Destination Wedding in India

A wedding ties two souls together for eternity and brings together two families to celebrate love. Be it a grand celebration or just an intimate ceremony; sometimes ditching the native place and getting married in a different location is nothing short of incredible. That's where the whole idea of a destination wedding comes into play.

A destination wedding is a wedding that is held in a setting away from your hometown. But, selecting a perfect place for your destination wedding is an uphill task, especially if there are budget constraints. India is home to such beautiful locations that cater to everyone's needs, and therefore the cost of a destination wedding comes down.

Why Choose a Destination Wedding?

A destination wedding is nothing but to move away from the mundane daily life and celebrate the start of a new life in a romantic location without spending a fortune.

A destination wedding can be as relaxed or grand as you like. You can choose to wear flip-flops or give a chance to the beautiful wedding gowns and tuxedos. Ultimately, it is your wedding, and you get to decide whatever makes you happy.  

But, if you don't want to burn a hole in your pocket yet, learn how to manage the various expenses of a destination wedding. Go on, give it a read!

What are the Necessary Expenses in a Destination Wedding Budget?

• Wedding venue: Any wedding venue, on average, charges stand around Rs 3000-5000 per person per night,  including the stay, food, and basic decor. However, these figures don't apply to royal wedding venues like Umaid Bhawan in Udaipur or Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. Choosing a unique site will surely cut down your wedding destination budget.

• Flower and decoration: Decoration plays an integral role as the wedding mandap, the stage, centerpieces, seating arrangement, lighting, drapes, floral arrangements, etc. need to look decked up. Although, when it comes to decoration, the sky's the limit; yet you can have affordable decorations by opting for local flowers, serving the regional cuisine, etc. You can also mold the local taste as per your choice and cut down the cost of your destination wedding. Generally, elaborate decoration costs around Rs 1-3 lakhs per day, but one can save quite a lot by choosing a destination that is itself beautiful.

• Wedding photographer: Usually, a good destination wedding photographer will charge around Rs 1.5 lakhs to Rs 2 lakhs a day, along with their travel and accommodation expenses. Try looking for a local wedding photographer to reduce the budget.

• Transport: Traveling cost to the destination and within the cities can skyrocket or be less depending on your destination. If you have to fly down your guests to the wedding venue, then that’s an added expense. Inviting your close-knit circle and your relatives would make a lot of difference and make it affordable.  

• Miscellaneous expenses: Destination wedding expenses are just not limited to the ones above, and there are expenses in bringing Mehndi artists, priest, wedding DJ, and many more, which should also be taken into consideration.

Other than the expenses, the venue of the destination wedding plays a pivotal role in the costs. Destination wedding venues like Umaid Bhawan and Taj Falaknuma are quite well-known, but they might not fit into a common man’s wedding budget. That doesn’t stop you from having a dream wedding. There are a lot of other unique wedding destinations in India that can make your wedding a lot more affordable and memorable. You have got a lot of choices for a destination wedding in India. So, let's delve into that:

1. Lavasa

Another charming wedding destination in India is Lavasa. If you are fond of hills, then Lavasa would be a great option. Lavasa is well known for its charm and beauty. A serene wedding among the mountains and waterfalls is a dream of many. Easily accessible by road, this pretty and affordable place can cut down the cost of destination wedding drastically.

Best Pick: Hotel Mercure, Lavasa is an excellent choice for a gorgeous wedding.

Best Time: The best time to have a wedding at Lavasa, away from the hustle-bustle of the city, is from October to May.

2. Alleppey

Down south, the backwaters of Kerala is another offbeat choice for wedding destinations in India. This place is nothing short of a beauty, with still water lagoons, bustling canals, and beautiful houseboats all around. Make your wedding count and memorable by tying the knot at this beautiful place.

Best Pick: You can pick up anything as per your choice - a houseboat wedding or even a beach wedding. Whatever be it, there are a lot of options. the Leela Kovalam is a great choice for a beach wedding; on the other hand, for a wedding in houseboats, you can consider the Lake Palace resort.

Best Time: The best time is from December to February, as the weather remains pleasant all throughout Kerala during this time.

3. Havelock Island

The Andaman Islands are a gem of a place, especially the Havelock island. The crystal clear blue water and the pristine golden sand will make your nuptial etched in everyone's memory. Away from the buzzing city life, tying the knot amidst blue water, under the clear blue sky will be a new experience and will undoubtedly be an ideal destination wedding.

Best Pick: The Munjoh Ocean Resort is a lush and lavish property in Havelock to exchange your vows and make the wedding memorable.

Best Time: Excluding the monsoon time, September to May is the best time to celebrate a Havelock wedding.

4. Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the city of Nizams, also known as the “Pearl City,” is home to thousands of historical and cultural landmarks. It also boasts of having a lot of historical monuments, lakes, and palaces, it is also a food lovers’ paradise. Other than that, Hyderabad is also an incredible place to take your vows with each other and reduce the cost of a destination wedding.

Best Pick: Tie the knot at Taj Banjara, ITC Kohenoor or Novotel, surrounded by the rich culture of Nizams in the city of Pearls.

Best Time: Hyderabad has a pleasant climate, but for a wedding, October to February would be the best time.

5. Alibaug 

Alibaug would be the perfect beach wedding destination in India; if you are looking for an undiscovered and reasonable location, then this is it! It is just a 2-hour drive from Mumbai and is undoubtedly going to mesmerize you with its pristine beaches, stunning forts, and landscapes. Alibaug also boasts of housing some lavish bungalows that you can rent over a weekend for your wedding. So, if you wish for a beach wedding, then Alibaug will be an enchanting experience.

Best Pick: Radisson Blu Resorts & Spa needs no introduction and is the perfect venue for a signature wedding.

Best Time: The best time to have a peaceful wedding at Alibaug is from November to June.

To Sum up

Most locations offer all-inclusive wedding packages that can even turn out cheaper than most local weddings. It’s less stressful as it involves fewer people; moreover, an intimate affair with fewer guests might be the dream wedding for many modern couples.

A destination wedding also gives you an opportunity to spend quality time with your family and friends. We are here to help you realise this - with the lowest interst rates on personal loans. Apply for a personal loan from mymoneykarma right away; make your dream destination weddingcome true.