AT THE VERY CORE

In his first ever authored article, SANJAY GARG, head designer and managing director of Raw Mango, shares his thoughts on weddings and the spectacles they have become, the need for intimate ceremonies, and how his brand campaigns reflect the true essence of a couple coming together.

- SANJAY GARG

Weddings are supposed to be a couple's moment of happiness and joy. Yet, the weight of expectations be it of family, friends, or society-is immense.

It's somehow not just about making a personal commitment; it's about putting on a show and meeting everyone's standards. So often, the couple's individuality gets lost in all this noise. Their moment gets shrouded with opinions and preferences that aren't always their own.

The billion-dollar wedding industry thrives on the excess and perpetuates the notion that larger, more extravagant celebrations hold greater significance. The word 'sophistication' seems almost out of place now destination weddings, foreign dancers and extravagant displays of showmanship have replaced the understated elegance that was once associated with these ceremonies.

Flowers flown in from abroad have become a status symbol. There's a growing tendency to associate wealth with value, and weddings are becoming more about spectacle than intimacy amid these.

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The only way to instigate genuine change is to lead with awareness. Representation starts conversations. Small, intimate ceremonies—the ones true to the couple’s values—are becoming a quiet, powerful counter-narrative.