding landscape of the Indian wedding market, bridal shows, events and exhibits have found prominence over the years.

Commenting on the same, Ramola Bachchan, managing director of Runway Rising, a venture that organises and puts together various lifestyle exhibitions, told IANS: "I believe there is a profusion of talent in this segment. That needs to be showcased to the public.

"Also, today, the young about-to be married couples are steering away from traditional themes and are more inclined to choose individualistic looks in terms of colour, style, decor and concepts."

The 'personalised' concept has come into play, Ramola pointed out.

"They (people) are making more bespoke decisions to suit their personal styles. It could be totally over the top, or simple and elegant. There are no longer any standards. It's coming down more and more to personal choice," she added.

Runway Bridal, a two-day gala showcasing bridal creations of some of the country's top-notch apparel, jewellery and accessory designers, was held earlier this month. In its second edition, it saw creations by names like Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Anita Dongre, Manish Arora, Ashima-Leena and even some up and coming names in the apparel and jewellery space.

"Through the platform of Runway Bridal, we try to showcase the best of bridal in India - combining the leading couturiers with some of the upcoming names. The idea is to help them (people) plan their dream wedding.

"The exposition lets them explore different options be it trousseau, decor, jewellery, wedding invitations and more to make their day special in its own way," Ramola said, and added how "in the two years since its inception, Runway Bridal has gone from strength to strength".

In times when couture fashion weeks and events showcase an abundance of options for the bridal wear, what makes wedding exhbitions important?

"The Indian wedding market continues to grow exponentially. There are many bridal fashion shows, but an exposition offers an open platform to buyers... I must admit that it offers a gamut of designer labels and a huge array of leading names in the jewellery business under one roof," she said.