Meet the Indian wedding designer making memories that last a lifetime

Jai Sharma, an Indian event designer based in Jaipur, has been creating memorable experiences for clients by focusing on the emotional impact of an event rather than just its decor. He founded his company, Envelop, five years ago to work on weddings, brand launches, hospitality, and real estate projects. Sharma emphasizes that an immersive experience is about creating the right feeling or story from the environment, rather than just flashy LED rooms or extravagant setups.

His approach to event design is rooted in a philosophy that values the details that stimulate the five senses, such as lighting, food, fragrance, music, and staff uniforms. He believes that every element contributes to the overall environment, making it crucial to pay attention to even the smallest aspects of an event.

Sharma's journey into the event design industry was unconventional. He initially studied engineering and later earned a double master's degree from Columbia University in New York. After working at tech giants like Intel and Apple, he returned to India after receiving a life-changing message from his grandfather about his impending death. This prompted him to return to his passion for events, which led him to found Envelop.

Sharma's philosophy is simple: the story comes first, and everything else follows. He often draws inspiration from personal stories and unique details to create immersive experiences. For example, at a recent Abu Dhabi wedding, he designed the space to reflect the bride's Lake Como proposal by arranging seating to mirror the formal geometry of an Italian chateau.

He also incorporated elements like postcards depicting a photograph of the chateau and breaking plates and repairing them in the style of Japanese kintsugi art to create a meaningful and emotional experience for the couple and their guests.

Despite his success, Sharma remains cautious about growth, as he believes that expanding too quickly could dilute the quality of his work. He deliberately limits the number of projects his team takes on each year to maintain the meaningful and impactful experiences his clients expect.