×
WeddingSutra
WeddingSutra.com
GET - In Google Play
Install

WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018 – When The Wedding Industry Came Together As One

WeddingSutra Grand Engage in association with Panasonic Lumix G convened the most illustrious in the luxury and wedding industries at The St. Regis, Mumbai on June 13, 2018.

Hosted by India’s leading bridal media brand, WeddingSutra, the event was abuzz with luminaries from the worlds of fashion, design, and events engaging in enriching interactions.

WeddingSutra Grand Engage is now recognized as one of the newest and best platforms to propagate new ideas and seed evolution in the world of weddings.

Founders Parthip Thyagarajan & Madhulika Mathur - WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Parthip Thyagarajan and Madhulika Mathur

Distinguished Guests

The event that bred inspiration and facilitated networking was attended by eminent names. Invitees included Anuraag Bhatnagar (Multi Property Vice President Luxury Mumbai and Goa Marriott International), Anjali Gaekwar (Country Manager, Christian Louboutin), Joshua Karthik (Co-founder, PEP Asia), Shehla Khan (Founder, Shehlaa by Shehla Khan), Mahesh Shirodkar (Managing Director, Tamarind Global), Shreya Sen (Founder, Shreya Sen Photography), Kunal Rawal (Fashion Designer), Pooja Dhingra (Founder and CEO, Le15 Patisserie), Sheetal Munshaw (Director India of Atout France), Siddharth Sharma (Founder of House On The Clouds), as well as social influencers and style icons like Aarti Surendranath, Poonam Soni, Farah Khan, Colleen Khan and more.

Anuraag Bhatnagar - WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018 @ The St. Regis MumbaiAnuraag Bhatnagar 

Saurabh Dube, Anuraag Bhatnagar, Sachin Mylavarapu and Parthip ThyagarajanSaurabh Dube, Anuraag Bhatnagar, Sachin Mylavarapu and Parthip Thyagarajan

Parthip Thyagarajan, Co-founder, and CEO of WeddingSutra greeted the attendees with this warm opening address while Madhulika Mathur, Co-founder of WeddingSutra set the perfect tone for the day by moderating the first-panel discussion.

Tech Talk
The event also had a Panasonic Experience Zone that introduced every wedding photographer present to the latest Lumix G Series. Gaurav Ghavri, Product Marketing Head, Lumix cameras, Panasonic India and Hitesh Vig National Product Trainer took guests through the features of the camera series via an informative talk on the product.

The line of 31 lenses is designed to cater to professionals in the wedding photography industry. These allow the user to enjoy ultra telephoto zoom shooting while keeping the design compact. With Lumix G Series’ advanced performance, you get a camera that is light in your hands, easy to master and a joy to use!

The Panasonic Experience Zone at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018The Panasonic Experience Zone at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018

Dialogues that Inspired
Emcee Vishaal Rasquinha set a smooth pace and ensured that the flow of events was well channeled and the three panel discussions threw open the field for a series of off-stage takeaways.

The wedding photography industry has seen a dramatic shift in the last decade and one big question the panel was looking to answer was – How Wedding Photography Businesses Can Stay Relevant And Grow In The Digital Age. The experts weighed in. Shreya Sen (Founder, Shreya Sen Photography), Jayant Chhabra (Co-founder, Cupcake Productions), Ankita Asthana (Co-founder, WeddingNama), Siddharth Sharma (Founder, House On The Clouds) and Arjun Kartha (Partner, Twogether Studios) discussed the topic as Madhulika Mathur, Co-Founder WeddingSutra moderated.

The audience was riveted because not only did the panel throw light on the trends and techniques that have redefined the market but they also revealed the approach photographers use to find a balance between creativity and commitment.

First panel discussion: Madhulika Mathur, Arjun Kartha, Siddharth Sharma, Ankita Asthana, Jayant Chhabra and Shreya Sen at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Panelists for the first panel discussion: Madhulika Mathur, Arjun Kartha, Siddharth Sharma, Ankita Asthana, Jayant Chhabra and Shreya Sen at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018

The second discussion of the day threw light on the impact couples are making on the industry itself. Titled How Millenials Are Shaping The Wedding Industry Today, the discussion was elemental in understanding the concepts and themes that click with couples of today. The conversation encompassed employing digital and social strategies while targeting new age clients, managing the rise in demand for customization and even the role that modern grooms play while planning the wedding.

Featuring experts like Joshua Karthik (Co-founder, PEP Asia), Anjali Gaekwar (Country Manager, Christian Louboutin), Pooja Dhingra (Founder and CEO, Le15 Patisserie), Shehla Khan (Founder, Shehlaa by Shehla Khan), Kunal Rawal (Fashion Designer), the segment was moderated by Anand Rathi, Director of Reels and Frames.

Second panel discussion: Anand Rathi, Anjali Gaekwar, Kunal Rawal, Madhulika Mathur, Pooja Dhingra, Parthip Thyagarajan, Joshua Karthik and Shehla Khan at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Panelists for the second panel discussion: Anand Rathi, Anjali Gaekwar, Kunal Rawal, Madhulika Mathur, Pooja Dhingra, Parthip Thyagarajan, Joshua Karthik and Shehla Khan at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018

Pooja Dhingra, Kunal Rawal, and Shehla Khan - WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Pooja Dhingra, Kunal Rawal, and Shehla Khan

After the very engaging first two panel discussions on the mutual influence of consumers of the wedding industry and the sector itself, it was time to shift focus to the finer things.

