One on One: Sara Chapra

We go behind the scenes with one of the best in the field of event management

Meet Sara Chapra, the woman behind Karachi’s favourite festival, ‘Karachi Eat’ who has set the bar too high. She has truly emerged as a thought leader in this industry. The very talented event manager tells us all about her journey and the highly anticipated “Wedding Atelier”- a one stop solution for all your wedding needs!



How did you begin your career in event management?

A friend of mine, Kiran Aman of KFJ, asked me to do an event for her book launch ‘Revived’. I told her she was crazy and I could never do it. She never listened and she insisted that only I could do her event. Her faith in me made me believe I could do it. And the rest as they say, is history. To date it is still my favourite event though it was 10 years ago.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Everything and anything. Shop windows, a store, beautiful hotels, cafes or even the way a place makes me feel. Even lamp posts on the street or garden conservatories.



Which event planner international or local are you most inspired by?

My favourite international designers are Hiba Al Bakri, Goldi, Vincenzo Dascanio and Russian event designer Shakirova.

What do you like most about your job?

I love that it gives me the ability to create everlasting memories. I can literally create and design anything that comes into my head. The event business allows designers to cross all boundaries and customise almost anything that makes a wedding or an event unique from client to client.

What is most challenging about your job?

The time frame that we have to work in is nerve wrecking and no one understands the concept of time. When vendors arrive late or things arrive broken, we can’t ask the client to tell their guests to arrive an hour late, it doesn’t work that way. We have to get it done at all costs. The stress levels are gruelling,



How would you describe your event management style? How do you add your signature touch to each event?

I have two sides. One side of me is drawn towards understated elegance. But the other side craves something bold and dramatic. I always like to add one unique feature to all my events. Something that makes it memorable. It’s not only about flowers and stages. It’s the entire experience.

What do you believe are some event themes that might be big hits in 2018?

I think the new generation is looking for more contemporary ideas.

What do you think makes a good event?

Anything that excites all the senses…it’s not just about visual stimulation and décor but experiential design as well. A good event should make you feel like you have entered a story. And it’s the tiniest details that make an experience authentic and unforgettable.

Describe your style of work in three words.

Elegant, unique, dramatic.



Is there anything exciting that you are working on at the moment that you can tell us about?

Well after being in the event business for the past 10 years, I have decided to create an event that caters to all the needs of a bride-to-be. We have created an event called the Wedding Atelier which is the ultimate wedding guide for all brides-to-be. Anything and everything a bride needs for her dream wedding brought onto a single platform. Unlike other wedding shows, we are handpicking all the vendors which are directly or indirectly related to the wedding industry. We are picking only the best of the best in every category from interior designers, jewellery designers, weight loss gurus, stylists, couture designers, floral and invitation designers, etc. The list goes on and on. As stressful as this is, it’s also very exciting to hunt for new and unique services created for brides to be. There are so many new businesses and ideas in the market catering to the wedding industry today.

What are your event planning/design goals?

I realised a long time ago that creating and conceptualising events of our own would be the natural transition. That is why we came up with Karachi Eat and now the Wedding Atelier. There are so many creative and exciting ideas in almost every field in Pakistan. I want to create events that are open to the public — from food to fitness, fashion and beauty, music, art and entertainment. The possibilities are endless. We can do almost anything. We have the skill, the talent, the passion and drive. The idea is to simply provide opportunities and create platforms.