Why are Destination Weddings so popular with South Asian Couples?

A million-dollar question, right? But the answer is more straightforward. With the costs of Asian Weddings on the rise, the boredom of using the same local venues over and over again, the guest list that never stops growing because our loving parents feel an obligation to invite nearly everyone they've ever met, and the unbelievable amount of responsibility your family has to take on during the planning and hosting process — choosing to have a destination wedding abroad has never made more sense.

It is no surprise that more and more Asian couples choose to celebrate the biggest day of their lives with an exotic destination wedding. There are several beautiful destinations for a perfect Asian Wedding ceremony and celebrations, including Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, Mexico, The Dominican Republic and more!

Bollywood celebrities have also magnified the trend to take vows at spectacular destinations in recent years. Here are some of the stars who opted to tie the knot at exotic locations:

Deepika Padukone & Ranveer Singh - Lake Como, Italy

Anushka Sharma & Virat Kohli – Tuscany, Italy

Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas – Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jodhpur

John Abraham & Priya Runchal - Los Angeles, US

Rannvijay Singh Singha & Priyanka Vohra – Mombasa

Kunal Kapoor & Naina Bachchan - Seychelles Island

In this blog article, i will look at the five main reasons South Asian couples love to have a destination wedding abroad.

1. Emotional Connection

Many couples choose to have a destination wedding because they have a special connection to a particular place. It could be the culture, people, or just the overall vibe of the destination they love! These couples view destination weddings as a way to bring those they love together to create lasting memories. This is also combined with customised experiences, great food and wow moments that cater specifically to their tastes.

2. Intimate Wedding Experience

The beauty of a destination wedding is that the couple gets to spend this intimate time with the people they really care about - their family and closest friends. Destination weddings are all about you and all your nearest and dearest having the time of your lives - now that is a memory worth making!

South Asian cultures are exuberant, colourful and steeped in ancient rituals and traditions. A union between two South Asian individuals is not just about them but also about family. Hosting an Indian destination wedding is the best way to bring two families together. First, you literally are bringing them together! Second, being in a foreign country togetherness gives them a chance to bond in a unique way possible. Neither side of the family needs to worry about being the host for all the festivities. They get the time to enjoy delicious meals at different restaurants, a chance to sit back and relax at the most stunning beaches, head to the nightclub after the events together, take cocktail lessons as a group, or have fun over at the pool and create memories together that will last a lifetime!

With our families and friends spread worldwide, it makes total sense to have people fly to somewhere exotic if they are going to fly anyways! Wouldn't it be amazing to have them join you on an exotic beach instead of your local banquet hall?

3. For the Love of Travel

Couples who choose to go for a destination wedding are usually avid travellers. As a traveller, you naturally like the idea of having a destination wedding where you can share your love of travel with others and, in the process, inspire some of your guests to plan a destination wedding of their own, perhaps.

Over the years, I have provided bridal hair and makeup services for countless destination weddings, and I have experienced that you are more prone to plan one for yourself once you attend a destination wedding as a guest.

4. Stress-free Wedding Planning

Wedding planners and destination weddings go hand in hand. Many destination wedding resorts offer complimentary wedding planners that will go through the entire process with you from A-Z. The fact that you have a team of planners, on-site coordinators, and vendors backing you up is something that really plays in your favour and gives you that extra peace of mind.

5. Holiday Experience

While typically, a destination wedding is all about the wedding, millennials take it a step further to the point where the actual ceremony is not as important as the overall experience. Millennials want their destination weddings to be epic once-in-a-lifetime vacations for them, their family and friends. Wedding planners are no longer planning destination weddings; they're planning entire group vacations that are highly personalised.

Here is a list of some of the most popular destination wedding locations worldwide:

Istria, Croatia
Phuket, Thailand
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Marbella, Spain
Santorini, Greece
Gale, Sri Lanka
French Riviera
Marrakech, Morocco
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Rhode Island, USA

Have I sold you on the idea of having a destination wedding? Hahaha, Nah, that's not my intention, but if these reasons resonate with you, then a destination wedding is probably a good idea or at least one you should highly consider.