Bengaluru’s luxury hotels and serene resorts are making up for the absence of historical spots or picturesque beaches, say experts.
Jaipur businessman Pankaj Sharma and Hyderabad techie Smriti Kumari (name changed) courted for four years before deciding to tie the knot at a dream destination. Goa was too ‘modern’ for their extended families, while Pankaj found Udaipur commonplace, given that it hosts too many weddings. Bengaluru was their natural choice where they got married earlier this year.
Incidentally, Pankaj first met Smriti at a common friend’s wedding in Bengaluru, which he visits every alternate month on business. “Even that was a ‘destination wedding’. The groom was my childhood friend and my wife’s colleague. I think we were destined to get married in Bengaluru,” Pankaj told TOI.
Like Pankaj, many youngsters are picking Bengaluru as their wedding destination owing to its pleasant weather, budget-friendly packages and cosmopolitan settings. The city’s luxury hotels and serene resorts are making up for the absence of historical spots or picturesque beaches, say experts.
Srikant Kanoi, CEO, Ethereal Celebration Management, confirmed the number of destination weddings in Benglauru has gone up by 80% in the last two years.
According to Kanoi, Bengaluru’s five-star hotels provide some great weekend deals, while alternative locations are famous vacation hubs with no rooms during weekends and peak season. He said the city’s resorts are also most sought after by north India families.
The number of destination weddings in Benglauru has gone up by 80% in the last two years.
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Anita Makharia from Shubhkamanaye, an event management company, said, “Bengaluru’s weather is pleasant through the year, unlike other humid and extreme-weather cities. Air fares to the city are much lower and food costs less than half.”
Mantaps are available in various designs and budgets in Bengaluru resorts and it is easy to get the feel of a palace or beach weddings here, Anita said, adding: “Decor that costs Rs 5 lakh for a day in a city like Goa will be available at a little over Rs 2 lakh in Benglauru for two-three days.”
According to Kanoi, weddings are also becoming close-knit affairs. “So, most business families look at the event as a vacation and the city provides several resorts and high-end hotels for just that, sans, the touristy crowd,” he added.
Hyderabad businessman Taher Rahman recalled that his wedding in Bengaluru was not a tiring affair for any of his family members, who took the opportunity to unwind at a star hotel. His wife hails from a small town in Karnataka. “There is the matter of logistics and comfort as well. It was easier for everyone to meet at a place with better connectivity,” he said, adding he’d prefer to have his anniversaries in Goa or any other picturesque location rather than having his wedding there.
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Dressed To The T: Pichai, Tony Blair, Tendulkar Put Their Best Foot Forward At Akash, Shloka Wedding
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From classic suits to sherwanis, the big names present at Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s wedding were dressed to the nines.
(Image: From left, Sundar Pichai, Tony Blair and Sachin Tendulkar)
From classic suits to sherwanis, the big names present at Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s wedding were dressed to the nines.(Image: From left, Sundar Pichai, Tony Blair and Sachin Tendulkar)
The Google CEO’s usually minimalistic style took a sharp climb upward with his choice of sherwani. Complementing his salt and pepper hair, Pichai could have given Bollywood stars a run for their money with his silver embossed outfit. Our only grouse — his lacklustre schoolboy style shoes.
The Google CEO’s usually minimalistic style took a sharp climb upward with his choice of sherwani. Complementing his salt and pepper hair, Pichai could have given Bollywood stars a run for their mone..
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The steel magnate kept it sleek and simple with a straight-cut bandhgala, trousers and classic Oxford lace-ups. The allblack ensemble was typically reflective of Mittal’s style — no fuss, no frills.
(Image: Lakshmi Mittal and wife Usha)
The steel magnate kept it sleek and simple with a straight-cut bandhgala, trousers and classic Oxford lace-ups. The allblack ensemble was typically reflective of Mittal’s style — no fuss, no frills.(..
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The Indian industrialist knows what suits him . Rarely seen in anything but a suit, Tata looked effortlessly classic. His understated elegance was completed with a silk tie and pocket square.
The Indian industrialist knows what suits him . Rarely seen in anything but a suit, Tata looked effortlessly classic. His understated elegance was completed with a silk tie and pocket square.
While his wife Cherie didn’t shy away from colour, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom opted for a button-up bandhgala with black trousers and a blue pocket square. That added a pop of colour to his otherwise all-black outfit.
(Image: Tony Blair and wife Cherie Blair)
While his wife Cherie didn’t shy away from colour, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom opted for a button-up bandhgala with black trousers and a blue pocket square. That added a pop of co..
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During his meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Mahindra had said that his daughters would be “dismayed” at his fashion choices. But it looks like his children had nothing to worry about here as Mahindra looked dapper in his monochrome outfit, the ornate buttons of which elevated his whole look
During his meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Mahindra had said that his daughters would be “dismayed” at his fashion choices. But it looks like his children had nothing to worry about here as ..
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The cricketer hoped to hit a six by going tieless, a look that’s perfect for a party. While he might have looked more casual than his fellow guests, Tendulkar opted for a patterned suit,which added an element of fun to his look. The red pocket square was a nice pop of colour.
(Image: Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Tendulkar)
The cricketer hoped to hit a six by going tieless, a look that’s perfect for a party. While he might have looked more casual than his fellow guests, Tendulkar opted for a patterned suit,which added a..
“Bengaluru is not as expensive as other metros. It has a great welcoming crowd and some great entertainment options as well,” Rahman said.
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Anita said it is easier to coordinate with musicians, DJs and other performers in Bengaluru. “Business families from other parts of India feel weddings in Bengaluru’s highend hotels and resorts are about status, even as it is easier on their pockets,” she said.
Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi of KGN Caterers, Bangarapet, said the trend of destination-weddings is still catching up, but a lot of people from other parts of the state are choosing Bengaluru to celebrate weddings. “For Karnataka’s movers and shakers, a wedding in Bengaluru Palace Grounds or resorts is a status symbol,” he added.
