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The big fat overseas wedding

Opt for your 'I-Dos' in a Shakespearean city or get married at palaces in India and abroad, with an army of wedding planners by your side

Avantika Bhuyan New Delhi
THE FRENCH RIVIERA
On elite tramping grounds
Say your 'I Dos' on a yacht overlooking the azure Mediterranean waters or opt for a week-long celebration on a luxury cruise. The sun-kissed beaches of St Tropez, the casinos of Monte Carlo and the natural beauty of Nice make the French Riviera a glamorous wedding destination. "People nowadays charter a jet and host the wedding party for four to five days," says Neeta Raheja. Just recently, French Riviera was in the news for just such a high-profile wedding where the guest list included the who's who of the Indian glitterati, including Parmeshwar Godrej, Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan and you name it. The Villa Ephrussi with its grand architecture, Hotel du Cap Eden Roc that hosts Hollywood actors during the Cannes Festival and Monaco's Hotel Hermitage are the favoured venues. It's quite a treat for the locals as well to see the groom dressed in a sherwani trot down Monte Carlo's Casino Square followed by a musical procession, with bejeweled ladies and gentlemen in tuxedos dancing to Indian tunes. "Nowadays a lot of weddings are also taking place on upmarket cruises," says Raheja.
  Budget: Rs 3 crore upwards

FLORENCE
In the shadow of a castle

A wedding dinner at a sprawling estate overlooking the Arno River or a banquet at the luxurious St Regis Hotel - the Shakespearean city of Florence has become the toast of the Indian wedding industry. "Last year 7-8 Indian weddings took place in Florence. The vendors there have begun to understand the requirements and the cooks are being taught how to prepare vegetarian food," says wedding stylist Meher Sarid. But this idyllic setting comes at a hefty cost. Hotel sizes in the city are small, so each party is split and hosted in 2-3 hotels, with rooms costing €350-700 per head. Alcohol can be bought by the bottle or with packages like the 'wine and cheese' combination (€200-300). Venues are charged by the rate of the convention hall, added to which is the cost per head, apart from the labour cost, tenting and airline tickets. "So even if you have a small guest list, of say 100 people, it doesn't mean that the cost will come down," says Sarid. If medieval castles, with tales of knightly bravery and Renaissance splendour appeal to you, then opt for a castle wedding in Salzburg. "Frankfurt is very popular with people flying down a party of 200 guests," adds Sarid.
Budget: A wedding in Florence will cost you Rs 3-5 crore while a castle wedding in Salzburg could set you back by Rs 5-6 crore

RAJASTHAN
Where Maharajas once walked

For a couple of nights in 2006, Udaipur was the cynosure of a million eyes across the world as Vikram Chatwal hosted a multi-million dollar celebration in the city for 600 guests who were ferried in on chartered jets. Today, many are following in Chatwal's footsteps to make Udaipur their wedding venue. "The proximity, accessibility, quality of entertainment, the facility to finish last minute wedding shopping combined with the historical and heritage value make Udaipur very popular," says Vikaas Gutgutia, founder and managing director, Ferns N Petals. "The scenic beauty and royal backdrop of hotels like Devigarh Fort Palace, Jagmandir Island Palace, Leela Palace, Shiv Niwas Palace and Deogarh Mahal make these the ideal venues."
Price range: Getting married at a venue like the Devigarh Palace will cost you Rs 1-1.5 crore upwards, as the expenses include much more than just rent and decor

SOUTHEAST ASIA
Secluded beaches and private yachts

Host a romantic wedding barbeque in one of the secluded beaches in Malaysia or recreate the Oriental splendour at a Singapore hotel. "Langkawi and Singapore are becoming a popular wedding destinations. Everything that you require for an Indian wedding is available here. There are lots of temples and it's easier to hire a pundit too," says wedding stylist Meher Sarid. There are some places in Phuket which are popular as venues for luxury weddings. "Andara Villas in Phuket is one. The place is luxury personified. It's located on a mountaintop with the endless sea in front. One villa in Andara ranges between 21,000 and 29,000 sq ft in size. They even offer a private yacht for hire for small weddings," says wedding and party consultant Amrish Pershad, whose clientele boasts celebrities and corporate bigwigs. He even designed the film sets of Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding.
Price range: A Langkawi wedding will cost you Rs 2-3 crore, while a Singapore wedding will be a little more expensive than that.

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First Published: Nov 29 2013 | 9:26 PM IST

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