Top 5 Indian destinations to plan a memorable wedding

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

 Make a check-list of what you want at the wedding. Choose a wedding planner and share your vision to the hilt. Keep checking on the arrangements at intervals. Put aside a realistic budget for the entire wedding rentals, including a slot for photographer, florist and deejay at the reception time.

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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