Rajasthan, the majestic desert state is the land of the royals boasting the Rajputana splendour and grandeur of its kingdoms. Dotted with magnificent palaces, hawelis, historic forts, lakes, gardens and breathtaking dunes, the former Princely state is known for its vibrancy. The home to rich culture and heritage, it also offers a variety of flavours from royal cuisine for your palate. Over the years, the popular tourist destination has skyrocketed in popularity as a preeminent destination for weddings.
From Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities like Katy Perry-Russell Brand, Priyanka Chopra Jonas-Nick Jonas, Kiara Advani-Sidharth Malhotra, Katrina Kaif-Vicky Kaushal, to cricketers like Hardik Pandaya-Nataša Stanković Pandya have said ‘I Do’ to Rajasthan’s fairytale-like locations for their nuptials. The state has also been the mise-en-scène for the Ambani weddings. Recently, politician and Union Minister Smriti Irani’s daughter tied the knot at the dreamy Khimsar Fort near the blue city – Jodhpur.
Indians’ love for weddings
A big fat Indian wedding is not some legend and figures prove it. A staggering one crore weddings take place in India every year. The country hosts 25 per cent of the weddings happening worldwide, which means one of the four weddings on Earth happens in India. It gives a sense of the scale of weddings in India as couples and families pour their wealth and savings to make the grand affair one for the books.
For context, Indians spent USD 46 Billion (INR 3.75 lakh crore) on weddings in November-December 2022. The figure was estimated to rise to USD 159 Billion (INR 13 lakh crore) within the first six months of 2023. The Indian wedding industry was the worst hit due to the Covid lockdown and restrictions. It was the longest snooze button for the wedding industry, but the fact was that sooner or later, people still planned on getting married. As a result, 2022 registered the largest pent-up wedding demand. Rajasthan hosted about 1.5 lakh weddings in the last two months of the same year.
It is pretty clear that there’s no celebration that Indians love as much as weddings. But what makes Rajasthan a wedding destination such a lure? Let’s find out.
Rising popularity of destination weddings
A two-day local wedding is a passé, but big ideas and big money can make a wedding from a been-there-done-that event to the wedding of the year. It all started with couples seeking to make their weddings memorable, and the first step was moving out of the cities, paving the way for destination weddings. It’s hard to trace when the trend began, but it’s definitely not going anywhere anytime soon. The smaller wedding guest lists and celebrations extending to nearly a week make for a perfect opportunity for families to gather in a quaint place with breathtaking views, far away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Thus, destination weddings have become perfect for a more intimate and personal celebration with close friends and family. Another factor swaying couples towards destination weddings is the Instagram-worthy pictures, which are only possible with a stunning location.
As couples start their wedding planning, they scout for a spectacular destination. Rajasthan, being a crème de la crème of wedding destinations among celebrities, is the first preference for all the good reasons. They seek picturesque backdrops that give them the wedding of their dreams with flower-filled mandaps, baraats (wedding processions) in vintage cars, and a magical union rooted deep in Indian traditions. Rajasthan’s royal venues offer it all. It is also ideal for hosting luxury and budget destination weddings.
During the inaugural panel discussion of the first ET MICE & Wedding Tourism Summit & Awards, industry experts discussed the changing scenarios and trends in the MICE industry and how it is becoming more experiential while planning and executing trips from the buyer and supplier side. The speakers also spoke about their expectations from travel service providers.
An affair of romance and luxury
Rajasthan is known as the Land of the Kings. Its cities – from Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur to Jaisalmer, Pushkar, Ranthambore and Bishangarh – are home to the grandest forts and palaces dating back to the 14th century, offering royal experiences, unlike any other place. To name a few are Suryagarh in Jaisalmer, Aravali Mahal in Udaipur, Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur, Alila Fort in Bishangarh, Khimsar Fort, and Aman-i-Khas in Ranthambore.
The architectural magnificence of these places adds a flavour of grandeur and luxury to the wedding celebrations. Additionally, the wealth of history associated with these places and the stories of royal romance found in books and movies around them make couples want a wedding in Rajasthan all the more. After all, everyone who has watched Jodha Akbar has either expressed the desire to recreate it or wished for it secretly.
Given the demand and popularity of wedding venues in Rajasthan, the luxury palaces and hotels bring the couples’ vision to reality by curating a personalised experience with all-inclusive packages covering everything from accommodations to catering. They ensure the families aren’t worried about anything and immerse themselves in the celebrations.
Unforgettable wedding experience
In conclusion, Rajasthan is a magnificent destination for an unforgettable wedding experience. The rich culture, grand palaces, exceptional local cuisine and breathtaking landscapes of Rajasthan provide a perfect backdrop for a romantic and exotic wedding ceremony. Whether it is a traditional royal wedding or a modern-day fusion of cultures, possibilities are endless in Rajasthan to make your dream wedding a reality.
The author is the Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Radisson Blur Udaipur Palace & Spa.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETTravelWorld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETTravelWorld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.
