the beginning of prrathaa weddings- my dream wedding planning journey

Do you ever feel like you are trapped in a job that doesn’t gratify you? Like you are wasting your time and talents on something that doesn’t make you happy? That’s how I felt for six long years, working as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. I had to work long and stressful hours, doing the same thing every day, with no room for creativity or passion. With a great career and a stable income, my life could have been comfortable as things stood. But was it worth it, without following the heart?

Things changed when my co-worker and friend, Viveck, chose to quit his job and pursue his dream of opening a cafe. He was courageous enough to take the plunge and follow his heart, as much as I admired him for his grit, I also felt lost and confused about my future. Certainly, I couldn’t go on like this! What was I going to do with my career?

I decided to introspect and think about what I really wanted, to look back at the time I actually felt alive, at a time when I remember doing things that made me happy. And then it hit me: I loved planning weddings!

You see, when I was in college, studying for my B.Com at Mount Carmel College in Bangalore, I used to help out with organizing Sangeet and mehendi functions for my friends and family by teaching them to dance as a choreographer. It was a hobby, a way to earn some extra pocket money, but I enjoyed it so much. I loved everything about weddings: the music, the dance, the decor, the emotions. I had a natural flair for creating beautiful and memorable events that reflected the personalities of the couples.

But I never thought of it as a career option. I thought it was too risky without a definite path. Truth be told, I was planning events even before the term “wedding planner” came into existence. I didn’t even know back then that it could be made into a career. So, I followed the safe path and got a degree in finance. And that’s how I ended up in a job that made me unhappy.

But then, I realized that it was never too late to change my life and do what I loved while making money! I realized that I had everything it takes to become a wedding planner. And I realized that I wasn’t alone.

Making Prrathaa Weddings a formal beginning

Viveck’s cafe plans didn’t work out as he hoped. He faced many challenges and setbacks, and he realized that he needed more guidance and support. He also realized that he missed working with me. So, he called me one day and asked me if he could join me in starting a new venture: a wedding planning company.

I was thrilled! It was the perfect opportunity for both of us. Working with my best friend had its benefits, for we knew each other’s strengths. Best of all we had complementary skills: he had the business acumen and the culinary expertise, Viveck was naturally good with organizational skills and I had the artistic vision and the event management experience. We also had great chemistry: we were friends, business partners, and eventually became life partners.

We named our company Prrathaa Weddings, after the Sanskrit word for “tradition”. We wanted to create weddings that were not only beautiful, but also meaningful, personalized, and unforgettable.

We started small, but we grew fast. We have planned a lot of memorable weddings across the length and breadth of the country in places like Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan, and Kolkata. We have even planned international destination weddings, the most recent being in Abu Dhabi and Muscat. We are also preferred wedding planners for weddings in Thailand.
We have worked with different cultures, traditions, budgets, and preferences and we learn something new every day, and we love every minute of it. Today after 10 long years and 300+ weddings, we are are known as one of the best wedding planners of Bangalore.

It hasn’t been easy, though. Being a wedding planner is not just about having good taste. It’s also about being organized, communicative, creative, and attentive to details. It’s about dealing with different vendors, contracts, schedules, and emergencies. It’s about managing expectations, emotions, and stress. It’s about being flexible, adaptable, and resourceful.

It’s about making people happy on one of the most important days of their lives. It’s about bringing their dreams to reality. It’s about witnessing love in all its forms.

It has been a rewarding journey for me. Being a wedding planner is not just a job; it’s a passion and now I can proudly say, that it’s a way of life for me. Wedding planning just didn’t give me a career, it gave me a life partner in Viveck. Today, we are known as the Original Band Bajaa Baraat couple of Bangalore. I can’t thank my guides enough for showing me the way.

And it all started with a simple question: what do you want?

So if you’re feeling stuck in your job, don’t be afraid to ask yourself that question. Don’t be afraid to explore your options. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. I know my next target: To be among the best wedding designers and wedding planners in India.

You never know; you might just find your true calling!

With Love,

Surbhi