padhaaro saa

With wedding season in full swing, we decided to delve into the art and intricacies of invitation design. To get an insider's view, we turned to some of the leading names in the field: Itchha Talreja, founder of Itchha Talreja Designs, Sanjana Chatlani, founder of The Bombay Lettering Company, and Puneet Gupta, designer and creative director of Puneet Gupta Invitations.

- Sonakshi Kurbah

More often than not, an invitation is way more than just an announcement. It is a glimpse into a celebration, which in turn sets the tone for what is to come. The tradition of crafting invites is no ordinary endeavour. It is a blend of artistry, storytelling and personal expression, which reflects the spirit of the occasion. Join us as the aforementioned visionaries bring their perspectives on what it takes to craft invitations that are as memorable as the event itself.

The Creative Process and Handling Expectations

The creative process behind designing a personalised wedding invitation involves capturing the essence of the couple's journey. Puneet Gupta shares that his process begins by getting to know their love storyhow they met, shared memories, and meaningful details that define their relationship. Itchha Talreja and Sanjana Chatlani emphasize that they focus on understanding the couple's personal style and design preferences to ensure the invitation feels truly theirs.

Following this detailed discussion, the designers create mood boards that introduce the couple to various aesthetics, colour palettes, design elements, painting techniques, materials and more. Once the couple approves the concepts, the designers move into the final design phase, incorporating all the feedback received.

Weddings in India are deeply emotional and significant, involving not just the couple but the entire family. When speaking about how they manage families’ expectations, the experts unanimously emphasize on the importance of clear communication and careful compromise. Talreja adds, “We work directly with only 1-2 key people from the client’s side, who serve as the link between us and the family. This approach prevents misunderstandings and keeps everyone aligned, as it avoids conflicting input from multiple family members. It’s a small policy that resolves many issues right from the start.”