Bride’s boiler room: All you need to know about this new wedding trend

The nip in the air is ripe for new wedding trends to transpire. In the offing is a progressive ritual - ‘Bride's Boiler Room' - a concept that was long overdue and is now finally here. Hopping onto this trend is the New Delhi-based bride - Aastha Batra along with DJ Mihir Chandan, who have taken wedding celebrations one notch higher - by combining electronic-dance music in a not-so-clandestine sanctum that a wedding venue is.

Here is some context: It has been a customary practice for the groom's side to revel in braggadocious ‘baraat' processions, while the bride's side puts up with arduous waiting hours. The phrase ‘Baraat aney walli hai' is ever so redundant with the extensive dance and music sessions that stretch for hours, testing the hosts' patience and throwing them into frenzied anticipation.

With no expected time of arrival - Batra circled back to the universal question: Why should boys have all the fun? She tells Midday: "Bride's Boiler Room had to happen. Post the Haldi ceremony, there is a period of waiting before the ‘baraat' or the groom's side arrives. I thought, why don't we turn it into a memorable evening with music and dance?"

What is a Bride's Boiler Room?
Before we delve into this pompous ritual - we first learnt what a boiler room is. Mumbai-based music producer Cyrus Karl Krishnaswamy informs, "A boiler room is an intimate setting that originated in London's underground music scene. An immersive and exclusive experience, it is a platform for DJs and electronic artists who live stream their music in confined spaces like warehouses and dance clubs."

Combining this sonic sorcery with wedding celebrations gave birth to a ‘Bride's Boiler Room.' When Batra sat down with Chandan to discuss the show kernels, one aspect was conspicuous to both - it has to be a merry-making space where music enthusiasts can plunge deep into the innovative sounds of electronic music. Additionally, the idea was to capture the essence of a wedding as the unison of families, not just individuals.

Chandan tells Midday: "The Bride's Boiler Room was actually just a stroke of luck. It sprouted into a concept when Aastha announced that she wanted to have an exclusive bridal event on the wedding day." As opposed to the traditional ways of how an Indian marriage transpires - this idea emerges as a trendsetter for new-age brides.

He continues, "The only fun element of the wedding eve has always been the groom's baraat. Going by the conventions, brides have always complied and never questioned the established norms (or so, until now). In my opinion, it is slightly unjust to the bride and her family. Thus, we devised a special way to commemorate Aastha's big day with a contemporary musical setup."

A multifaceted music composer, Chandan plays a plethora of instruments like Handpan, Flute, Saxophone, Tabla, Djembe, Darbuka, drums, keyboard and piano.

How does it work?
At Batra's wedding, the boiler room was crafted from zilch at Raffles, Udaipur. "We decided to host a sundowner event with a line-up of groovy, bass-y electronic music to vibe to. Aastha requested a subgenre of underground music that is techno, tech-house, progressive house interlaced with iconic Bollywood numbers," shares Chandan.

The blending technique also suggests an emerging rendition of techno music in India known as Bolly-tech. This fusion essentially melds Bollywood vocals with the raw hypnotic energy of techno. With this approach, the duo conspired to erect an event that sits well with the bride's family while the groom's family always has something to do in the name of baraat.

There are many ways to go about something as pulsating as a Bride's Boiler Room. It transcends conventional wedding celebrations - offering a wide variety of settings that coincide with the diverse tapestry of underground music.

Whether staged in the ancient layout of an old fort or bathed in the warm hues of a sundowner - the bride makes the choice. Set against the rhythmic backdrop of waves at the beach or nestled within the peaks of mist-kissed mountains - it materialises as an experiential event. Some brides who have a bent for regal charms may opt for historical places like the palaces of Rajasthan.

Each venue becomes a unique canvas for the celebration of the union of both - the couple and the mixing rhythms. The fusion of modern music with the timeless allure of these locations transforms the Bride's Boiler Room into an immersive experience, weaving together the threads of tradition and modern ethos.

But is it okay to blast electronic music at weddings?
With relentless drums reverberating the space, how does a Bride's Boiler Room conform to a dainty event like marriage, we ask? Chandan responds by saying that a significant change is underway in the openness to musical genres suitable for weddings.

"Traditional weddings typically extend over 3-4 days and attendees often feel overwhelmed with a continuous stream of Bollywood songs. To avoid this overdose, it's only lately, that people have become more accepting of new-age musical genres over B-town item songs," opines Chandan. This move paves the way for diverse music styles that can be regaled over at weddings.

In his experience, young Indians from the Gen Z and Millennial brackets who are getting married are the ones inclined to this unique experience. Be it destination weddings or international weddings - the younger generation wants to experiment and devise new ways to bring kinesis into an otherwise predictable flow of a wedding.

Additionally, marriages have become more than just tying a knot and signing official documents. The pomp and show go hand in glove with the idea of making it a memorable event. By infusing the auditory alchemy of synthesisers and modular magic - the trend is at the cusp of breaking into mainstream wedding scenarios.

"Also, it emerges as a revolutionary way of bringing a boiler room to the bride and groom's family and friends in an intimate setup. The move subtly takes away from the taboo usually attached to techno music in Indian society" remarks Chandan. This genre of music is usually perceived as one meant for raves or underground events.

However, with this quirky infusion, Batra and Chandan are redefining the narrative to make techno and house music more acceptable in Indian society. The incorporation of a boiler room at weddings eliminates constraints related to classifying music according to particular events. It is an authentic celebration that resonates with the spirit of the couple and the diverse music genres they choose to embrace.

How to erect a Bride's Boiler Room for myself?
1. Begin by shedding obsession with Bollywood numbers and making a tech-house playlist.
2. Set up a minimal stage with a DJ console and instruments right in the middle of the gathering.
3. Keep the space free for attendees to dance without inhibitions.
4. Invite guests to experiment with Indian attire and mix it with props like hand fans, caps, shades and sneakers.
5. Keep refreshments handy.