Thermal screening, cuddle curtains to be new normal at weddings

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 27

With the Covid outbreak adversely affecting all sectors, businessmen are finding ways to revamp their work strategy. And to stay afloat, a local studio owner has also taken a big leap on this front.

Pankaj Soni, who was largely dependent on pre-wedding shoots and destination weddings that now do not seem to work for another year or two, is offering a new kind of wedding package.

“This package, which will be for 50 persons attending the event, will have all provisions as per the government regulations for the Covid-19 period. From thermal screening of guests to UV hand sanitisation stations, we will arrange all systems for holding the gala occasion and making it a memorable event,” said Soni.

The owner of Studio 2 Production, Soni shared, “We will provide 50 hand sanitisers and 50 N95 marks for guests. Since it will not be feasible to distribute invitation cards physically to all relatives, we will also design innovative e-cards."

He said, "As normal hugs (milni as we call it) won’t be possible between relatives from either side, we will arrange cuddle curtains, wherein there will be a transparent film in between and relatives will get to wear arm length gloves for extending greetings. The seating arrangements will be made such that it look aesthetic and also have sufficient space in between to maintain social distancing. Since many guests will not be able to attend it, we will arrange for live web telecast to as many people as the families want, including NRI ones.”

Soni said in view of the current situation, marriage palaces, restaurants and hotels were unlikely to open for the next few months, therefore he would try to make arrangements for such a wedding in public parks and open spaces after getting due permission from the administration.

He added, “Our Rs 2-lakh wedding package will include all these facilities in addition to bridal make up, mehndi artist, photobooth, car decoration, mandap and entrance décor, vegetarian food for 50 guests, basic sound system with two mikes, photography, videography (without candid) and 50-page video album.”

Soni says, “It has taken him a month to study, analyse options available, plan and arrange various systems needed to offer such a package. Some of the ideas have come from my friends engaged in the same business in metro cities. Each sanitisation station costs Rs 1,000, but when I am taking it in bulk, the price will be just Rs 700 for each set. It, of course, involves some big investment from my side, but I think the effort and expenditure made will be worth it as people will like the concept. My fingers are crossed and I just hope that it works."