Woke up like this: Why are cosy pyjamas stealing the show at celebrity weddings?

Newly wed Bollywood celebrity couples in their comfy yet stylish pyjamas are taking over Instagram this shaadi season and one cannot help but wonder why slumber parties are becoming a thing at wedding gatherings.

In the most recent example, television actress Ankita Lokhande and partner Vicky Jain were photographed wearing matching customised pyjamas with Mr & Mrs. Jain printed on the back. At another B-town wedding, couple Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha made news for donning shimmery pyjamas for their glamorous afterparty. In 2020, actress Kajal Aggarwal's ‘bride-to-be'-printed satin robe grabbed much attention at her pre-wedding pyjama party with her bridesmaids.

Mid-day Online reached out to city-based wedding planners to understand what inspired the concept and what has made a pyjama party one of the major highlights of weddings in recent years.

‘Celebs do not always start a trend'

"The wedding pyjama party emerged from the idea of a ‘dress down party' in contrast to a ‘dress up party'. It is a pretty old concept," says Dhawal Oza, director of DreamZ Events n ideas & WEDO - Wedding by Dhawal Oza, whose company has been hosting pyjama parties since 2016.

When asked about the recent celebrity pyjama parties, Oza says, "It is not that a trend always starts with a celebrity. Sometimes, even they follow a concept that is in trend. It's the wedding planner that comes up with various ideas for such events and parties."

The intention behind hosting a pyjama party is to allow the guests at a wedding or similar out-of-town event to unwind in a relaxed setting without having to worry about hair, make-up and dress.

"The whole pressure of dressing up for each event is humongous on the guests and on the couple, so the chance to enjoy the last party in their most comfortable clothes is something that attracts many. That's how it emerged as a hot thing in India," says Ritu Jain, Founder of Weddingwale.

What's in the plan?

From a cosy, comfortable setting with an extra focus on premium cushions and mattresses to customised PJs and a perfect food menu, a pre- or post-wedding pyjama party requires equal attention as other preparations of the ceremony.

Most of these pyjama parties are generally attended by youngsters and Jain highlights the element of secrecy involved in organising pyjama parties as the idea of having hard drinks with the family elders does not sit well with the Indian wedding culture.

"It is one of the most sought-after events by the couple and their friends. From fancy decor, themed food, drinks, artists and entertainment, the preparations are crazy," says Jain.

According to Oza, pyjama parties are usually after the sangeet ceremony, where guests indulge in music and dance performances, the pyjama party allows them to sit back and let the DJ take over. As the adults give in to their exhaustion, youngsters are always up for some post-rituals gathering.

"As the adults of the family have wound up, the action on the bar usually picks.. The youngsters love to get on the dance floors till the wee hours of the morning," says Oza, adding that the concept works perfectly for them as they just have to reach the bed and crash in their PJs.

In food, a combination of sleepover snacks and desi meals such as a Maggi station, wraps and rolls, egg or paneer bhurjee, etc. make up the supper menu.

What is the demand like?

As wedding planners reiterate, pyjama parties - which started off as casual sleepovers for friends, not necessarily preceded by a major event or celebration - are now majorly becoming popular among couples planning for a destination wedding.

With an increasing preference towards destination weddings, pyjama parties become an unmissable part of packages offered by planners and they work well for guests staying at the same hotel who want to catch up after the ceremony. The cost varies as per the budget - it depends on whether the couple wants a simple do or a full-on club vibe pyjama party, says Mayur Pathak, wedding planner and founder of Panaash Entertainment.

While Oza says around four to five out of ten destination weddings have a pyjama party, Jain states eight out of ten couples go for it. As a concept, organisers say, more and more couples want to host a night afterparty and love the idea of a comfortable gathering with their close friends and family members after a heavy schedule of wedding rituals and functions.

According to Statista.com, a survey conducted by Nikah Forever revealed that a majority of respondents showed willingness towards a destination wedding. Around 70 percent male and 50 percent of female respondents were open to the idea of having a destination wedding.

Still, there are deterrents to it becoming a full-fledged, widely-accepted wedding fixture in general. "The concept does not really work for local weddings. Especially in the post-lockdown period, people want to dress up and again, it won't be a good choice to dress up in pyjamas for a local event," says Oza. Besides, as Pathak observes, "In a country like India where you follow a dress code in front of elders, pyjama parties are still finding it hard to fit in."

Also Read: Mumbai sculptor's new works reflect on scenes of migration in the pandemic