We're well on our way to the biggest, brightest and the loudest season in the country - yes we're talking about the shaadi wala season. And the second edition of Shaadi by Marriott served its cause with a stunning night of exuberant splendour and romantic artistry. The one-of-a-kind customised wedding campaign is already an established success story, and looks to curate a fairytale soiree, replete with all the elements you find in a big fat desi shaadi.
In its first Kolkata edition in November 2018, the event stood witness to an iconic moment in Indian fashion history, when kitsch queen Masaba Gupta premiered her first ever bridal line at the JW Marriott Hotel with city girl Rukmini Maitra as the showstopper. This year, the event was being held at The Westin, and featured a name who is basically in a league of her own - the doyenne of luxury fashion, Anita Dongre.
Dongre, who held the showcase of her bridal couture line Jaipur Love, found a set-up completely in sync with the theme of her collection. The night was set up like an extravagant Rajasthani shaadi, decked in glittering pinks and blues. One of the biggest mainstays of the night was definitely Rajasthani folk singer Kutle Khan, whose Sufi kalams buoyed across the runway as the models sashayed down its expanse.
"We want to showcase the wide-ranging possibilities associated with Marriott properties, with respect to hosting weddings. The idea to associate ourselves with famous designer works so well because it involves the same ethos, you get into minute details and you work at perfection. We had Masaba Gupta last year, and this year it’s Anita Dongre, who is such a powerhouse. Moreover, this time we wanted to connect with something which would focus on the Rajsthani romanticism, the havelis and such, and Anita has recently launched her Jaipur Love line, which centres around the Rajasthan, so it worked out perfectly," Rahul Maini, General Manager of The Westin Kolkata, tells us.
We found ourselves some top notch red wine, to go with our mini Yakitoris and asparagus and cheese canapes, to soothe our senses before the big night began. The show was curated with the element of buildable drama in mind, and turned up its tempo as the colours of the line-up turned more celebratory. We couldn’t help but marvel at the cosmopolitanism of Dongre’s artistry - even the most authentic zardosi lehenga, had a touch of breezy chicness - an unusually draped dupatta or a cheeky tie-up detail, so perfect for sartorial adventurers.
The show ended with a glorious echo of heritage which the collection acknowledges in its entirety, with models in sorbet and jewel-coloured numbers dreamily parading down the ramp leading up to the designer’s final bow, which justifiably acquired a roaring applause.