Quick Answer
Why choose an intimate wedding over a large Indian wedding?
An intimate wedding prioritises quality over quantity—a smaller guest list means more personal moments, easier planning, and a day shaped entirely by the couple's values. Ajay and Praneeta found their celebration calmer to plan, more personalised, and filled with deeper connections than a large banquet would have allowed.
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Small is Beautiful: Newlyweds Ajay and Praneeta Tell Us Why They Chose An Intimate Wedding
Maximising personalisation and having mostly the closest loved ones around are some of the many reasons that went into this increasingly popular wedding decision.
Meet Ajay and Praneeta, a dynamic duo whose love story blends the worlds of data analytics and fashion styling. Ajay, a meticulous data analyst, and Praneeta, a creative fashion stylist, recently tied the knot in a decision that resonates with their unique personalities and values. Opting for an intimate wedding over a grand affair, they chose to prioritize intimacy, personalization, and meaningful connections.
Today, they graciously share their journey and insights into why they opted for a smaller, more personalized celebration—a decision that reflects their love for each other and their desire for a wedding day that felt authentically theirs.
Weddingkart: Hello Ajay and Praneeta! Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about your wedding. Let's start with the big question—why did you decide to have an intimate wedding?
Ajay: Hello! It's great to be here. Well, when we began planning our wedding, we both felt strongly about having an experience that was personal and meaningful. We wanted our wedding day to reflect who we are as a couple and to be surrounded by our closest loved ones.
Weddingkart: That sounds wonderful! Could you tell us more about how an intimate setting allowed you to personalize your wedding day?
Praneeta: Absolutely! One of the things we loved most about having an intimate wedding was the ability to personalize every detail. From choosing a picturesque vineyard for our ceremony to handpicking the décor and menu, every decision was made with our story in mind. It allowed us to create an atmosphere that felt authentically 'us'.
Weddingkart: It must have been a beautiful setting! How did having a smaller guest list impact your wedding day?
Ajay: It made a world of difference. Instead of worrying about accommodating a large number of guests, we were able to focus on spending quality time with each person there. Our wedding felt like a gathering of our closest family and friends, and that intimacy really added to the joy and warmth of the day.
Weddingkart: Many couples find planning a wedding stressful. How did having an intimate wedding affect your planning process?
Praneeta: It was surprisingly calming and stress-free. With fewer logistics to manage and fewer expectations to meet, we could truly enjoy the planning process. We were able to focus on what mattered most to us—creating a memorable experience for ourselves and our guests.
Weddingkart: Did you face any challenges or concerns about opting for an intimate wedding?
Ajay: Initially, we did wonder if some people might feel left out. However, once we explained our reasons for choosing an intimate celebration—to focus on meaningful connections and create a personal experience—our loved ones were incredibly supportive. In the end, everyone who attended understood and appreciated our decision.
Weddingkart: Lastly, what advice would you give to couples who are considering having an intimate wedding?
Praneeta: Follow your hearts. Your wedding day should be a reflection of your love and your journey together. Don't be afraid to prioritize what truly matters to you as a couple, whether it's choosing a destination that speaks to your hearts or sharing your day with your closest loved ones. An intimate wedding allows you the freedom to create a day that feels uniquely yours.
Weddingkart: Thank you both so much for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Your wedding sounds like it was absolutely beautiful and filled with love. We wish you all the happiness in your marriage!
Ajay and Praneeta: Thank you!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an intimate wedding?
An intimate wedding is a small-scale ceremony with a carefully curated guest list—typically close family and friends only. Unlike a large banquet, it focuses on meaningful connections over headcount and allows couples to personalise every aspect of the day, from the venue to the menu.
How do you handle family pressure when choosing a small wedding in India?
Honest communication is key. Once Ajay and Praneeta explained they wanted a personal, meaningful experience for their closest loved ones, family members were supportive. Setting expectations early and framing the decision around love rather than logistics reduces most conflict.
Is an intimate wedding less stressful to plan?
Generally, yes. With fewer guests to coordinate and fewer logistics to manage, planning feels calmer. Praneeta described their planning as 'surprisingly stress-free'—they could focus only on what mattered most to them as a couple.
What are the main benefits of a small wedding over a large celebration?
The three biggest advantages are personalisation (every detail reflects the couple's story), deeper connections (quality time with each guest), and lower planning stress. Many couples find an intimate day more emotionally memorable than a large, crowded gathering.
What type of venue works best for an intimate wedding?
Choose a venue that speaks to your shared story rather than one built for a crowd. Ajay and Praneeta chose a vineyard that felt authentically theirs. In India, boutique hotels, farmhouses, and heritage properties work beautifully—they feel curated and intimate, not sparse.
Founder, Weddingkart
Mayank Jaiswal founded Weddingkart to fix a problem Indian weddings have quietly accepted for decades: guest management is chaos. Paper lists, scattered WhatsApp groups, missed RSVPs, unclear headcounts for the caterer, and an event manager drowning in follow-ups the week of the wedding. Weddingkart turns all of that into a single WhatsApp-native workflow — invites, RSVPs, travel and ID collection, real-time updates — so couples and their planners actually know what’s going on.
Before Weddingkart, Mayank spent over a decade building consumer internet products in India. At Nykaa he was named the company’s first Distinguished Engineer — its highest individual-contributor role — after leading engineering there as Director. He drove architecture on the Retina platform team and led the Nysaa UAE migration off Shopify onto Nykaa’s infrastructure. Earlier in his career he was part of the engineering team at Saavn during its growth years. He brings that operational, at-scale thinking into an industry that is still, for the most part, run on spreadsheets.
He lives in Gurugram with his wife Sushmita and their son Vigya.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated