Our Favourite Wedding Destinations in India

India has always been a land of mystery, intrigue and above all, romance. In our opinion couples looking to tie the knot could not ask for a more romantic backdrop.

Whether your heart desire’s the settings of a royal wedding or a care free beach wedding it is all possible in this beautiful country known for its palaces, beaches and back waters add to these the coffee plantations or wine yards and you can truly choose a location that is right for you. As wedding planners we love organizing weddings in these beautiful locales to create memories for you that you will relive again and again.

Let’s start with God’s own country for those who seek a serene, peaceful and picturesque setting.

Vivanta by Taj, Bekal

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The newest of the Taj properties Taj – Bekal, is one of the best kept secrets till date and we don’t intend for it to stay that way. As wedding planners we see the potential this place has to become one of hottest wedding destinations in the country.

Taj Bekal

At this unique property you don’t have to choose between the backwaters and the pristine Kerala beaches because the backwaters run across the property as seamlessly as the Kappil beach shoreline touches the manicured lawns and landscaped gardens.

Taj Bekal

With a banquet hall that has a capacity for 300 guests, a magical pool side and 71 rooms this hotel has all the elements one desires for a perfect wedding.

The Leela Kempenski Kovalam, Kovalam Beach

Leela Kovalam

Kerala’s Kovalam Beach is renowned internationally for its white sandy beaches and tranquil surroundings. This hotel offers a perfect ambience for a beach ceremony, followed by a cliff top reception and ultra-luxury accommodations in the rich opulent Leela style.

leela kempinski kovalam

Easily one of South India’s most romantic venues, the Leela is ideal for either an intimate wedding or a grand nuptial ceremony.

leela kovalam

Taj Falaknuma, Hyderabad

Taj Falaknuma Palace

This palace hotel in Hyderabad rivals those in Rajasthan. Taj Falaknuma Palace allows your guests and you to experience the exuberance and lavishness of the life of the Nizam’s and get a taste of the royal splendor. The palace has a remarkable one of its kind 101-seat dining hall that will provide a grand experience for your guests.

Taj Falaknuma Palace

This palace guarantees an experience that won’t be easily forgotten and will leave you craving for more. The exceptional service that is synonymous with the Taj group of hotels will ensure a comfortable and memorable stay.

Taj Falaknuma Palace

The Leela Palace, Bangalore

Leela Palace Bangalore

Celebrate your wedding in unforgettable style – whether it’s 20 guests or a traditional wedding for 600. The Grand Ballroom can transform to fit your occasion with varying configuration options and décor themes, and eleven acres of landscaped gardens and bubbling waterfalls will provide the perfect backdrop.

Leela Palace Bangalore

The Leela Palace Bangalore offers legendary service, opulent surroundings and delicious cuisine. Add to it the charm and weather that this city of gardens has to offer and you can hardly go wrong

Leela Palace Bangalore

The Serai, Chikmanglur

The Serai Chikmanglur

Easily one of our absolute favorites this destination is truly a well kept secret for those of us who live in Karnataka. Chikmanglur is the birth place of the Indian coffee and if you are a looking for a unique destination then this coffee plantation is the perfect destination for you.

The Serai Chickmanglur

Take your guests on a half day trip to Belur & Halebidu (A deemed UNESCO World Heritage Site), visit the hotel’s coffee plantation located on the mountains of western ghat or just relax in the hotel and enjoy the Oma Spa with its one of kind range of coffee bean treatments. With a beautiful outdoor setting that can accommodate 500 guests and a banquet hall that can seat 200 people we have ideas and themes for this place that will leave you and your guests wanting more.

The Serai Chikmanglur 

Sula Vineyards, Nashik


Celebrating your nuptials amidst lush green scenic vineries is very popular in western countries. But now you can have a similar experience in India.

The stunning Sula vineyards, the lush surroundings and the elegant amphitheatre make for a romantic and spectacular venue for weddings. The amphitheatre can host anywhere between 1500 to 2000 guests, that combined with some of the best wines in India and a delectable cuisine can make weddings at this beautiful open air amphitheatre an unforgettable and memorable event.

Grand Hyatt, Goa

Redefining luxury at the heart of Goa, this 5-star hotel overlooks the visually stunning waters of Bambolim Bay.  Expect nothing less than spectacular at this beautiful property that spreads across 28 acres of colorful, tropical gardens and lush lawns that roll down to the water’s edge.

Extravagant yet intimate, Grand Hyatt Goa offers a full range of wedding services.  Grand in scale, service and attention, the function rooms are designed to offer several venue options and decor themes for large weddings as well as intimate family functions.

Oberoi Amar Vilas, Agra

oberoi 1

If your heart desires a truly intimate ceremony with a handful of your closest family and friends then what could be more appropriate than a wedding at the Amar Vilas with the Taj Mahal as your backdrop.

