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Expert Speak: Achint Nag of Krayonz Entertainment sheds light on the dynamic world of destination weddings
Wedding Planning, WeddingSutra Favorites - Jun 22, 2021
Exploding with passion and accompanied by years of expertise, Mumbai- based Krayonz Entertainment has made its mark in the world of Indian luxury weddings. Led by founder Achint Nag, their team has orchestrated more than 150 spectacular celebrations across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, and is renowned for creating larger-than-life experiences with a touch of magic.
In a candid conversation Mr. Achint Nag tells us about the vibrant world of Indian destination weddings, how he got started, and what makes them tick.
You have made your mark in the world of grand destination weddings. Can you walk us through your journey towards this success?
It all started way back in 1993 when I thought of doing some social ticketed events during our first year of college. What began as Dandiya nights, Rain dances, fun and fairs, afternoon college socials at various clubs, soon turned into Mega New Year’s Eve parties that we started to organize from 1997 in various 5-star properties across Mumbai. I soon realized that this was my calling. I was fortunate to be a part of many big celebrity shows, Bollywood award functions, corporate shows, fashion shows, store launches at the start itself, before getting my first destination wedding gig in 2007 in Mahabaleshwar for a Dubai based client. Since then I have organized over 150 destination weddings across the world.
What do you love most about your job?
I feel blessed to be able to build a living out of what I love doing the most. Apart from being able to travel the world, the little details and focus that goes into planning events excites me immensely. I am very passionate about my work and seeing the happiness that it brings to my clients when it all comes together, gives me a great sense of accomplishment.
Tell us five locations around the world, every luxury wedding planner must visit to experience the world of weddings.
When it comes to destination weddings, the possibilities of beautiful locations and venues across the globe are endless. However, if I must narrow it down to just 5, especially for Indian weddings, then I would suggest that every planner must explore the below:
– The palace hotels of Rajasthan and the beach venues of Goa.
– The coastal beauty and luxury of Bali.
– The opulent, luxurious and world-class UAE.
– Historic and naturally beautiful locations such as Spain, Turkey and other countries across Europe.
– The tropical locales of Thailand.
In your years of experience, what have been some of the grandest wedding requests you have received? How did you execute them?
We once flew a 110 member team to cater to a family wedding of only 225 guests in Bali. The round the clock menu was vast and had cuisines from all over the world. Special chefs for each cuisine traveled to the wedding to make it a memorable affair for our guests. Setting up satellite kitchens at all locations was a taxing job and execution had to be precise.
We have also arranged for VIP immigrations upon request at many international airports. The guests are received right outside the aircraft and the immigration of each guest is done at private terminals while their luggage is delivered straight to the hotel rooms for a truly exclusive experience.
While destination weddings have been the rage among modern couples in recent years, they took a backseat during the Pandemic. Can you tell us about your experience, and what do you think may be the future of destination weddings?
While the pandemic has affected the entire world, the Hospitality industry significantly suffered as we barely had any business in 2020. We were fortunate to have done some great events between December 2020 and March 2021. Destination weddings have taken a backseat in favor of home and city weddings, but we are optimistic things will change soon and our industry will bounce back.
Have you planned any destination weddings post the Pandemic? Please tell us about how they have changed as compared to before.
Like I said, we did manage to cover a few weddings for some of our high-profile guests at various destinations in India. It was a challenge since all guests and vendors /artists etc. had to do a mandatory covid test which we supervised with a special team. Stricter protocols were followed to ensure guest safety at all checkpoints.
In the current environment, hotels /artists /vendors have all understood that the show must go on and thoroughly co-operate in all necessary measures. Even guests have been more than willing to participate in all safety checks to ensure a happy and healthy celebration.
While the Pandemic has caused weddings to scale down their size, the grandeur and celebration associated with Indian weddings still live on in people’s hearts. How can they carry on the spirit of The Big Fat Indian wedding while maintaining safety norms?
Absolutely! Although currently things might have scaled down a bit, but people are just waiting to get back to our joyous, hearty way of celebrating. We all understand that the need of the hour is to be patient and respect the rules not only for us but also to maintain a healthy society around us. However, once we sail through this unfortunate pandemic, The Big Fat Indian Wedding and its spirit will resurface!
A grand Indian wedding has so many elements/ functions over three or four days. If you were a wedding photographer which moment/ function would you enjoy photographing the most.
Marriage is such an integral celebration for Indian families, parents, relatives, and even your best friends wait all their lives for this special occasion. It is a very personal affair and we love to capture every sentiment right from the pre-wedding ceremonies until the final ritual is concluded. The emotions and expressions on the face of family members show pure love and take you on a journey that should totally be preserved.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned working in your industry? Any advice you would give to couples planning their wedding?
Learning is a never-ending process. But today, with years of experience behind us, I can say that if you are honest in your profession and are willing to learn from every experience, you can never go wrong.
My advice to couples would be to always hire your planner wisely. A good, experienced Planner knows the finer aspects of any event. Once you have made a decision, trust in them and enjoy your special moments.
Finally, what traits according to you are most important for an emerging wedding planner or an event management student to become a successful wedding planner?
Getting as many hands-on experiences as possible and cultivating the hunger to learn and understand that each day and situation is different, is essential to excelling in this field. No two guests, clients, or events are the same and every experience adds to your expertise. Always be ready to assess and adapt to changing situations. Most importantly, stay humble, practice gratitude, and keep the passion alive!
