All set to marry in Greece, Anirudh Ravichander and Kavya Maran’s wedding invitation—its ivory-and-powder-blue palette, intricate carvings, and vintage-inspired design—has the internet’s attention. And while its Baroque aesthetic is getting all the love, the brief behind it was surprisingly simple: the couple wanted something classic and timeless, without personal stories or details about their lives, so guests could keep it long after the wedding. Getting there, however, took designer Ranjani Iyengar of Pink Whistle Man nearly four months, plenty of trial and error, and materials sourced from multiple places that may never be available again.

Speaking to indianexpress.com, Iyengar takes us behind the scenes of creating the invitation, from an unexpected design reference to the painstaking work that went into each box.

It started with a box she had made just for herself

Interestingly, the idea for the final invitation began with a bright green-and-pink box featuring a three-dimensional Greek head.…