Gone
are the days when weddings meant tiresome months of tedious planning. India now
celebrates a new crop of youngsters who live it up on their big day and make
sure their family and friends, too, join in the celebrations.
Indeed, wedding planners have a huge contributory role to play in the destination wedding trend that's set in. And thanks to them, a traditional Indian shaadi now spells extravagance with much glamour and style.
f
you are planning a wedding in a picturesque destination then give yourself
ample buffer time to zero down on a good location with standard capacity to
seat and host guests and then check for its availability during the scheduled
time of the wedding. In India, religious beliefs define the ceremonies but
destinations are often free to choose for the bride and groom.
When in doubt over
a 'perfect' venue, then go right ahead and indulge in the concept of 'wedding
tours' that the wedding planner can take you on. Many NRIs opt for such tours
as having a wedding in their motherland not only connects them to their roots,
the budgets also tend to ensure a beautiful and exotic wedding.
Destination weddings always
double up into a fun holiday. Hop on the bandwagon!
TOP 5 DESTINATION CHOICES
1. UDAIPUR: PALACE & FORT
WEDDINGS
2.
JODHPUR:
PALACE WEDDINGS
3.
GOA:
CHURCH & BEACH WEDDINGS
4.
KERALA:
RESORT WEDDINGS
5.
BANARAS
& TIRUPATI: TEMPLE AND HOLY SANCTUM WEDDINGS
FACT FILE
Decide on the
cuisine, colour scheme, lighting and also music with the planner. If the
wedding is outdoors, choose a time that is not too warm and is pleasant even in
a suit or sherwani. Keep standby names and numbers of people who can help in case
a need arises at the last minute.
UDAIPUR
WHY: The Princely state of Udaipur in Rajasthan is known for its Rajput-era palaces.
The Lake Palace,
for instance, covers an entire island in the Pichola Lake.
Many
of the palaces here have been converted into luxury hotels, which host
destination weddings with great aplomb.
NOTE:
Wedding ceremonies should be chosen at a time when the weather is not too warm
for the guests.
Evenings
can be a pleasant option.
JODHPUR
WHY:
Jodhpur is a popular tourist destination, featuring many palaces, forts and
temples, set in the stark landscape of the Thar desert. Thronged by many
international celebrities, the 'Sun City' enjoys bright, sunny weather all year
round.
It's also titled the 'Blue City' due to the blue-painted houses around the Mehrangarh Fort. Jodhpur lies near the geographic centre of Rajasthan state, which makes it a convenient base for travel by tourists.
NOTE:
This destination is so popular that booking a palace or fort for a wedding
should be planned a year or more in advance.
KERALA
WHY:
Kerala has a beautiful coastline to boast of. Most resorts here enjoy
outstanding scenery and also come with a good capacity to host guests. It's a
good idea to avoid monsoon weddings in this destination as the weather can get
extremely humid.
While selecting the
facilities for the guests who are staying at the resorts during the wedding, it
can be a thoughtful gesture to include authentic Ayurvedic massages on the
indulgence list. Local musicians (even pachyderms) and priests can be booked
beforehand for specific ceremonies.
GOA
WHY:
Church and Beach weddings are considered the most gorgeous themes by most urban
couples and what better location than Goa for that big day. The beautiful
beaches in Goa, including Chapora, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim,
Sinquerim, Dona Paula, Bambolim, Morjim, Mobor, Majorda and
Siridao serve as excellent wedding locations. Apart from the beaches, the
beautiful churches and lush tropical gardens that Goa has on offer are ideal
for formal weddings.
Gardens,
which are maintained and managed by star hotels are
a good investment if the number of guests are fairly high. There are numerous
wedding planners who can shortlist a preferred theme in the location you would
eventually choose. Thematically decorating the church, beach or garden venue
for the wedding ceremonies can truly add to the flavour of the ceremonies.
NOTE: One must take care to get
necessary permission from the local authorities, which is needed to conduct a
wedding on any of the beaches in Goa. You would need to adhere to strict
timings as per the local laws and conclude your wedding ceremony by then. If
your friends prefer to party late into the night then choosing an indoor
location for your post wedding party is certainly preferable.
TIRUPATI & BANARAS
WHY: Temples are one of the most preferred locations for Hindus for holding wedding ceremonies. Many South-Indian families opt for kalyan mandapams in Tirupati and Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh and other temples toward Tamil Nadu. In Benaras, temples dotting the ghats of the river Ganges or in the climes of Uttaranchal are a favourite choice by most North-Indians.
NOTE: Stay facilities at the kalyan mandapams and temples are basic. Enquiry and bookings can
be made through the trust that run these temples. The trust also offers priest service, prasadam or satvik food and floral decorations.
Happy Wedding!
Shubh Vivah- The wedding Planner
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