PM Narendra Modi first urged affluent Indians to embrace the idea of ‘Wed in India’, similar to ‘Make in India’, during a 2023 event in Uttarakhand.
He highlighted the growing trend of wealthy families opting for foreign destination weddings and appealed for celebrations within India. He later repeated this call during his Mann Ki Baat programme.
When Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant tied the knot in Jamnagar last year, the move signalled that India’s elite were warming up to the Prime Minister’s call.
Middle Class Joins the Destination Wedding Wave
What began as a trend among billionaires is now spreading rapidly to the middle class.
Hotels and villas at popular Indian destinations are already witnessing record bookings this wedding season. Planners report that venues in Rajasthan, Corbett, Goa, and northern hill stations are nearly sold out.
Raj Chopra, chairman and MD of JW Marriott Mussoorie and JW Marriott Goa, said last year his properties recorded their highest-ever bookings for weddings.
Similarly, IHCL’s executive vice president, Parveen Chander, confirmed that demand remains strong at their hotels across Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa, Kerala, Tirupati, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Industry insiders now predict this year’s wedding season will surpass last year’s growth.
The surge reflects a shift in preferences. Affluent Indians are increasingly opting for domestic venues due to an expanded luxury hotel supply, geopolitical concerns, and a rising interest in swadeshi celebrations.
Damini Oberoi, founder of Q Events & Weddings, said hotels are almost fully booked for the November to February season.
With destinations like Turkey losing favour this year, she observed more couples turning to Indian venues such as Mussoorie, Corbett, and Rajasthan.
Nidhi Sahi of Enjay Events added that the launch of new luxury hotels is giving wealthy families more options within India.
India’s Destination Wedding Industry Matures
India’s wedding industry has grown into a global destination market, with luxury hotels opening even in smaller towns like Katra (near Mata Vaishno Devi) and Mukteshwar (near Nainital).
Global hotel chains are also tailoring offerings for Indian weddings.
The Radisson Hotel Group introduced a dedicated wedding concept across its properties, while Hilton appointed single-point wedding specialists and created bespoke menus with chefs from around the world.
States are actively promoting domestic weddings. Kerala hosted more than 1,000 destination weddings last year. Tourism Minister P Rajeeve said Kerala’s strong hotel infrastructure positions it as a hub for weddings and global events.
In Goa, the travel industry has urged the state to introduce a single-window clearance system for wedding permissions.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government plans to allow weddings at heritage sites, including Ghalib’s haveli, to strengthen the city’s profile as a wedding hub.
A new wave of eco-luxury weddings is redefining the ‘big fat Indian wedding’.
Planners and resorts now promote green celebrations featuring composted décor, e-vehicle baraats, sustainable hampers, and redistribution of leftover food.
Tejas Chavan, director at Green Spaces and Grape County Eco Resort & Spa, said couples are increasingly aware of the environmental footprint of their weddings.
His resort recently hosted a green wedding for a Gujarati family from Kenya. Popular eco-luxury destinations now include Jaipur, Dharamshala, and Varanasi.
Destination Weddings Are Here to Stay
Experts predict the destination wedding market will keep expanding.
WeddingSutra.com CEO Thip Thyagarajan noted that 10% of high-net-worth individuals already choose destination weddings, with only a small fraction opting for overseas celebrations.
Locations such as Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Mahabalipuram, and hill towns near Mumbai and Delhi dominate the domestic market.
With rising demand, stronger hotel infrastructure, and new green trends, India’s destination wedding industry is transforming into a global showcase of culture, luxury, and sustainability.
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