The wedding tourist: Big, fat Indian shaadis luring foreign travellers at Rs 10,500 a day

JAIPUR: Christoph Flamm from Austria was elated. He had attended a loud, “bling-binge, very Indian wedding” and he thought it was one of the best experiences of his life. Of course, he paid about $150 (approximately Rs 10,500) for a day’s attendance — for two days, it would have cost him about Rs 19,000 — but it was worth it since he was able to tick off another item from his check-list — of being a part of the kind of Bollywood-like extravaganza that he had often watched on the big screen.

Flamm is a ‘wedding tourist’ — one of a growing breed of foreign tourists who doesn’t mind paying to be part of a ‘big, fat desi wedding.’ It’s a niche area still, but ‘wedding tourism’ is slowly gaining momentum in several cities like Jaipur, Delhi and Mumbai. Facilitating this are online portals like ‘Join My Wedding’ (JMW) which offer Indian couples a chance to invite foreigners to be part of their wedding ceremonies.

Orsi Parkanyi, the Australian co-founder and president of JMW, which is based in Hungary, told TOI over email, “The first time that we got tourists to attend an Indian wedding was two years ago and since then, we have helped scores of international travellers — around 100 at least — to attend over 25 weddings in India. The demand is growing. There are hundreds of travellers who we know are keen to attend these weddings.”



Wedding tourism package costs around Rs 10,500 a day
The pitch that the website makes to the potential guest is one of “having the ultimate cultural immersion”. “If you’re the kind of traveller that seeks out genuine cultural experiences to broaden your horizons and give you a fresh perspective, then a traditional wedding should be at the top of your list,” says the blurb at the JMW website, and goes on to describe an Indian wedding as “the place where all the elements of a culture collide in one, huge, unstaged celebration”.

The wedding attendance package offered by JMW costs $150 or approximately Rs 10,500 for a single day. Being part of celebrations for two days comes at $250 or approximately Rs 19,000. The charges include entry to the wedding as well as food and drinks. Also, a dedicated person — who is referred to as the ceremony guide — is nominated by the couple who welcomes the guests, and explains the customs, traditions. Often, the mehndi ceremony is also included to give the guest a taste of pre-wedding festivities. Transport, accommodation and costume hire are extra. Those who have been ‘wedding tourists’ claim that the money spent is worth it. Erik Toh from Hungary who has attended a wedding in India says, “The monetary contribution I made was the best and easiest way to thank the couple for their hospitality and this extraordinary experience.”

It seems to be a win-win arrangement for couples, too, who have been more than willing to invite strangers to witness their wedding nuptials. “My family couldn’t wait to meet our special guests on the big day and explain all our beautiful wedding traditions to them,” say Urvi Ambavat and Paras Sah from Mumbai who went online to invite foreigners to their wedding.

However, like all online transactions, ticketed weddings, too, can be open to fraud. So, how do portals ensure their guests, or the couple inviting them, do not get cheated? Parkanyi says that “we have a validation procedure for both couples and guests”. “Actually, we talk personally to each couple — sometimes for hours — and make sure our travellers’ need for safety is met. There is a detailed interaction through mails and social media so that everyone is completely convinced of genuineness.”