Ultra-luxury and grand weddings are redefining extravagance, where Indian tradition meets breathtaking grandeur, and every celebration becomes a dazzling, unforgettable spectacle of opulence
Annika Talwar, the visionary founder of The Wedding Network, leads one of the industry’s most dynamic Wedding Planning and Management companies. With over a decade of experience crafting extraordinary celebrations, Annika and her dedicated team have brought countless dream weddings to life in breathtaking locations across India and Thailand.
For Annika, wedding planning goes far beyond logistics or business, it is deeply personal. It’s about creating moments that are remembered forever; those joyful tears, radiant smiles, and the immense sense of fulfilment experienced by families as they celebrate love. These heartfelt moments drive Annika and her team to continuously push creative boundaries.
As The Wedding Network continues to grow, she remains passionately focused on establishing the company as a globally recognised name in bespoke wedding experiences. The ambition is vast, yet the grand approach remains grounded—achieving excellence, one unforgettable wedding at a time.
What wedding mood boards will trend
The wedding industry today is fast-evolving—driven by fresh perspectives, personalised choices, and a growing desire for immersive storytelling. Couples no longer want just a beautiful setup; they want a wedding that mirrors their journey, style, and personality. This shift is clearly reflected in how mood boards are created and executed.
Mood boards in 2025 are becoming more intentional, artistic, and tech-savvy. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing an increasingly significant role in design planning, couples and planners can now visualise complete themes—right down to lighting, textures, and table settings—before a single flower is placed. This allows for greater experimentation and precision, bringing even the most imaginative ideas to life.
The aesthetic leans toward refined minimalism, where individually simple elements come together to form a stunning, cohesive whole. Expect layered textures, interactive lighting, soft drapes, and mood-enhancing installations that tell a story without being over the top.
Colour palettes are moving in a natural and soulful direction. Earth-inspired shades are in the spotlight. Mocha, the colour of the year, brings richness and warmth. Mahogany adds depth to the classic red, Lavender replaces traditional pinks with subtle sophistication, and Teal introduces a bold yet calming alternative to green.
These hues work beautifully across both day and night celebrations, allowing for versatile decor that transitions effortlessly. Complementing them are tones like dusty rose, ivory, sage, and terracotta—shades that bring a quiet luxury to any setting.
In 2025, mood boards are about creating atmosphere. They serve as a visual journey that sets the tone for the celebration, combining emotion, elegance, and innovation in equal measure.
Gen Z weddings and new trends
The new generation of couples expects far more from their wedding celebrations and is no longer content to be bound by long-standing traditions that have shaped Indian weddings for decades. Gen Z wants their weddings to feel personal, fresh, and creatively inspired, reflecting their values, stories, and sense of individuality.
It’s about rewriting the rulebook and choosing moments that truly reflect who they are. Be it through unconventional themes, fresh takes on rituals, or immersive guest experiences, today’s couples are all about making their wedding stand out—not just in how it looks, but in how it’s felt and remembered by everyone involved.
Food Styles to trend in 2025
Never-ending spreads across buffet lines are slowly becoming a thing of the past. In 2025, the emphasis has firmly shifted from quantity to quality and culinary experience. Couples are prioritising immersive dining moments, where every dish tells a story and every bite is memorable.
Gone are the days when a traditional Indian buffet was considered a must. Instead, weddings are embracing speciality cuisines, live counters, and chef-led experiences that offer a more curated, personalised touch. Think Michelin-star-level chefs crafting signature dishes at select counters, where presentation is just as important as flavour.
From Mediterranean and Asian influences to hyper-local Indian delicacies, the mix of international and regional cuisines is both exciting and elegant. The goal is no longer to impress with excess, but to delight with carefully curated menus that reflect finesse, flavour, and purpose—leaving guests with an experience they’ll savour long after the celebration ends.
Countries Being the Top Wedding Choices
Walled ballrooms and enclosed banquet halls no longer hold the same allure they once did. Today’s couples are drawn towards open, picturesque settings that offer a seamless blend of natural beauty and thoughtful design. The preference is shifting clearly towards venues that allow the surroundings to speak—be it beaches, cliffs, mountains, heritage structures or lush gardens.