Amar Vilas Agra

Have a blessing ceremony with 8 to 10 of your closest loved ones at the beautiful temple inside the property and then choose a sit down dinner by the pool side for up to 50 guests while the sufi singers serenade you in the back ground.

Amarvilas Agra

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

Umaid Bhawan Jodhpur

The extraordinary Umaid Bhawan palace hotel, with a hilltop location overlooking the “blue city” of Jodhpur, has played host to some very lavish weddings indeed. With a banquet capacity of 3,000 guests, it’s no wonder this grand monument was the chosen locale for the Liz Hurley-Arun Nayar wedding. For an outdoor ceremony, the large and the lavish Baradari front lawns are perfect for a verdant vow exchange.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace

Umaid Bhawan Palace can bestow any special union with a glorious palace background, a traditional elephant welcome, a magical gala, rainbow-hued Rajasthani costumes and ambiences, and all the splendid trappings of an ancient royal wedding.

Umaid Bhawan Jodhpur

Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur

While most people talk about Ram Bagh Palace as the wedding destination of Jaipur, Jai Mahal Palace holds a special place in our hearts because Vithika chose this gorgeous heritage palace hotel to tie the knot.

Dating back to 1745 and 18 acres of lush Mughal gardens makes this property an ideal location for an outdoor wedding reception. This plush property offers couples a unique wedding complete with festively decorated elephants and camels, special horse-driven carriage ride, candlelight dinners for the couple post the wedding, framed wedding certificates, specially decorated wedding night room with rose petals and more. Jai Mahal is where you should check in to ensure being treated like a modern-day prince and princess.

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur


A spectacular hotel, set beautifully amidst a lake, the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur looks like a dream and offers nothing less than fulfilling your ultimate wedding fantasies.

The lily pond, where courtesans once welcomed royalty into the folds of the palace provides an intimate gathering spot complete with gorgeous lilies and floating candles. For a larger gathering the Mewar Terrace offers not only stunning views of the city of Udaipur below, but also a never-ending procession of scrumptious Rajasthani dishes.

Our Top 10 Romantic Marriage Proposals

Will you be my valentine… forever?

The storefronts are pink and red with chocolate heart boxes, De Beers reminds us that the best way to declare your undying love is to buy a shiny rock. So if you are planning to propose you couldn’t ask for a better day to pop the question.

Valentine’s Day is round the corner and it is such a beautiful day to propose to your loved one. It is a date that will forever be special to the two of you. Here are our top ten ideas that are sure to sweep your loved one off their feet.

Come fall in love again! Propose bollywood style. Whether you choose to propose like Dharmendar in Sholay, Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi or Saif Ali Khan in Love ke liye Kuch Bhi Karegaa, the most important thing is that it is a proposal that your girlfriend will remember and enjoy talking about for the rest of her life.

This classic all time favorite really works wonders. A nice romantic picnic with some chilled champagne to calm your nerves and gives you the courage to pop the question. Personalize the champagne bottle label and /or drop the ring in the glass for her to find.

Say it with Roses: Give her 3 roses one by one. For each rose tell her that one represents the past, one represents the present, and for the last one attach the engagement ring or have a note saying “will you marry me” on it. Then tell her this one represents the future. Oh how romantic! How could she refuse!

Web Page- With rapid growth in technology and all of us spending more time on the internet this is a perfect way to propose. Create a personal web page with his/ her name, the proposal, pictures of the two of you together etc. Then invite him/her to sit down and surf the web with you. What a beautiful surprise it will be to go through a website that is made just for you.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a cozy dinner at your favorite restaurant and have them bring a cake with “Will you marry me?” written on it for desert.

Traditional Approach – Ask her father for their daughter’s hand in marriage. At the next family gathering make a toast and propose to her. Having family around will make it special, and then after the proposal you both get to celebrate with the family.

Go out for a night of dancing and ask the DJ to pass you the mike so you can dedicate a song and propose on the dance floor.

Buy a pet that he/she’s always wanted (bunny, kitten, puppy) and loosely tie the ring around its neck. Or substitute a stuffed animal — still cute, but less maintenance!

We love this idea. Order a Chinese meal at home and at the end give her a fortune cookie with the sweetest message ever.

On the Radio: Call up your partner’s favorite local radio station and ask the DJ to send your proposal message on air. First, request a song that is meaningful to you and your significant other. After the song, propose. Be sure to ask the DJ when the message will be aired so that you may tell your mate when to listen or be present with him/her to make the most of the moment.

In the end all that matters is a message from the heart that is conveyed with love and some creativity.

