Love Without Borders

Exploring the New Frontiers of Wedding Destinations

- by Vaishali Kolpe Sabherwal

It's interesting how weddings today have become rich tapestries of travel with sparkling embellishments of rituals, song and dance, great food, and a mesmerising location that holds many memories. Gone are the days when a wedding was confined to a stage, a guest list and a careful choreography of rituals. Couples today are no longer interested in single-day spectacles. They're looking for fascinating locales that can tell their story. Be it grand weddings or intimate ones, a dreamy location tops their wedding itinerary. Sun-drenched seascapes, mystical mountain mandaps, desert backdrops or palace promises. And while foreign sojourns have always been sought after, India seems to be the destination-du-jour for many with something to offer everyone.

Indian destinations are most certainly enjoying a renaissance of sorts", says Arati Thapa, founder of Wedding Fables, and grand dame of luxury and exotic destinations- Luxepointe. "Hotels and resorts are upping their game and wooing wedding hopefuls with fabulous deals and perks. And couples are increasingly looking at unique locations to complement their vision - royal (Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur), forest and wildlife (Ranthambhore, Kaziranga, Gir, Jim Corbett), mountain weddings (Shimla, Mussoorie, Manali) and beaches and backwaters (Goa, Andaman and Kerala), elaborates Arati who has also recently ventured into wedding planning

So, what has triggered this welcome change in recent times?