Harshad Chavan Shares How Toast Events Created the Splendour that was ‘Shaadi by Marriott’

by  Shantanu Jain Weddings | July 28, 2017 | Interview

Toast Events JW Marriot Harshad Chavan Sonam Kapoor Sandeep Khosla-Abu Jani

The recently executed "Shaadi by Marriott' conceptualized and managed on-ground by Toast Events is without a doubt one of the most scintillating events we have seen in the year so far. In an exclusive interview with EVENTFAQS Media, Harshad Chavan- MD, Toast Events shares how the agency transformed the brief from global hospitality brand Marriott into the splendour the overall event turned out to be.

How was Toast Events roped in for the event by Marriott and what was the brief shared? 

We at Toast Events have had a long association with the Marriott Group, having worked with their various properties across the country. The Marriott Group approached us to create a campaign that could resonate the on-ground extension of the attributes they stand for - luxury, service and opulence.

Marriott being the global brand of Luxury Hotels, we formulated an experience for the brand, enveloping their hospitality, and presenting an event that would showcase the Marriott group as ‘the’ destination for an occasion dearest to your heart – A traditional big fat Indian wedding. 

Take us through the conceptualisation process of the event. 

The conceptualisation remarkably didn’t involve months of deliberation and designing. When synergies meet you know the perfect spell and that’s the magic that we saw. Creating an event where the venue, décor, performances, showcase envelop you in an immersive experience, the event was to give the guests a flavour of an Indian Wedding which normally spreads across 10 days, to be encapsulated in 3 hours.

It is often said and believed that the key to a successful marriage is the compatibility and understanding that partners together create. Hence, while conceptualising the pick of the perfect partner for this Shaadi, we were looking for someone who embodied the spirit of a Shaadi, who strung the pearls of wedding vows in an intricate lehenga, who synced the rhythm of a new brides’ anklet with the tunes of a brass band. And when we weaved all these elements together, the answers came unravelling in form of Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla. The fashion maestros were the obvious choice for us to join hands with for the Shaadi of the Year – Shaadi by Marriott. And before you know it we were already exchanging ‘Gud-Dhani’, if I could put it more aptly.

What were the decor elements that you worked on to turn the event into the biggest wedding of the year?

Since we wanted to bring together every element that goes into the making of a Big Fat Indian wedding in a non-obtrusive amazing experience, we believed that the venue should take the audiences onto different experiences as they moved from one area to the other. To achieve this, we created an elegant arch with a subtle gold theme married with floral veil and a melange of butterflies, took the guests through a chic bar, integrated fun colourful kitch elephant installations throughout the event venue and upon entry to the main venue, the guests saw them being welcomed by a gadda seating that immediately evoked in them memories of their own weddings.

Weaving a euphoria of experiences for the guests, what kept the guests on the edge of their seats was the fashion presentation itself. Showcasing 6 sequences, the show was created representing the grand Shaadi. The first sequence was the start of celebrations, representing the cocktail night, the song and choreography all depicted the coming together of two people as an intimate dance performance teamed with garments apt for a Cocktail night adorned the ramp.

That was followed by the mehndi sequence, as traditional coloured garments drifted through the audiences showcasing, girls doing mehndi on the hands of the groom. Presenting a reverse in roles, the Mehendi was done on the groom and the baraat was established as belonging to the bride. Each occasion was presented with a blend of visuals, thematic performances and garments. Following it up with performance on the sangeet night, dancers and models took the ramp to the tunes of ‘Chalte Chalte’. Culminating the showcase, a brass band led the baraat as baraatis performed inviting and leading the bride's path, presenting Sonam Kapoor.

The décor was extravagant and there was absolutely no stone unturned, minute detailing with nothing short of perfection was garnered at this event.

What is the response you recieved from the audiences and client post the execution?

The event witnessed a large attendance from Indian and International media as corporate and Bollywood royalty came to witness the Shaadi of the Year. Some of these names were Jaya Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda, Amrita Singh, Sara Ali Khan, Disha Patani, Ridhima Kapoor Sahani, Pernia Qureshi, Shalani Passi, Pinky Reddy and Mandira Bedi amongst others. Everyone who attended the event had only positive things to say for us.