India is a beautiful and diverse country that offers a wide variety of exotic wedding destinations, depending on the couple's preferences and tastes. While the Rajasthani palaces in Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur offer royal settings, Goa is appealing to those who want a beach wedding. Similarly, a Himalayan wedding is perfect for those who love the mountains, while the backwaters of Kerala offer amazing experiences, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer enticing locations for a soon-to-be-married couple. If you're thinking of a destination wedding, here are the best ways to plan that dream wedding. Vaibhav Sadhwani, co-founder of Behind The Scene, a destination wedding planner, tells us:
Hire a wedding planner
A wedding planner solves 99% of your problems as they are well versed in the nuances of wedding planning that blend seamlessly with various options. Apart from offering you countless options, they will customize the wedding to your budget, dream destinations, and number of guests and combine it with the right local touch to ensure you have a truly memorable wedding. Communication is the key. Talking to them just once a week will ensure that every little detail is just the way you want it.
Choose the perfect destination
The wedding season in India runs from November to February. And then there are auspicious dates. You can select a destination based on availability and, as mentioned, based on your preferences. Choose from a royal wedding, a mountain wedding or a beach wedding and the wedding planner will provide you with plenty of options.
Creating memories for everyone
A destination wedding is typically intimate, with a total of 200-400 guests, most of whom are close family and friends. It's essential to ensure the experience is unforgettable. Prepare some welcome kits with snacks and keep them in their rooms. Plan a day for sightseeing or a trip to the spa so they can enjoy the luxuries the destination has to offer.
Seamless logistics
Make sure that the wedding hotel is not more than an hour away from the airport. For the guests, travelling for many hours is tiring as there are elderly people and children in the group. Also arrange for suitable transport and if the guests are not arriving on the same flight, coordinate with them about their arrival so that they do not have to wait at the airport. So hire an experienced transport company or delegate this task to the wedding planner and enjoy the wedding.
Seamless presentation flow
One of the main attributes of a memorable destination wedding is having a perfect and well thought out show flow. A wedding usually comprises a number of events from Mehendi, Haldi and Sangeet to the cocktail party, Barat assembly and Pheras and only a proper show flow can facilitate perfect celebrations in every sense. The show flow itself has various scopes, for instance, if a wedding is being held in Rajasthan, it is advisable that it incorporates elements like Rajasthani Mehendi, while in Goa, one can opt for a wine and cheese ambiance. Similarly, for events like Sangeet, the sequence of performances should be decided beforehand to avoid any last minute hiccups. In case of celebrity engagements too, pre-planning is an important requirement.
Contingency plan
Indian weddings are always a grand affair and we cannot leave any stone unturned to ensure that the grandeur remains intact in all situations and circumstances. Therefore, we highly recommend having a foolproof contingency plan in case of any unforeseen eventuality. Be it a change in weather or, God forbid, some other major issue that crops up in the final moments, the host must ensure that they have comprehensive insurance in place to avoid any huge losses. In case of a sudden change in weather, which is a possibility especially for some specific destinations, it also becomes imperative to have a backup plan, so that a function can be shifted to an alternate venue or destination for a smooth execution.
Decoration
Well, décor is one aspect that requires a lot of time and deliberation in the preparations of any wedding. It consists of a number of things including colour/theme coding, selection of materials, flowers, tents, lights, props and accessories, etc. Décor plays a pivotal role in determining the overall feel of a wedding. Moreover, it is also related to the attire of the bride and groom, and hence, the hired wardrobe planner must take into consideration the décor of each occasion before finalizing the outfits and clothes for both the couple and the guests.
Sustainability
Many couples are becoming more careful about the impact they have on the planet when they get married. While traditional paper invitations have given way to digital invitations, eco-friendly decor is also a great option. Conscious waste management is key here.
Local flavour
Indian weddings and delicious food are synonymous. When planning a destination wedding, keep in mind the local cuisine to provide the perfect experience. Rajasthani food is great for the Indian palate, but there will be vegetarians in Goa who will not want to eat seafood. Therefore, a menu should be designed to suit taste preferences.
A destination wedding is not just a wedding, but also a vacation for the guests. Make sure they experience the destination and enjoy the wedding as well, to make it the perfect destination wedding.
