If you have the cash, the big fat Indian wedding just got bigger.
(Psst! And the good folks at TripHobo.com have a few ideas!)
So what kind of wedding do you have in mind?
1. A royal wedding
Where: Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Hyderabad and Vadodara
The ultimate fairytale wedding with the opulence of royal palaces and heritage properties in India with their stately decor, high ceilings, silk drapes, marble floors and antique carvings offer an ideal setting for the grand affair.
The mahals of Rajasthan, the palaces of the Nizam in Hyderabad and the Havelis of Gujarat are all available today as venues and host hundreds of weddings each year.
The food is exquisite (duh!) and the atmosphere is regal.
So what are you waiting for?
Ankit Bhargava specialises in royal weddings around the country.
Regal Weddings can also organise one for you in Udaipur, Jaipur and Jodhpur.
2. A beach wedding
Where: Goa, Kovalam, Chennai and Pondicherry
A wedding on the beach has gained so much popularity in India lately that more people visit Goa for weddings now rather than holidays.
Whether it's a pastor reading out from the bible or a priest reciting from the ancient scriptures, the wind in your hair, the sounds of the ocean and the sand beneath your feet make for an extremely romantic setting.
Look beyond Goa to other beach destinations in the south of the country and begin the journey of a lifetime as you walk hand in hand into the sunset.
Weddings & Dreams are destination wedding planners and event designers in Goa.
Regal Weddings can organise a beach wedding for you too in Goa and Kerala
3. A religious wedding
Where: Tirupati, Amritsar, Ajmer and… Goa (yes Goa!)
You will be surprised at how many people are choosing temples, churches and gurudwaras over ballrooms in five star hotels, as venues for their big day!
Places of worship in India also happen to be architectural marvels that have stood for centuries.
What better way to start your life than in a place where spiritualism and history meet?
And yes if you thought Goa was just beaches? Think again!
The state, best known as India's Ibiza, has several Hindu temples going back centuries as well as glorious churches that'll only make your wedding album better!
4. A desert wedding
Where: Jaisalmer and Rann of Kutch
Wedding in the desert? Yes sir!
Beautiful tents and canopies set up against the backdrop of sand dunes, colorful lanterns casting a mellow light and local folk dancers performing as the baraatis arrive on camels, the setting for a perfect desert wedding.
This is as secluded and intimate as a wedding could get but that doesn't mean it can't be an extravagant affair.
Swarovski crystal chandeliers, air-conditioned Swiss tent accommodation, Bollywood performers and the biggest names in wedding catering can all be arranged… for a price.
Needless to say if you're planning a desert wedding, summer isn't the best time of the year! :-)
Exotic Indian Weddings can organise a desert wedding for you as will Wedding Planners.
5. A resort wedding
Where: Shimla, Manali, Ooty and Mahabaleshwar
Quaint resorts nestled in the hills provide an idyllic setting for the most important day of your life.
Several of these places are known for their turn-of-the-century lodges and colonial era houses that hark back to another lifetime.
If you're a sucker for old school colonial charm, this is the wedding for you!
6. A plantation wedding
Where: Coorg, Darjeeling, Sonitpur
If old school style is your style, consider a wedding amidst the lush greenery of the tea gardens and coffee plantations with colonial era houses on the estates are a charming venue for a quiet, low-key affair.
The atmosphere brings a little old world magic to the celebrations.
Local flavours and customs can be incorporated to add an unusual element.
Raise your teacup or coffee mug and toast to a new life!
7. A boat wedding
Where: Mumbai, Kumarakom and Srinagar
Whether it's on a luxury yacht or a cruise ship along the coast of Mumbai or a houseboat in the backwaters of Kumarakom or a shikara on the lakes of Srinagar, a wedding on a boat is an experience of a lifetime.
It is unusual, romantic, charming and not to mention unforgettable.
Tamarind Weddings can organise one for you in Kerala!
8. A riverside wedding
Where: Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh
Nothing can be more 'traditional' than a wedding along the ghats of the river Ganga.
Take your vows as a thousand diyas are set afloat into the holy river with a prayer and a wish.
We're getting Goosebumps already!
9. An adventure wedding
Where: Ladakh and Tawang
This one is not for the faint hearted.
It is off the beaten track, crazy and the idea will most likely be turned down by your family.
But adrenalin rush is what turns you on, plan a baraat comprising motorbikes and four-wheel drives and take a road tripping through the Himalayas.
10. An island wedding
Where: Andaman & Nicobar Islands
You don't need to be a celebrity to get married on an island
The wedding season in India coincides with the peak tourist season on the Andaman Islands, which come alive with activity.
The white sand, the pristine clear waters, the sun setting in the backdrop as you take your vows... oh we want to get married already!
Photograph courtesy: Triphobo.com
