IF YOU WISH TO GET MARRIED IN A STORIED PALACE OR AGAINST A SPECTACULAR SUNSET ON A BEACH, THERE’S MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM WITHIN THE COUNTRY ITSELF. BY BEVERLY PEREIRA

DESTINATION WEDDINGS have become one of the biggest trends in the Indian wedding industry. Instead of tying the knot in their place of residence, couples are opting for interesting places across India that make for a memorable wedding week not just for their families but also for their guests. One of the main reasons for this surge in popularity is the easy availability of wedding services such as florists, mandap decorators, wedding planners and caterers in destinations such as Kerala, Goa and Rajasthan.

TRANQUIL KERALA

Kerala is a popular choice in the destination wedding segment. Kovalam is the first destination most couples look to when planning a beach wedding. If the conventional hotel-lawn setup doesn’t catch your fancy, there are other locations to choose. Resorts and hotels in and around the beautiful backwaters of Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom cater widely to the needs of destination weddings, too, and some even go so far as to offer intimate wedding setups on a traditional houseboat. “The estuaries and lagoons of Alappuzha, the waterfront venues of Poovar, Kollam and Ernakulam, or the plantations of Munnar are a few more coveted destinations for weddings in Kerala,” says Anil VS, Deputy Director (Marketing) of Kerala Tourism.

Three international airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode and more than 80 railway stations add to the ease of organising weddings in Kerala. “Wedding guests have so much to do, including enjoying elephant rides, visiting a hill station or wildlife sanctuary, indulging in Ayurvedic therapies, or even taking in a festival or snake-boat race,” he says.

BLISSFUL GOA

No other Indian destination offers delectable cuisine, legendary hospitality, the choicest venues
and ample leisure activities quite like Goa does. It’s no wonder then that the sunny state continues to rank high as a popular choice for destination weddings among couples in India. While weddings at an unspoilt beach with the sunset for a backdrop never fail to draw in couples-to-be, sprawling setups on hotel lawns, or even tranquil riverside weddings, are just as enticing. “With its relaxed vibe, mix of cultures and rich backdrops, Goa is the perfect destination for a bespoke wedding,” says Sanjeev Dessai, Director of Goa Tourism. When it comes to venues, Goa has something for all tastes and themes. While the state has a range of luxurious five-star hotels and boutique resorts to choose from, many couples are opting to tie the knot at heritage locations, including the Reis Magos fort and lighthouse in North Goa.

REGAL RAJASTHAN

Weddings with a royal touch are a given in Rajasthan, and palace-chic as a wedding theme is the
rage at the moment. “Rajasthan is a state with a rich royal history and a tradition-rich style of hospitality, where the guest has always been accorded a royal welcome,” says Parthip Thyagarajan, CEO of WeddingSutra, an immensely popular online wedding planning resource for Indians around the world. Rajasthan’s forts and palaces make for some of the choicest wedding venues that exude a regal air. With The Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur, Taj Lake Palace, Fateh Garh and Devi Garh in Udaipur; Jai Mahal Palace and Rambagh Palace in Jaipur; and Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan provides a royal backdrop for couples wishing for a fairy-tale wedding. Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur are the most popular among couples that have always dreamt of an opulent wedding, but, adds Thyagarajan, Jaisalmer, Ajmer and Bikaner are fast emerging as the new destinations for weddings in the state. Rajasthan, known for its rich history and culture, is reputed as a wedding destination across the world, thanks to the many celebrity weddings that have taken place here.

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