Perfect Nails For Your Wedding Day

Brides get so caught up in preparing for the wedding day that most don’t have the time to think about their nails. Often as wedding planner we carry nail polishes in neutral shades should the need arise…. as it usually does.

It is so important to have beautifully manicured hands because you will be doing so many rituals where your hands will be photographed. Likewise it is equally important to have soft pedicured feet. More so if in your culture saptapadi or toe rings is a part of the ritual.

Like most aspects of your wedding day, having a beautiful set of nails requires planning, you can’t just go and get your nails done on the day before your wedding or have the hair dresser paint your nails while your make up is being done and expect them to be perfect.  There are so many options now with nail art to French Manicure that with a little advance planning you can get the perfect hands and feet.

For soft and smooth hands, try mixing lemon juice and rose water and applying them on your hands for a couple of minutes before washing them. Lemon juice will lighten up any dark spots on your knuckles or yellow stains on your nails and rose water will help moisturize your hands.

Start getting weekly manicures and pedicures done at least a month before the wedding

If you are not sure about what shape of nails you like the best try getting square nails and then round nails the next time. If you are planning on using artificial nails and this is your first time try them on beforehand so you are not too uncomfortable with them your big day

Make sure you use a good moisturizer on your hand just before you step out of your room so that your hands looks soft and smooth instead of dry and rough.

If you want to be trendy and go with the color of the season then this mint green would be just perfect

When you go for your dress fitting, paint your nails the shade you think you want to wear to see how it looks against your dress.

When in doubt choose a neutral color. It goes with absolutely everything, casual to all out glamour. (OPI ‘Mimosas for Mr & Mrs’ is perfect.)

Don’t neglect your nails as they complete your look as a bride and they are very important for gorgeous wedding photos

Jodhaa Akbar – A Timeless Inspiration For Indian Weddings

We just want to sigh when we watch Aishwarya and Hritik long for each other in this Sixteenth Century love story. This movie continues to be a feast for the eyes especially if you are planning to get married. A visual treat with its wonderful sets, beautiful clothes, bold chunky jewelry, subtle make up and of course A.R. Rehman’s melodious songs.

The biggest show stopper from the movie is the ornate jewelry. It has become a signature style in its own right. Ask any jeweler for Jodha- Akbar jewelry and out come the big, larger than life, chunky jewelry. One can only imagine the wow effect it has on the wedding guests! The bride stands out as the quintessential Indian Princess straight out of her favorite bollywood movie

Neeta Lulla was instructed to create a look that would be believable to the audience.  The result was beautiful Rajasthani weaves with warm tones of saffron, emerald, copper, brown, and henna red costumes that she designed for Aishwarya. These outfits have become so popular that entire trousseau’s have been designed after her costumes in the movie.

For the Groom, Hrithik Roshan’s royal attire of a Mughal king, inspired the long Sherwani with intricate embroidery, matching long necklaces and open necklines instead of the traditional Bandhgala’s (closed necks).

More grooms started wearing jeweled turbans/safa’s after this movie.

The timeless inspiration that this romantic movie brings to weddings continues to be so popular that even years after its release it is still the most requested theme.

Awesome Wedding Cake Alternatives

Cup Cakes, Mini Cakes, Cake Pops or Cake Shooters. Alternate wedding cake inspired deserts are becoming a popular trend in Weddings these days. If the traditional wedding cake is not for you let us take you through a visual tour of some really beautiful and innovative alternatives that might just work for you.

These romantic Strawberry and Champagne themed cupcakes are perfect for weddings. Especially if you are getting married around Valentine ’s Day.

These Chic ‘I Do’ cupcakes from http://www.cottonandcrumbs.co.uk/ are so beautiful. The lace wrappers add a delicate touch as does the soft color palette.

The Peacock theme is very popular in weddings. This beautiful cup cake will not only fit right in but will definitely draw a lot of oooh’s and aaah’s from your guests.

Peggy Porschen is known for her absolutely breathtaking cakes. If you are getting married and are searching for the perfect wedding cake read her blog for inspiration http://www.peggyporschen.com/blog/new-peggy-porschen-patisserie-wedding-cake-collection/

Rachelle made this cake inspired by bollywood. A fantastic mix of bright and vibrant colours makes these little cakes into edible jewels. To know more about Rachelle visit her at http://www.rachelles.co.uk

What are cake pops?

They are Perfect bites of your choice of cake mixed with icing and covered in a hard chocolate shell.

A beautiful table full of colorful and fun pops would be just the thing to get everyone’s attention

These little cake shooters are a great way to have the traditional taste of cake at your reception without the traditional wedding cake!

A delicious mixture of pound cake, lemon curd, blueberries and whipped cream they make the perfect shooter for your wedding

Why stop at one? Mix and match your favorite cakes and get the best of everything