Guests and panelists at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Guests and panelists at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018

The third-panel discussion explored the extravagance and opulence that Indian weddings are noted for. Titled Luxury Weddings- The New Direction, the conversation took a close look at a dynamic, big-budget wedding industry defined by ever-shifting trends and changing demands and the best way to understand what in on the horizon.

The panel was moderated by Mr. Mahesh Shirodkar, Managing Director of Tamarind Global and the panelists for the segment were Anuraag Bhatnagar (Multi-Property Vice President Luxury Mumbai and Goa, Marriott International), Sheetal Munshaw (Director India, Atout France) and Farah Khan (Jewellery Designer), Arjun Khanna (Fashion Designer).

Third panel discussion – Anuraag Bhatnagar, Farah Khan, Mahesh Shirodkar, Sheetal Munshaw, Arjun Khanna and Vishal Punjabi at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Panelists for the third panel discussion – Anuraag Bhatnagar, Farah Khan, Mahesh Shirodkar, Sheetal Munshaw, Arjun Khanna and Vishal Punjabi at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018

Farah Khan, Vishal Punjabi, and Arjun Khanna - WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Farah Khan, Vishal Punjabi, and Arjun Khanna

After each of these three discussions, the ballroom crackled with sparkling conversation, connections made and business acumen furthered.

Parthip Thyagarajan, Aarti Surendranath, Neeraj Gaba, Poonam Soni and Malti JainParthip Thyagarajan, Aarti Surendranath, Neeraj Gaba, Poonam Soni and Malti Jain

Parthip Thyagarajan, Kunal Rawal, Shehla Khan, Pooja Dhingra, Farah Khan, Anjali Gaekwar, Anuraag Bhatnagar and Mahesh ShirodkarParthip Thyagarajan, Kunal Rawal, Shehla Khan, Pooja Dhingra, Farah Khan, Anjali Gaekwar, Anuraag Bhatnagar and Mahesh Shirodkar

The WeddingSutra MasterClass at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018The WeddingSutra MasterClass at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018 – Models and bride-to-be Manika Singh pose with Makeup Artist Coleen Khan, Stylist Nisha Jhangiani, Parthip Thyagarajan and Madhulika Mathur

Sharad Puri - General Manager JW Marriott with Guests at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Sharad Puri – General Manager JW Marriott with Guests

Zeba Kohli, Parthip Thyagarajan and Farah Khan at WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018Zeba Kohli, Parthip Thyagarajan and Farah Khan

Decor With A Difference
For the event, Afreen Decor Services created a wonderful setup. Fresh blooms were offset by glass bric-a-brac enlivening the tables with a festive vibe. These touches resonated with décor on stage and the ballroom looked stunning.

Gurleen M Puri and her team took care of elevating the VIP lounge which also served as the venue for a WeddingSutra Master Class with stylist Nisha Jhangiani, and makeup artist and hairstylist Coleen Khan.

Designers Falguni & Shane Peacock, Rohit Bal, and Arpita Mehta also showcased pieces from their latest collections.

The stylish after-party vibe was courtesy Larly Bahl and his team who created a wonderful mood with white flowers and warm glowing candles. Wreaths of exotic flowers were part of the table decor and after a stimulating day of conversation and connection, everyone got to chill out and let their hair down.


The Grand High Tea at The St. Regis Mumbai - WeddingSutra Grand Engage 2018The Grand High Tea at The St. Regis Mumbai

After Party
As the awards gala brought the curtains down, the party moved to Level 38 of The St. Regis, Mumbai. Top wedding planners including Mahesh Shirodkar, Aditya Motwane, Kainaz Sethna, designers Arjun Khanna, Kunal Rawal, Sonaakshi Raaj, Poonam Soni, fashion photographer Sameer Parekh and social influencers Zeba Kohli, Malti Jain, Nisha Jamvwal, Farah Khan Ali attended the hottest after-party in town.

While DJ Stetson, percussionist Tarang Singhal, and violinist Sandeep Thakur kept the party going with roaring music and remixes, St. Regis Mumbai laid out an extensive spread to fuel the spirit of the soiree. The Wedding Bartenders ensured everyone had a drink in their hand and the festivities went far into the wee hours of the morning.

Grand Engage Event Partners - ANS Entertainment and The Wedding Bartenders at the After Party at The St. Regis MumbaiGrand Engage Event Partners – ANS Entertainment and The Wedding Bartenders at the After Party at The St. Regis Mumbai

Aditya Motwane, Parthip Thyagarajan and Claudio ZempAditya Motwane, Parthip Thyagarajan and Claudio Zemp

Parthip Thyagarajan, Sunila Duggal, Madhulika Mathur and Mahesh ShirodkarParthip Thyagarajan, Sunila Duggal, Madhulika Mathur and Mahesh Shirodkar

Event Makers
Venue: The St. Regis Mumbai
Event & Experience Partners: Evolis, Panasonic, Pernod Ricard, The Wedding Bartenders
Event Production: Magnanimous Group
Event Decor: Afreen Wedding Services, Gurleen M Puri, Larly Bahl, Ajay Decorators
Hospitality: Convido Events Concierge
Stage and Floor Management: On Cue Productions
Security: YK Securities
Emcee: Vishaal Rasquinha
Entertainment: ANS Entertainment
PR & Communications: Katalyst Reputation Management
Travel Partners: Tamarind Global
Event Photography: Confetti Films and Camera Crew
Fashion Photography: Happy Pictures
Videography: The Photo Diary

You may also like: