India, a land of rich traditions, vibrant cultures, and breathtaking landscapes, has emerged as a premier destination for couples seeking a wedding experience like no other.
With its majestic palaces, serene beaches, and lush landscapes, India offers a tapestry of options for couples dreaming of an unforgettable wedding celebration. In recent years, the concept of wedding tourism in India has gained significant traction, attracting couples from around the globe to exchange vows amidst the country's captivating beauty and timeless charm. From opulent royal weddings in palatial settings to intimate ceremonies on sun-kissed shores, India's diverse offerings cater to every couple's vision of their perfect day.
As per a KPMG report, the Indian wedding industry was previously estimated to generate an annual revenue of Rs 3-4 lakh crore, with current figures speculated to surpass this. A significant portion of this expenditure is attributed to extravagant destination weddings held overseas. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has forecasted an astounding expenditure of Rs 4.7 lakh crore on 38 lakh weddings between November 23 and December 15, reflecting a notable 25% surge from the previous year. This encompasses spending on a range of wedding essentials including jewellery, attire, venues, gifts, and catering.
Indian wedding up for grabs
Taking the concept of wedding tourism up a notch, Join My Wedding is an online platform that allows foreign nationals to attend Indian weddings. It is an innovative platform that allows you to extend invitations to foreign travellers eager to immerse themselves in Indian culture, inviting them to be a part of your wedding festivities. Ask Orsi Parkanyi, the co-founder of the platform about the reason behind choosing Indian weddings, she said, “While anyone from any country can register their wedding on our platform, India is our target market. What is very special about the Indian wedding market is that the weddings are huge and people are more open to sharing their weddings. We needed a country that has interesting weddings and people are open to hosting.
“The culture is very immersive. Tasting the food, dancing to Indian music, wearing Indian attire are all very unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Also Indian weddings are huge, so adding an extra five or seven people is not very disruptive. Adding five people to a wedding party of six hundred people hardly makes any difference.”
According to Orsi, the celebrity wedding being talked about in the media and the wedding culture being shown on online platforms is also adding to the hype with people wanting to experience something similar. Join My Wedding finds foreigners from the UK, US and all across Eu wanting to attend weddings in big cities like Delhi, Goa, Mumbai and Bangalore.
The dream destination for NRI weddings
India has emerged as the preferred destination for weddings among NRIs, and this has been a thing way before Narendra Modi requested NRIs to tie the knot in their native land. The allure of celebrating weddings with timeless customs evokes a sense of nostalgia for many. The opulence of an NRI wedding dazzles visitors, reflecting a deep-seated love for the motherland and a profound respect for its rich culture and rituals. For NRIs, the dream of tying the nuptial knot or witnessing their sons and daughters wedded in a traditional Indian manner is a cherished aspiration.
When it comes to planning their weddings, these couples leave no stone unturned. According to Priyesh Sagar, the founder of Eventually Yours, a full-service management firm based in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, different couples have varying preferences for their weddings, with some preferring a very traditional approach, others favouring a modern style, and some desiring a blend of both. “Planning weddings for NRIs poses additional challenges, as face-to-face interactions with clients are limited, and decisions often need to be made via video calls. In such cases, planners often find themselves assisting with tasks beyond their usual scope, such as coordinating costumes”, he said.
According to Priyesh, India stands out as a prime market for weddings due to its offering of excellent, spacious venues, diverse entertainment options, seamless integration of culture, and innovative decor. Among the most sought-after wedding destinations in the country, he listed: Goa, Daman, or Alibaug for beach weddings, Rajasthan for palace weddings, and various other locations catering to specific themes such as forest or posh settings.
