Want to pare the budget even more? Then forget the hundreds of hard copies of the wed-ding invitation. Software architect Ruchir Agarwal and textile designer Shuchi Agarwal sent out Powerpoint invites. Says Ruchir: “We were not in touch with many of our friends but had their email addresses. We scanned the wedding card and mailed it to all our friends.” Adds Shuchi: “A Powerpoint invite is fast, reliable and less time-consuming.”

But money becomes even more important after marriage; indeed, one of the most argued aspects. Pre-nuptial agreements, the latest buzzword in relationships, aims to tackle that issue. A pre-nup, according to Supreme Court advocate Deepak Nargolkar, is “an agreement by which two persons agree to stay together— manandwoman—for aspecified period, andif after theexpiryofthatperiod, theydecidenotto continuethe relationship, they arefreetoleave each other. There can be no claim to property, unless it is decidedbyanindividual party.” Nar-golkar has received enquiries about pre-nup-tials and believes that soon, more and more coupleswill signa pact beforegettingmarried.

Like Mumbai-based Dr Kishore Deb and Dhvani Shah did, depite drawing flak from their friends and parents. The couple’s contract clearly states that during their two years of staying together, if their ideas and way of living do not match, then there would neither be any claim to any property or cash whatsoever. “I took this decision because I see a lot of mar-riages falling apart these days. Signing a con-tract might seem like the most insensitive thing to do but at least your future is secure,” explains Deb. For Shah too, it’s a matter of conve-nience: “What’s the harm in having no compli-cations?

... contd.