Lara Balsara keeps it in-house for her January wedding

Madison World's Executive Director Lara Balsara's wedding next month to Air India pilot Kaizad Vajifdar is expected to be an intimate affair, rooted in Parsi culture.
The venue for the January 23 wedding — Colaba Agiary — is a place of family occasions for the Balsaras. "It is the place where my parents and in-laws got married. Both mine and my fiancée's Navjotes were held there," says Lara in an email chat with ETPanache. "It is a bit small but we thought it would offer a unique experience for our friends."

All the festivities have been planned by the two families, with some inputs from Madison IES. The wedding invite has been designed by Madison BMB. "Parsi weddings are simple with just a one-day function. There are a few smaller ceremonies that will be held at home a few days before," says Lara.

One of them will be on January 15, where relatives from both families will participate. The other will be held on January 16 for colleagues from Madison and Mediacom. Nearly 1,000 guests are expected for each function.

The bride will wear the traditional Parsi-style sari in baby pink with pearl embroidery work, designed by Sabita Dhanrajgir while the groom is expected to choose a made-to-measure suit from one of Madison's clients, Raymond.

Lara reveals that her in-laws, who are in the wedding photography business, will be handling the photo and video duties. As for the menu, she says, "It will be a typical Parsi bhonu on a banana leaf — a sit-down dinner catered by Godiwalla."