Four pocket-friendly wedding destinations in India

Four places for a fairy-tale weddings within a budget

Destination weddings in India are sought after and affordable, providing the perfect platforms to get hitched amidst the colourful fusion of heritage and modern luxury. 

Gone are the days when the wedding demanded just good friends and food. In a fast digitising world, every couple desires a wedding that will get the maximum hits on the like button and beautiful pictures to cherish for a lifetime.

The trend of destination weddings is relatively young in the country, nonetheless a fast emerging one. Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur and Hyderabad are the extravagant options that are the most opted for destinations in India. However, keeping in mind the proletariat sentiments, we have listed four affordable wedding destinations in India for you.

Alibaug

Alibaug is an easy pick for a wedding destination spot that is also easy on the pockets. Located at a close proximity to Mumbai, a white-sand shoreline, at an elevated height, inside a luscious garden enveloped by the mountains is precisely where you want to get married at. From private beach weddings to gala functions overlooking the Alibaug Fort, the place is a two-hour drive from Mumbai.

Alibaug also boasts of luxury resorts and bungalows that host theme weddings for the patrons, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa being the most famous one.

 

Kovalam

Kovalam in Kerala is yet another beach wedding destination that is  lined with exotic wedding resorts, the most prominent being the Leela Kovalam and Vivanta by Taj – Green Cove. Kovalam is enlisted as ‘India’s leading wedding destination for the urban middle class’. Sheena Rai, a pan-Indian wedding planner stated, “Many of my clients who are not flexible with the budget and yet desire a themed, opulent wedding opt for Kovalam and its serene beaches. The picturesque area and Ayurvedic spa retreats make it an available choice to celebrate with a few close ones. Those who cannot opt for Goa for the obvious constraints, automatically lean towards Kovalam.”

 

Varanasi

The heritage hub of India, it is considered to be holy and sanctimonious to start your marital journey from Benaras (as Varanasi was earlier known). If you are looking for a conventional wedding coupled with a destination twist, Varanasi would be a financially viable choice. Pradeep Kumar, a wedding photographer whose latest clients mouthed the holy vows in a themed destination wedding at the old-world city, commented, “It’s absolutely vivacious, the aura and feeling to be married here. It has its own set of emotions attached to it and even though most would not associate Varanasi as a destination wedding centre, I believe that the facilities here to host a lavish wedding is no less than a Goa or Jaipur. The scenic presence and rustic charm also ensure great photographs!”

 

Shimla

The frequented hill station also translates into an extravagant destination wedding centre. “A summer wedding in the cold setting is sure to leave one excited and enthusiastic. We see so many weddings here these days; even foreigners come down here to get married. I guess, they love the romantic nature of the place; it’s absolutely perfect for couples! Shimla is witnessing several upcoming hotels and resorts especially to cater to big fat weddings and honeymoons,” stated a local.

Wildflower Hall, Oberoi Cecil, Woodville Palace, Toshali Royal Resort and East Bourne Hotel are some of the quotable resorts for destination weddings in Shimla amidst the lap of nature.