Letters: Wedding blueprint

This refers to the report "Budget planners take over to trim big, fat Indian weddings" (September 29). Weddings are a significant event for anyone but in the Indian culture they take on a heightened level of importance. They have become an extravagant affair and cost a fortune. No gold, no wedding is the norm. The haute cuisine served is not only exotic but often wasteful. Invitations are another saga. The weddings of the Indian diaspora have also taken a similar trend. In Europe or the US, plans tend to be even more lavish and several of them run easily into the seven figures.

In these times of economic downturn, one has to scout for newer business avenues and that is to tap the weddings of children of politicians who seem to have vast resources.

Another innovative way to cut costs is to invite sponsors for a segment of the wedding programme. The muhurath could be used for advertising jewellery and designer saris. Receptions can be sponsored for promoting more exotic and upscale designer apparel. In such functions the guests - some of them important dignitaries - are a captive audience and an ideal opportunity to beam products. This can cut costs and yet satisfy the yen for a fancy wedding. The alternative to the appeal on not wasting food or have modest weddings is to bring back the guest control order that was in force a few years back.

H N Ramakrishna Bangalore

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