From Destination Pre-Wedding Shoots To Honeymoons, These Are The Spots To Bookmark
We've done the legwork to get you locations within and beyond the country that are great for wedding clicks and also double up as great vacation spots.
Pre-wedding shoots have become an intrinsic part of weddings in India and one of the hottest trends in the space is destination shoots. Chinese actress and influencer was a pioneer of the trend when she went to Paris for a special shoot before her wedding.
If you want to hop on the trend, you can have your pick of destinations from the wildly beautiful and diverse locations in India. From palatial mansions to wildlife safaris here are a few destinations to know if you are planning your wedding sometime soon.
Locations To Have On Your Radar For a Great Pre Wedding Photoshoot
These destinations make for perfectly picturesque wedding spots too. Take a look…
Royal Frame
Celebrate your romance and create beautiful memories with a pre-wedding photoshoot that captures the essence of your love story. With its diverse landscapes and stunning architecture, there’s no dearth of suitable locations across India. If you’re going for a regal theme, the Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad makes for the perfect backdrop. Once the palatial abode of the Nizams, its captivating façade, grand staircase, and palace courtyards offer ample location options, not to mention a horse-drawn carriage as the ideal ‘prop’.
For a more boutique location, consider Raffles Jaipur, which has been designed as a reimagined zenana mahal or queen’s palace. While the hotel has many suitable backdrops, including the palm tree-lined atrium and expansive suites with private pools, it’s the Writers Bar that’s the show-stopper. Decked out in pastel blue with intricately hand-painted Mughal motifs, the bar’s ambience is spot on; the dramatic winding staircase and shimmering chandeliers above add to the royal aura.
The Big Short
If you don’t fancy getting on a long-haul flight immediately after your big day, hop on the minimoon bandwagon. Many couples are planning a short trip straight after the wedding, usually a staycation or to a destination that’s a quick flight away, followed by a longer honeymoon later.
The reasons could be many – perhaps work beckons or it’s just not the best season to visit your dream destination or something as prosaic as a long wait for a visa. An offshoot of this trend is the buddymoon. Let’s face it – it’s difficult to spend quality time with close friends when you’re busy with the wedding prep and the actual ceremony. So why not whisk them off for a post-wedding getaway? Splash out on a luxe villa nearby and hang out just like the old times.
Starry Nights
Astro-tourism – stargazing, aurora-chasing, constellation tracking, and other nighttime activities – has emerged as a hot travel trend and makes for the perfect post-wedding getaway. Ditch the daylight crowds in Pangong Tso for some midnight magic in Ladakh’s Hanle village, one of the best places for stargazing due to its high altitude and low light pollution. Mountain Homestays runs ‘Astrostays’ in various villages of Ladakh by installing high-end sophisticated telescopes.
Alternatively, if chasing the northern lights has always been a bucket-list item, your honeymoon is the best time to check it off. Pack your bags for Tromsø, Norway, where you have a good chance of seeing the northern lights from September until early April. Combine it with a cosy reindeer camp dinner with Tromsø Arctic Reindeer for an unforgettable experience.
Love Match
Reaffirm your commitment to each other by renewing your wedding vows in an intimate ceremony surrounded by loved ones. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone in your life together or just your relationship, this heartwarming ceremony is a great way to rekindle the spark. Several hotels in India offer a vow renewal package, but if you’re looking for a more intimate setting, head to Girisadan Farm in the peaceful countryside of Jaipur.
You will be guided by an experienced priest who will take you through timeless Hindu Vedic rituals to renew your vows. The homestay takes care of everything, including beautiful décor, cosy accommodations, and delectable food, leaving you free to savour the moment.
Wild Things
Skip the cliché beach or island getaway and try something a bit more adventurous on your honeymoon. Masai Mara, Kenya and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park are the top picks for a safari holiday, particularly if your honeymoon coincides with the annual Great Migration of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope.
For something closer to nature, pick a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda or Rwanda. The guided trek takes you through dense mountain jungles tracking gorillas and other primates – it’s an exhilarating experience like no other. If you still want a few beach days, try an African surf and turf honeymoon that combines a wildlife experience with a seaside location like Zanzibar or Mozambique, both of which have stunning powder-white beaches and many luxury hotels to choose from.