In the startup world, “wearing many hats” means juggling a chaotic mix of roles—product manager, designer, copywriter, operations lead, and occasionally the “person-who-googles-how-to-fix-Wix-spacing-issues.” But in the world of weddings, wearing many hats (literally and figuratively) is just part of the game.
From sparkly bridal matha pattis to the groom’s majestic safa, headwear is very on-brand for Indian weddings. So it’s only fair that, as a wedding app founder and past bride, I find myself fashionably overwhelmed wearing both startup hats and bridal headgear. 💁🏽♀️
🎩 My Many Hats This Week:
UX/UI Designer Hat: Obsessed over checklist usability and journey flows. (Shoutout to sticky navs for saving everyone’s sanity.)
Cultural Researcher Hat: Cross-checked handwritten notes from Gujarati elders.
Operations Hat: Discussed app logic with my husband/dev over chai at midnight.
Content Writer Hat: Oh wait. Forgot a major piece of wedding planning: FOOD.
🍛 Enter: The Culinary Oversight
In my flurry of figma files and family circles, I somehow forgot one of the most sacred aspects of an Indian wedding: the food.
And no, I’m not just talking about the big buffet dinner where your uncle asks if there’s “extra garlic chutney.” I’m talking about the ritual foods served during specific events—each with cultural significance and flavor-packed history. These dishes aren’t just optional snacks; they’re edible stories passed down generations.
For example:
Sukhdi or Ladoo offered during Mandap Mahurat to start things sweetly.
Ponk or Khaman at informal gatherings like mehndi—because who doesn’t love finger food?
Chaas (buttermilk) as a post-puja refreshment—low effort, high auntie approval.
I was so busy mapping out MVP features—checklists, budgets, account logins—I missed the delicious detail of why food matters in each event. And honestly? That’s part of the “many hats” journey.
Up Next: A Foodie Feature 🍽️
Now that food’s on my radar (and in my dreams), I’ll be working on integrating this into the app:
Optional traditional food suggestions per event
Contextual backstories—why it’s served and what it symbolizes
Until next time, I’ll be polishing my hats and taste-testing with purpose. Because sometimes the best UX is a well-timed ladoo.
Got a traditional food you love serving at Surti events?
Drop it in the comments—I’d love to add it (and maybe eat it). 😋