This week, I had the pleasure of attending perhaps one of the most delightful wedding receptions I’ve experienced in years. As I reflect on this during my flight back to London, I’m struck by how the entire event embodied what we in the corporate world call the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. In this post, I’ll share how a wedding in Bangalore became a masterclass in simplicity-offering lessons not just for event planning, but for business and life itself.

Thoughtful Accessibility and Design

From the moment I saw the invitation, I noticed the difference. The venue was ingeniously located just a five-minute walk from the Metro station – a godsend in Bangalore’s notorious traffic. This simple choice likely saved hundreds of collective hours that guests would have spent navigating congested roads or searching for parking.Inside the reception hall, one large, silent fan provided effective cooling rather than the usual cacophony of multiple units or the arctic blast of overpowered air conditioning. This single, elegant solution maintained a comfortable temperature while allowing conversations to flow without competing with mechanical noise. The KISS principle was literally hovering above us all evening!

A Reception Line That Actually Works

Perhaps what struck me most was how the couple and their parents had organized the greeting process. Unlike many Indian weddings where guests barely manage a cursory “congratulations” before being ushered along, this arrangement allowed for genuine interaction. I had a proper conversation with both the bride and groom, and observed others doing the same – creating actual connections rather than performing obligatory greetings.The parents of both families stood at strategic points, personally welcoming guests and gently guiding the flow without the need for event managers with headsets directing traffic like at Heathrow security. This traditional element of parental involvement was preserved in a way that felt both authentic and efficient.

The Art of Simple Hospitality

The dinner arrangement epitomized efficient elegance. Rather than an overwhelming 50-item buffet where one spends more time queuing than eating, they offered a thoughtfully curated selection of vegetarian dishes. Each item was executed flawlessly – proving that quality trumps quantity every time. The service was swift without feeling rushed, meaning no guest waited endlessly in line while their stomach grumbled in protest.The dessert selection featured a few unique and intriguing sweets rather than the customary excessive display. This thoughtful curation meant guests could actually appreciate each offering rather than suffering from choice paralysis or feeling obliged to sample everything out of politeness.

The Well-Rested Couple

Most telling was how relaxed the bride and groom appeared. With their main ceremony scheduled for the following day, the hosts had wisely designed the reception to preserve the couple’s energy. They looked genuinely happy rather than exhausted from hours of photo sessions and greeting hundreds of guests in heavy traditional attire under hot lights. Traditional Indian ceremonies can be quite intensive, so this thoughtfulness about energy conservation was brilliant planning.

The Contrast with “Grand” Weddings

While discussing this with my former colleague and dear friend who now lives in Bangalore, he confirmed how rare such experiences have become. He recounted attending weddings where ostentation was the primary goal – events where families served 50 varieties of sweets, hired multiple entertainment acts, and created such chaos that guests barely managed to greet the couple.These extravaganzas, while impressive in scale, often miss the fundamental purpose of bringing people together to celebrate a union. Many parents feel pressured to arrange “Grand Indian Weddings,” with elaborate decorations, celebrity performances, and excessive displays of wealth . What should be a joyous occasion transforms into a logistical nightmare and a competition of conspicuous consumption.

Business Parallels:

When Companies Forget to KISSThis experience made me reflect on the companies I’ve consulted for over the years in London. The most successful ones invariably have business models you could explain to a child. When I ask employees at struggling enterprises how their company makes money, their convoluted answers often reveal the underlying problem: complexity has overtaken clarity.The KISS principle, first attributed to aircraft engineer Kelly Johnson of Lockheed Skunk Works in the 1960s, reminds us that systems work best when they remain uncomplicated. Johnson famously told his team that their aircraft designs should be simple enough to be repaired by a mechanic in the field with basic tools. The same philosophy applies brilliantly to both weddings and businesses.Many small companies can’t resist adding new revenue streams or business models before mastering their original purpose. Like families who attempt to orchestrate weddings beyond their capabilities, these companies stretch themselves thin trying to be everything to everyone.

The Courage to Simplify

What struck me most about this wedding reception was the courage it required. In a culture where marriages often serve as status displays, choosing simplicity means resisting tremendous social pressure. It requires confidence to prioritize what truly matters over what is expected.

The same applies in business. When competitors are adding features and expanding in all directions, maintaining focus requires conviction. As Einstein reportedly said, “If you can’t explain it, you don’t understand it well enough”. It’s far easier to add than to subtract, to complicate than to simplify.## The Wisdom of KISS

As I settle back into my London routine, I carry this reminder with me: there is profound wisdom in the KISS principle. Whether planning a wedding or steering a company, the path to excellence often lies not in adding more, but in having the discipline to do fewer things exceptionally well.

The next time I face the temptation to complicate a business model or project or overengineer a solution, I’ll remember that beautifully simple wedding in Bangalore – and the courage it takes to choose clarity over complexity. In a world growing increasingly complicated by the day, perhaps we could all benefit from remembering to KISS more often.