For Gunjan Bansal, a memorable wedding is not defined by how much is added to it, but by how deeply it reflects the couple and the destination. Over nearly 12 years, the CEO of L’amore Weddings has curated Indian celebrations across India and Europe, from the dramatic landscapes of the Amalfi Coast to the timeless romance of Ravello.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
How did you enter the wedding planning space, and what inspired you to make it your profession?
I entered the wedding planning space almost 12 years ago, when destination weddings were still a relatively new concept for Indian families. I was living in the USA at the time, and my entry into weddings was almost organic. I discovered that I had a natural instinct for bringing together people, places, design and experiences—and I became fascinated by the idea of creating celebrations that were much more than a ceremony.
What really drew me in was the emotional aspect of weddings. There are very few occasions where an entire family and their closest people come together with such anticipation and emotion. I realised that I wanted to create experiences that people would remember long after the wedding was over. That became the foundation of L’amore Weddings.
How would you describe your journey so far, and what have been some of the defining milestones along the way?
It has been a journey of constant learning, evolution and, above all, trusting my instincts.
When I started, destination weddings were still very much a niche. Over the years, I have had the privilege of planning more than 40 Indian destination weddings across India and Europe, including some incredibly beautiful celebrations in Italy and Spain.
Italy, in particular, has been an important part of my journey. Working in places like Ravello, the Amalfi Coast and Paestum taught me that destination weddings require a very different kind of sensitivity. You have to understand the destination, its architecture, its culture and its people rather than simply bringing a wedding concept and placing it there.
One of the milestones I value most is the relationships I have built—with clients, families, venues, artisans and local vendors. In this business, your reputation is built wedding by wedding. Being invited to speak at a Destination Wedding Summit was also a particularly meaningful moment for me.
Tell us about your company, its philosophy and what you believe sets your approach to weddings apart.
L’amore Weddings is built around one fundamental belief: no two weddings should ever feel the same. I don’t believe in taking a successful wedding and reproducing it for another couple. Every wedding starts with understanding who the couple is, what their relationship is like, what their families are like and, importantly, what they want their guests to feel.
For me, luxury is not about excess. It is about curation, detail and execution.
We specialise in Indian destination weddings, with a particular focus on Europe. Our strength lies in bringing together the richness and emotion of an Indian wedding with the sophistication and character of the destination.
If we are in Ravello, I want Ravello to be felt. If we are on the Amalfi Coast, I want the Mediterranean landscape to become part of the celebration. I don’t want to fight the destination with excessive décor.
What sets our approach apart is that we don’t simply plan events. We curate an entire experience—from the first guest arrival to the final farewell. And I believe the best compliment a wedding can receive is when guests say, “This felt completely like them.”
What are the key wedding and décor trends you are seeing currently, and which trends do you believe will shape celebrations over the next few years?
I think we are moving away from weddings that are simply visually impressive towards weddings that are emotionally and experientially memorable.
The biggest trend I see is personalisation. Couples are becoming much more interested in creating an identity for their wedding rather than following a particular décor trend.
In décor, I see a move towards more sophisticated, layered and architectural design. There is a growing appreciation for natural beauty, beautiful textures, considered lighting and colour palettes that complement the destination rather than overpower it.
I also think we will see a continued move towards intimate and highly curated celebrations. When you have fewer people, you can invest much more deeply in the experience of each guest.
Destination weddings will also become more adventurous. Couples are looking for places that feel distinctive and have a strong sense of identity. The destination itself is becoming part of the story.
And I believe we will see much more integration between fashion, food, architecture, entertainment and décor. The boundaries between these elements are disappearing. A wedding is increasingly being treated as one complete creative experience rather than a collection of separate events.
Ultimately, I think the weddings that will stand the test of time will not necessarily be the ones that followed the biggest trend. They will be the ones that had a strong sense of place, a strong sense of personality and an incredible sense of hospitality.
That, to me, is what modern luxury really means.
