PM Modi’s ‘Wed in India’ Push: Transforming India into a Global Wedding Destination
Discover why top hotels and venues are seeing a rise in Indian destination weddings post ‘Wed in India’ push!
On November 26, 2024, the honourable Prime Minister introduced the vision of Wed in India in his monthly Mann ki Baat, urging the citizens of India to opt for destination weddings within the country. On the surface, this initiative magnifies India’s picturesque locations, heritage palaces and world-class hotels. If you look deeper, according to the Economic Times, annual estimates suggest that around 5000 affluent Indian couples plan international destination weddings annually with average budgets ranging from Rs 75 thousand crore to Rs 1 lakh crore. The Wed in India push could keep industry profits and taxes within our borders!
In this article, we examine the growing trend of ‘Wed in India’. Interviews with Sachin Katoch, Cluster Associate Director of Sales, Raffles & Fairmont Jaipur, and Richa Joshi, Assistant Marketing Manager, Taj Amer, provide additional insights into the factors driving this trend and the surplus opportunities couples can explore in Indian destination weddings!
Table of Content:
- Why Host a Destination Wedding in India?
- Impact of Wed in India Campaign on the Industry
- Venue Booking Trends for 2025
- The Rising Focus on Experiential Destination Weddings
Winners of WWI Wedding Awards 2025
Why Host a Destination Wedding in India?
There are more than a handful of reasons to host a destination wedding in India. While some apply to specific cultures and age groups, others are universal.
- Hosting your wedding in an Indian destination makes it easier for your friends and family to travel to the location.
- Destination weddings in India are cost-effective. If you travel abroad, your wedding budget will be exhausted by travelling, hiring international (local) vendors, managing logistics, etc.
- Choosing a heritage palace, fort, or nature resort in India enables you to keep the culture of your country intact in your wedding ceremonies.
- From Rajasthani, Mughal, Bengali, South Indian, Gujarati, and Kashmiri, you can bring the taste of different cultures and cuisines to your wedding events. You could hire a Michelin-star chef or a global catering company for Western influences!
- Planning your wedding closer to your childhood home can also feel like a family vacation - that one time all of your favourite people from different stages of life come together to celebrate your big moment!
- To add a touch of your native land to your wedding, you could hire local artisans and folk performers and involve local businesses like live painters, florists, etc.
Impact of Wed in India Campaign on the Industry
PM Modi's "Wed in India" initiative has significantly boosted the wedding industry, drawing increased interest from domestic and international couples. A prime example is the recent wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, which showcased India’s potential as a premier luxury wedding destination. Held in Mumbai, the grand celebration highlighted the country’s rich cultural heritage and world-class hospitality, demonstrating the ability of Indian venues to curate personalised, opulent experiences. The event garnered global attention, with high-profile guests like Kim Kardashian and Priyanka Chopra, amplifying media coverage and reinforcing India’s appeal as a top-tier wedding destination. This high-profile wedding not only blended traditional Indian rituals with modern extravagance but also served as a powerful international endorsement of India’s capability to host lavish celebrations for elite clientele worldwide.
Sachin Katoch confirms, “At Fairmont Jaipur, we have seen 4-5 weddings shift from international destinations to our property. Hotels leverage this momentum by highlighting their unique offerings and positioning themselves as premier luxury wedding destinations. The initiative also fosters collaborations with local vendors, allowing couples to integrate regional traditions into their celebrations. This surge in wedding bookings is positively impacting the broader hospitality sector, including catering and décor services.”
Richa Joshi adds, “At Taj Amer Jaipur, we’ve observed a marked increase in interest from Indian and international couples opting for destination weddings. The emphasis on promoting India as a luxury wedding destination has heightened awareness of the country's diverse, rich heritage and luxurious venues, leading to a surge in bookings for intimate and grand weddings. With its opulent architecture and world-class services, Taj Amer is ideally positioned to cater to this growing demand, offering couples the perfect blend of tradition and modern luxury.”
Venue Booking Trends for 2025
1. All-in-One Venues
According to our Newly Wed Survey 2025 results, 21.3% of the respondents said they hosted their wedding and reception at the same venue. 40% said they accommodated their guests at or near the wedding venue for a hassle-free experience. Joshi shares, “Couples are increasingly opting for all-in-one venues for their destination weddings, as it allows them to consolidate the entire celebration at one location, offering convenience for both the couple and guests.”
2. Utilising Multiple Spaces within a Single Venue
Katoch shares, “While many couples appreciate the convenience of an all-in-one venue, there is a growing trend to diversify their event locations to create a more varied and dynamic experience. This approach allows them to align different venues within the property with the unique themes of each event, offering distinct atmospheres for each part of the celebration. Even within a single venue, couples are keen on utilising multiple spaces to ensure each event has its distinct character.”
3. Multi-Day Wedding Chapters
Indian weddings are famous for their pre-wedding functions like the Mehndi ceremony, the Sangeet party or more culture-centric events like the Kaleera ceremony in Punjabi weddings, Holud Kota (in Bengali weddings) or Haldi ceremony, Sakhar Puda (in Marathi Weddings) or the Roka Ceremony for different regional weddings, to name a few. Couples are now planning these events back-to-back as multi-day wedding chapters. Joshi reveals, “Couples hosting their weddings at Taj Amer Jaipur in 2025 are planning an average of 4-6 events. These typically include traditional rituals such as the Mehendi, sangeet, and haldi, which are further elevated as a Carnival, wedding ceremony, and post-wedding events like the reception or brunch. The event flow is carefully curated to offer a seamless experience, starting with pre-wedding festivities and building up to the main wedding ceremony.”
4. Full Property Buy-Outs
Full Property Buy-outs offer the couple and their family exclusive access to the venue and their services on the booked dates! It is the ultimate standard of opulence that a couple or their family can assure for their guests. “At Fairmont Jaipur, where we regularly host destination weddings, three-night NRI weddings have become common, typically leading to full property buyouts. With 245 rooms available, an average of 180 rooms are booked daily during wedding events, and an additional 15 rooms are reserved on shoulder dates before and after the main celebration,” Katoch confirms!
5. Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues
Achieving the globally recognised LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is an essential step for hotels in India. Katoch shares the uniqueness Fairmont Jaipur adds to its personalised services: "We are deeply committed to sustainability, with eco-friendly amenities, zero plastic usage across our banquets, and an in-house water plant. Through innovative menu planning using Orbisk technology, we focus on minimising food waste while delivering an exceptional culinary experience. Guests can immerse themselves in vibrant cultural traditions through ceremonies and performances, enjoy wellness treatments and yoga sessions at the Ruhab Spa, and capture breathtaking moments against stunning backdrops.”
The Rising Focus on Experiential Destination Weddings
49.6% of the couples who took our survey said their priority in planning was ensuring their guests are well taken care of and have a good time! Joshi shares her observation on this. “Couples are increasingly focused on curating unique and memorable experiences for their wedding guests, a growing trend in the luxury destination wedding market. At Taj Amer Jaipur, couples request curated experiences such as royal-themed celebrations, traditional Rajasthani performances, and personalised culinary experiences. Must-have experiences include private dinner settings under the stars, curated local excursions, spa experiences, and personalised décor that blends the traditional with the contemporary. The emphasis is not only on the grandeur of the event but also on offering guests an unforgettable experience that aligns with the couple’s vision of their big day.”
All in all, we are fans of destination weddings in India, and the wedding vendors enlisted with the WeddingWire India app can provide expert services to make your wedding beautiful.
Tips for Your Wedding Venue Booking Journey:
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3. Best Budget Wedding Destinations and Venues in India
