14 Asian LEADER
1 Jan - 14 Jan 2014
Indian weddings move
to new destinations
Raj Palace, Rambagh Palace and Jai Mahal Palaces, Jaipur
T
he big fat Indian
wedding is no longer
about food, dresses,
dance and rituals. It’s also
about exotic wedding destinations.
What started off as large,
lavish designer weddings
at exotic Indian palaces in
Rajasthan and seven-star
venues and beaches of Goa
and Kerala — mostly for
non-resident Indians and
the super rich — is emerging as a more widespread
phenomenon.
While palaces of Rajasthan and the beaches of Goa
continue to top the charts,
new destinations including
Kashmir, Shimla, Manali,
Kerala, Andaman and Nico-
bar Islands and religious
places such as Varanasi,
Tirupati and ancient world
heritage
sites
including
Khajuraho are also emerging as favourites.
“People these days are
definitely
experimenting
hence organising wedding
at new and exotic locations,
apart from the regular preferred wedding destinations… they are now very
keen to travel to Andaman
Nicobar, Kerala, Varanasi,”
said Rakesh Mitra, general
manager, sales and marketing, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group.
“Kerala has emerged as a
preferred venue in competiton to any international des-
City Palace, Udaipur
tination,” he added.
The adventurous of the
lot also prefer weddings at
five-star safari lodges. A
Taj spokesperson told HT
that safari lodges provide
the perfect setting against a
backdrop of unbridled landscapes and exotic sounds of
the jungle.
Hill stations such as Shimla and Manali are also proving to be attractive locations
with top luxury hotels offering attractive off-season discounts.
“The landscape and availability of grand hotels is
pushing Manali as a wedding destination. Not many
hill stations have exotic
facilities,” said Neha Chau-
han, destination wedding
planner, Back2Culture, a
company which handles majority of NRI clientele. Wedding at such location costs
`60-80 lakh.
“Today, weddings are becoming more bespoke… be
it a r