Scenic landscapes have become a top priority for wedding venues, as couples increasingly seek aesthetic value and visual storytelling in every element of their celebration. This desire is amplified by the rise of destination travel, increased global exposure through social media, and the ease of international access. As a result, countries such as Thailand, Bahrain, the UAE, and Turkey have emerged as frontrunners in the destination wedding circuit.
These destinations offer the perfect canvas for luxury weddings with their exotic landscapes, serene coastlines, world-class hospitality, and grand palatial settings that lend themselves beautifully to multi-day wedding festivities. From beachside mandaps to regal welcome dinners and rooftop after-parties, the options are vast and versatile.
What makes these destinations even more appealing is the proactive involvement of tourism boards and local authorities, who offer logistical support, custom incentives, and smooth facilitation for destination wedding arrangements. This level of backing provides families and planners with not just convenience, but also confidence in executing a flawless celebration.
In 2025, the trend is clear—couples are choosing destinations that are not only breathtaking but also well-supported, accessible, and experience-rich, offering their guests a wedding that feels more like an unforgettable holiday.
Ambiences that will trend
Technology is fast taking the spotlight when it comes to creating unforgettable wedding ambiences. There’s a noticeable shift away from traditional, floral-heavy décor towards bold lighting design, immersive experiences, and high-impact visual elements. Modern celebrations are all about setting the mood with dramatic lighting, projection mapping, and cutting-edge effects that transform spaces into dynamic, multi-sensory environments.
Special features such as MI-bars, kinetic balls, and beat-synchronised light shows are increasingly being used to bring a sense of theatre and energy to the celebration. These ‘gimmicks’, once seen as extravagant, are now a key part of the experience, especially when it comes to after-parties. The goal? To replicate the vibe of an international night club—think Ibiza-style glam with seamless transitions from one visual experience to the next.
That said, floral design still holds its charm, but with a more curated, theme-driven approach. Flowers are chosen not just for their beauty but for their ability to enhance a story or complement the event’s palette. Tulips, lilies, orchids, peonies, hydrangeas, and even sunflowers are being used in creative and unexpected ways. The colour palette ranges from crisp whites and soft pastels to rich jewel tones and moody, dramatic hues, reflecting the couple’s unique aesthetic
Wedding jewellery
With the steady rise of destination and destination-style weddings, the overall approach to bridal fashion and jewellery is evolving. Practicality, comfort, and refined elegance are now at the forefront of bridal styling. Gone are the days when the bride’s outfit weighed more than she did, with layers upon layers of embroidery and heavy embellishments dominating the look.
Today’s modern bride seeks to move, dance, and enjoy her celebration freely, and designers are responding with lighter, more fluid silhouettes that still maintain a sense of luxury. Across the globe, bridal collections are embracing soft structure, delicate textures, and innovative colour palettes, moving beyond the conventional reds and golds.
Jewellery, too, has seen a marked shift. The focus has moved from bulky, ostentatious pieces to thoughtfully crafted heirloom-quality designs. Brides are choosing pieces that add depth and distinction without overwhelming their look. Gemstones like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires are taking the spotlight for their richness and versatility, while traditional polki still holds its charm, albeit in sleeker, more contemporary settings.
Wedding vows, grand arrivals that could go big in 2025
2025 is all about living in the moment and fully experiencing it. Couples are placing more importance on authenticity, emotion, and personal expression—and this is beautifully reflected in the rise of personalised wedding vows.
More than ever before, couples are choosing to speak from the heart, writing their own vows to share their love stories in their own words. It’s no longer about following a script, it’s about creating a moment that is raw, honest, and deeply moving. These few minutes, often shared in an intimate setting, are just for the couple. It’s a pause in the celebration where time seems to stand still, and no one else exists.
In the same spirit of originality, grand entries have become all about the unexpected. Couples are moving away from traditional processions and instead opting for surprise elements that spark excitement and delight. From solo walk-ins that are powerful and poised to fun-filled flash mobs with friends that catch everyone off guard, entries are being choreographed to create unforgettable memories.
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