Arriving in style- Baraat

The traditional Indian wedding establishes a bond between two families and their cultures, apart from creating a very special relationship between the couple, who tie the nuptial knot .One of the important and fun ceremonies, is the arrival of the groom on the day of the wedding, at the venue. The groom’s family members, relatives and friends accompany him to the wedding venue, in a marriage procession called ‘baraat’. Groom’s friends and relatives are called the ‘baraati’. The wedding baraat is held with high esteem and the baratis are pampered by the bride’s family, when they arrive at the wedding venue.

You could go traditional and have your groom arrive by decorated horse. Or, if your groom has more modern indian wedding style, he could travel in a more extravagant way. I have seen helicopters, boats, elephants, and luxury cars. The sky is the limit, so play around with some ideas!

Here are some tips and ideas on how to spice up your Baraat and make it very memorable for your guests to remember. There is a lot more you can add to your Baraat apart from the horse and band to make it truly unique.

The Baraat is a fun procession where guests are dancing and rejoicing the occasion. As a host it is a great idea to spice up the mood by extending some hospitality and making it very memorable for guests. It is now a trend at Indian weddings to serve refreshments such as soft beverages, tender coconut and mineral water along with cold towels during the Baraat – especially if it is a day time procession.

The bridal families are getting into the minutest detail like crafting a special menu of bite sized snacks which can be served during the procession.

Safas for the male guests are part of most Indian weddings. The safas are very bright and add colour to the procession. For a day time Baraat you can arrange for colourful cloth umbrellas for female guests. These are made of Indian fabric and are available in vibrant colours. These could even act as souvenirs post the procession. A fresh petal shower is also a good way to add colour to the Baraat and make it livelier. A gola or an ice-cream cart along with the procession would be a good idea for summer weddings.

For an evening baraat a display of fireworks and crystal chandeliers are a must. Arranging for a vanity van along with baraat for guests who may want to touch up or refresh before entering the venue would be a great finishing touch!

Traditionally, and still most commonly, the Groom’s entrance is on an elaborately decorated white horse. Recently, Grooms are opting for different entrance options to really impress their guests. Your only limitations are your imagination (and maybe the rules of your venue!),
• Tampa Trolley Cars
• Yacht or speed boat arrivals
• Jet-skis
• Segways
• Helicopters
• Elephants
• Convertibles

To have a destination wedding or not ? Part 2- The Cons

Everyone sees a destination wedding as a romantic and unconventional twist to the traditional wedding affair. Well, it will certainly give a twist to your wedding no doubt, and add an extra element of a beautiful, scenic background to your nuptials. But, there are certain things you need to keep in mind before finalising on a destination wedding. This trend may not be as appealing as it is told to be. Here are a few cons related to a destination wedding that you should know about.

Rules out a big fat wedding gathering
Well, destination wedding is definitely not for those who wish all their near and dear ones to be around them. If you are the one who loves big fat gatherings, well then destination wedding may not be your cup of tea. Many of your friends, relatives or acquaintances may not be on board to shower you with congratulations which may stir up a lot of emotions. So, you may end up regretting not having everybody for the merrymaking.

Don’t be too budget happy
Remember a scene from Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani where Kalki shouts on her best friend (played by Aditya Roy Kapur) for his enormous bar and gambling tab/bill that her fiancé would have to pay for. Yes, this is a con of destination wedding. At a local wedding, there will be just few outstation guests, whereas at a destination wedding everyone, including you, is an outstation guest. The etiquettes of a destination wedding say that the couple pay for their guests’ accommodation, local travelling and room tabs; while invitees have to pay for their travel to and from the destination. Well, you never know how much those room tabs and sightseeing may end up pinching on your wedding budget.

Endless planning and checklists
Moving to a new place for your wedding is not that easy. If it is an unexplored region then it can mean a lot of unpleasant surprises and complications. Finalising your itinerary, advance bookings, juggling with the details of climate, culture (especially if it is overseas), florists, etc. are all that you might have to deal with. Planning and preparations can turn out to be far more maddening. There are chances your objective of marrying innovative turns helter-skelter.

Distance can lead to some disappointments
Your best friend has an important presentation in the office on the very morning of your wedding day… Well, your destination wedding might become difficult for him/her to be a part of. Well, not only that even those relatives who have certain health issues or problems, like your grandparents may not be able to travel for a destination wedding. Apart from this, flights getting missed, last minute reservation hassles, etc. are possibilities that you cannot rule out.

