#DeepVeer & #Virushka: This Is How Celeb Weddings Are Planned

Here’s what it takes to plan a celebrity wedding.

Wedding planners have their work cut out for them when it comes to celebrity clients.

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram)

We just witnessed one of the biggest weddings of the year with Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tying the knot at Lake Como in Italy. Perhaps what has made this most memorable is the sheer desperation of fans who were denied pictures until the very end. Security at the venue was tight and not a single picture was leaked. Reportedly the media attempted to use drones to get a glimpse of the wedding functions but to no avail. The few grainy images that surfaced were hardly worth it, which proves that the families were successful in pulling off a private wedding.

But how do you think this happens? How does one keep the most talked about wedding of the year under wraps? We spoke to wedding planners Shaadi Squad who were behind the 2017 wedding of Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli who got married at a private ceremony in Borgo Finocchieto, an elegant 800-year-old village in Italy.

A few months ago, this three-year-old company also helped plan an intimate roka ceremony for Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, which was followed by a party with friends and family.

Privacy Comes Above All Else

Speaking to The Quint, Tina Tharwani, Director/Co Founder Shaadi Squad says privacy and exclusivity are key while planning a celebrity wedding.

For us, client confidentiality is non-negotiable. Keeping things under wraps is something that we follow as common practice. Working with trusted vendors and collaborators comes in handy when we need to be hush-hush about a particular event.

Tina Tharwani, Director/ Co Founder Shaadi Squad

In that case, does the entire team know whose wedding they are planning? Or are some details kept from them?

According to Tina, the key team members are always told about the identity of clients. “It all depends on the comfort level of the client to be honest. We are a boutique wedding planning company and our processes are customised to suit each client's requirement.”

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

So how long do you think it takes to organise a celebrity destination wedding a la #DeepVeer? Well, jitna time media ko figure out karne may lag jata hai ki boss yeh shaadi kar rahe hai ya nahi? It typically takes between three to eight months and this is how it’s done.

Step 1
Lock in a suitable location depending on the brief, budgets, requirements, flight connectivity, size of the guest list, etc. This is one of the most time-consuming phases.

Step 2
Once the venue is locked, other key vendors are identified. Rounding up RSVPs and finalising travel details is also an extensive process.

Step 3
A minimum of three trips with the client is required to lock the food menus, decor, logistics and event flow.

Location, Location, Location

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s wedding venue: Borgo Finocchieto, Italy

But kabhi socha hai how do these celebs find such exotic locations for weddings? Kya yeh humari tarah Google karte hai? Ji nahi, they get a wedding planner to do the research.

Zeroing in on a wedding location is dependant on various factors such as size/scale of the wedding, budget, client’s preferences in terms of the vibe/setting that they would like to achieve. Based on the chosen wedding dates, we shortlist venues that work weather wise too.

Tina Tharwani

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh tied the knot at Villa Del Balbianello, Lake Como.

This next obvious question is where do wedding planners hold their meetings with celebrity clients? Is it an ultra secret location?

Well, Tina literally laughed at my question because I sounded like detective Byomkesh Bakshi. “Haha, not at all. The two big celebrity interactions that we've had so far have been no different from any of our other lovely clients. Most wedding planning meetings generally take place at either of our offices or at the client's home,” she says.

Size Matters: The Smaller the Better!

According to Tara, the advantages of private celebrity weddings is that they usually have a small guest list, which makes it easier to keep pictures from getting leaked.

What helps is private weddings, more often than not, are small, intimate gatherings involving close family and friends. It’s easier for them to understand the importance of the couple’s need for privacy as they know the couple from close quarters. If this is requested for at an early stage, there is no cause for concern.

Tina Tharwani

Even so, you must have seen the tall, broad men in black escorting guests at the #DeepVeer wedding, right? These good ol’ bodyguards come in very handy when media gets too intrusive.

In terms of media and news channels wanting to get a piece of the proceedings, the only way to safeguard privacy is not to reveal the venue details and keep a provision of tight security handy in case of any trespass.

Tina Tharwani