Technology-powered weddings

Technology-powered weddings

Mithila Mehta shows you how technology can make your wedding grander than ever

    One of the first things 26-year old Padmapriya did when she got married last year was reach out for her smart phone and change her Facebook relationship status to “Married”. It was only a fitting tribute to the technology that had given her “the most perfect wedding ever”— right from Skype video calls to plan the ceremony, to e-invitations and a honeymoon package booked online.
    Despite the general belief that weddings reflect tradition and convention, Indian weddings are increasingly being influenced by the power of cuttingedge technology. Powered by the countless opportunities available thanks to the internet, weddings are taking on a new, modern (and online) avatar.
 Wedding planning “It is only natural that weddings mirror the wired, contemporary times we live in. The opportunities offered by technology and the internet are plenty, making weddings—from planning to the actual event—more ‘real time’ then before. Managing the event is also much easier,” says wedding planner and event manager Tripti Bhansali. Thanks to the power of the internet and online transactions, it is much easier to source exotic decor elements for your weddings as well—right from those perfectly pink tulips from Holland to those gorgeous rice lamps from Cambodia.
    The internet also allows you to use cloud-based services such as GoogleDocs and EverNote to plan your weddings effectively—everyone has access to the wedding files at all points in times.
>> Websites and live streams Websites dedicated to weddings are gaining popularity. “I specialise in designing customised websites for weddings. The website mirrors the theme of the wedding as well as the story of the couple. There is usually a photo album, details of the functions, a fun section about how the couple met, updates from the bride among other things,” says web designer Rushil Chaudhury. Many websites also connect with online mapping tools (such as Google Maps) so that guests can see the location and map the route to the venues. In some cases, couples choose to stream their weddings live on their website. “With people scattered all across the globe these days, not everyone may be able to make it for your special day. Online streaming allows everyone to be part of the celebrations, irrespective of location,” says Shreya Jani, director, Weddings Wows. Contrary to popular belief, online streaming needn’t be an expensive affair, not does it require absurd levels of technical expertise.
 

 Digital Diaries In a rapidly growing trend, couples-to-be are taking their weddings online. Online invitations (e-invites) are now a given. “E-invites are in addition to the traditional physical invitations. They remove the issue of geographical logistics. Many couples choose to send an e-invite first, so that people can block their dates. The physical invitation follows later,” shares Bhansali.
    Digital media is another avenue Indian weddings are increasingly treading. Social networking websites such as Facebook allow the couple to easily connect with family and friends, keep them updated about the wedding and even share photographs and videos after the festivities have ended. “I used Facebook heavily during my wedding last year. In fact, most people got to know I was getting married in the first place thanks to my Facebook update! I had created an event for my wedding on Facebook and asked people to RSVP, saving me the trouble of countless phone calls,” says Mumbai-based chartered accountant Advaita Ray-Chaudhury.
    Other couples choose to blog (or micro-blog) their pre-wedding madness, right up to the big day. “Weddings are special. There’s just so much drama, action, colour...I started a blog for my wedding titled ‘The Bridal Chronicles.’ I update the little incidents and events that happen only before your own wedding!” laughs bride-to-be Aparajita S.
 

 Innovation wise If you use technology correctly and innovatively, you could land up with a fantastic idea that no one’s ever done before. And what better way to make your wedding memorable forever! “I got married in Goa early this year. What we did was set up these photography booths where guests could pose with props and fun backdrops and then directly upload the images onto their Facebook pages with a caption that read, ‘Having a blast at Nikki and Shyam’s wedding in Goa!’ It was a huge success, everyone had a blast,” says copywriter Nikita Srivastava.
    Guests at another South Bombay wedding were pleasantly surprised when tablets were handed out to the guests, explaining the on-going wedding ritual and its significance as it happened live.”Most people, especially the youngsters, are completely unaware about what each ritual means. Thanks to the tablets, we were able to understand the ceremony better and it was more interesting for everyone invited,” says Punet Shabadi, a guest at the wedding.
    Here’s to technology and Indian weddings—truly, a match made in heaven!