Ready for a family honeymoon
Well, if you were planning to extend your wedding destination as your honeymoon destination as well then don’t get too happy as of yet. You may land in an awkward situation when you have to continue hosting the remaining guests. It is embarrassing to ask the guests to pack up once the wedding is over. They may have their own plans to overstay out of the expense of attending the wedding. There are chances that while connecting romantically with your spouse you are bumping into your guests.

What you can do, instead!
Well, for all those couples who want a unique wedding experience sans the pros and cons of a destination wedding can choose to add a personal touch to their celebrations with the help of a theme. A theme allows you to add interesting and appealing elements to your wedding. Want your wedding to be filled with soft breeze and setting sun then opt for an outdoor wedding at a beautiful garden or pool side or a farmhouse in your city. If you cannot travel to your desired location, you can design the entire setup of the location using the themes like beaches, waterfall and more.

So, it is not far-fetched for those who cannot travel overseas to marry. You can choose any locale to make it into a good site for wedding by personalising it with a theme. But, if you still want to opt for a destination wedding to celebrate your union then do consider its pros and cons before finalising on it.

To have a destination wedding or not ? Part 1- The Pros

7 Best Reasons to Have a Destination Wedding

Marriage trends have taken a quantum leap in the past few years. Gone are the days when they were confined to halls, lawns and banquets. It is time to think beyond the routine venues to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event. Though still in its nascent stage, the concept of destination wedding is fast gaining ground in India and the UAE.

Whether it is a desire to keep away the gossiping aunts, or an appetite for ‘something different’, destination weddings are becoming a romantic trend these days. Versatility in the venue and decor ideas is what’s attracting to-be-brides and grooms towards it. Take a look at some of the reasons why you should think about a destination wedding to celebrate your union.

Trendy and romantic affair
Destination wedding is fast looming up on the youngsters who want their ceremony to be offbeat and fashionable. Imagine your wedding to be amidst the surf, sand and sea where you can experience a romantic and ultimate marital bliss. From a relaxed wedding at a Goan beach to a royal one in a Rajasthan palace; doing it different is the mantra of the day. Places like Jodhpur, Goa or remote hillside off the Mumbai-Pune expressway can make for extra-special venues. Some also prefer to travel to foreign tourist hubs like Mauritius, Bangkok and so on.

Quality time with guests
When it comes to travelling to a faraway place or even a different city, the mounting guest list gets slashed. Chances of the invitation getting overlooked get high due to travelling and other costs. It cuts down the list to the closed ones. The huge maddening crowd is not there to impose their views upon you. This way you get to spend more time with the guests who have travelled all the way to be a part of your destination wedding.

Away from unwanted people
Were you looking for a reason to not invite the nosy neighbours, the meddling distinct cousins, and the colleagues or boss to your wedding? Well, a destination wedding is your answer to it. A lot of those nosy guests who often pinpoint every error and who sulk at every expense get slashed from your guest list.

Limiting the budget
To your surprise, this unconventional concept of marriage is quite affordable and reasonably priced. Your pockets can easily bear the expenses as the wedding is mostly attended by your closed ones which means lesser people. During off seasons, it becomes easier on the budget. Goa can be chosen as a budget destination wedding venue, but you will have to book well in advance. Other popular places which you can get in low-budget are Ooty and Manali. Though they sound run-of-the-mill, they can turn out great with your personal touch and right preparations.

Attractive deals and packages
These days there are many resorts and hotels which offer quite exciting discounts and deals for people to host a wedding at their premise. Many offer complementary services, hassle free packages and simpler procedures to conduct a wedding. Along with helping you out with the wedding ceremonies and preparations, they will also make exciting activity packages for your guests. They can help you to organise interesting activities and sightseeing for your guests. This would allow your guests to enjoy complete local flavour of the destination.

A status symbol
Today most of the couples are choosing an option of destination wedding option over the typical ones. Even most well-heeled Indians are going by this concept as destination weddings are seen as a status symbol as well. A splendid wedding thrown at a fancy destination earns you name and fame amongst your guests, and makes your wedding a well-remembered affair for the long time to come.

Honeymoon starts right away
Most of the couples choose to start the nuptial journey and the honeymoon from the very venue they have already selected. Wishing to kick off your happily-ever-after as soon as possible, you can book a honeymoon even before the wedding bells ring. This way you can spend a honeymoon on a budget without having to change the place.

So, are you ready to shortlist an exciting destination for your wedding? Do let us know where you would like to tie your knot by leaving your comments below and stay tuned for Part 2 detailing the Cons of a destination wedding !