Madurai for jasmines, Kanchipuram for silks, Thailand for exotic flowers… Wedding preparations aren’t restricted to the bylanes of just one city any longer; these days brides (and grooms too) are willing to travel extensively just to ensure that they get every bit of their dream wedding right.
Rehane Yavar Dhala, renowned fashion designer, says, “Diamonds from Jeddah, silk from Kanchipuram and the chiffons from Lucknow have become a must for Indian weddings. Even expats don’t mind travelling to different corners of the world as long as they get their hands on the best apparel and jewellery.”
Rehane adds, “The chikan work in Lucknow is catching up as a trend and people who visit India make it a point to buy saris and tailor-made jewellery to go with their clothes.”
Anamika, a fashion designer says, “The most important part of the wedding is the trousseau. Even if it means travelling the length and breadth of the country, youngsters save up enough to splurge at the time of the wedding. Today brides come from different parts of the world to India for that perfect ceremony!”
And this jet-setting trend doesn’t stop with wedding shopping alone. Destination weddings are hot too. Caribbean Islands are a hit. Cities across India like Udaipur have drawn people from the world over to fly in here and have their nuptials, Katy Perry and Russel Brand being a case in point.
Kiranavali Vidyashankar, who recently attended a wedding in Istanbul, says, “Couples are choosing exotic locales for their weddings.”
Sreesha Shetty, a bride-to-be, who plans to have her wedding either at Istanbul or Thailand, says, “Places like Hawaii, Caribbean Islands, Istanbul and some resorts in Kerala have come up with great offers and packages that include a bachelor party and other dos. Since a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, we don’t mind going out of the way as long as we get the best!”