In a year where the wedding industry is being reimagined, Priyanshi Somaiya has emerged as one of its defining voices—celebrated as ET Panache Woman of the Year 2025 at the WOW Awards Asia 2025. As the Co-Founder of Dark Horse Events, she has pioneered a planning philosophy that marries emotion with precision, setting new standards for guest-centric, experience-driven celebrations.
In this exclusive interview, Priyanshi opens up about the philosophies, innovations and human stories that shape her creative world.
1. You’ve built Dark Horse Events into a brand known for creativity and precision — how has your journey in the wedding industry influenced the way you approach guest experiences and planning?
Our journey with Dark Horse Events has taught us that every celebration is an emotional story and not just a logistical exercise. From the start, I’ve believed that creativity only shines when anchored in precision. Years in the wedding industry have shown me how even the most beautiful ideas can fall flat without seamless execution. Today, our planning approach combines emotion and efficiency with designing experiences that feel effortless for guests, even when there’s immense complexity behind the scenes.
2. Weddings today go far beyond décor and grandeur, with trends like personalised itineraries, AI-driven planning tools, and curated guest journeys becoming popular — what’s your guiding philosophy in designing experiences that truly stand out?
Our philosophy is simple: make every guest feel seen. Whether it’s a tech-driven RSVP experience, custom itineraries, or thoughtfully designed touch points, the goal is connection. Trends are tools, not directions. At Dark Horse, we use innovation to enhance warmth and not replace it. Every experience should reflect the couple’s essence while anticipating what the guests need before they even ask for it.
3. Recent surveys show that guests increasingly remember the small, personal touches more than the big-ticket elements — can you share a moment where such a thoughtful detail left an unforgettable impact on a celebration?
There was a wedding where the bride’s late grandmother used to write her little notes every birthday. We recreated that sentiment by placing hand-written notes on every table, each with a quote from her grandmother’s letters. It was subtle, personal, and profoundly moving—guests felt the love story before a word was spoken. Those are the moments that linger long after the lights go out & quiet gestures that speak volumes.
4. With large-scale weddings involving hundreds or even thousands of guests, personalisation can feel daunting. How do you strike the balance between meaningful customisation and the practical demands of execution?
Personalisation doesn’t have to mean extravagance. It’s about thoughtful segmentation. For instance, we create micro-experiences a corner for old friends to reminisce, local flavors for family elders, or interactive elements for younger guests. By mapping guest demographics early in the planning process, our team ensures each segment feels catered to without overwhelming operations. The key is designing systems that allow spontaneity within structure.
5. Studies highlight that nearly 70% of couples worry about last-minute disruptions on their wedding day. Could you take us through a situation where chaos struck, but you and your team turned it into a wedding-day miracle?
There was a destination wedding where a sudden storm washed away the beachfront setup an hour before the ceremony. Instead of panicking, we pivoted the team moved everything indoors, recreated the aisle with candles and drapery, and the couple walked in just as the rain stopped. The guests later said it felt even more intimate and magical. Those moments test you, but they also reveal the heart of what we do adapt, reassure, and make beauty out of unpredictability.
6. As weddings evolve with influences like sustainable décor, immersive tech experiences, and destination personalisation, what innovations do you see shaping the future of guest experiences and seamless celebrations?
The future of weddings will blend sustainability with sensibility. I see more couples leaning toward eco-conscious design, reusable installations, and digital integrations that simplify logistics without losing the emotional essence. Technology will continue to personalise from AI-based mood curation to immersive visual storytelling but authenticity will always be the trend that never fades. At Dark Horse, we’re excited to shape that future where emotion, innovation, and responsibility coexist beautifully.
Priyanshi Somaiya represents a new generation of wedding visionaries—leaders who understand that memorable celebrations are born from the smallest, most thoughtful details delivered with near-flawless precision. As she continues to push boundaries through Dark Horse Events, her work stands as a reminder that weddings are not just orchestrated—they are felt. With her blend of intuition, innovation, and unwavering commitment to guest experience, Priyanshi isn’t just planning weddings; she’s shaping the future of how India celebrates.
