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If the past two years have taught us anything, it is that our country has gorgeous wedding locations that are at par, if not better, than the most sought-after places in the world. We have seen some of the most high-profile weddings happen within India in the last two years. The pandemic-induced lockdowns and restrictions may have helped to reveal a side of our country we had never acknowledged.
While many celebrity weddings were small and intimate, inside homes and courtyards; there were also grand receptions and dreamy jaimaals in the shadows of glorious palaces, towering forts and luxurious ballrooms. If you are all set to tie the knot and looking for celeb-inspired venues in the country, here are some ideas.
Lebua, Lucknow
The most recent celebrity wedding, that of noted Bollywood duo Richa Chaddha and Ali Fazal, was all things dreamy — white chikankari ensemble, mogra-laden gardens, lush lawns, and a quaint colonial bungalow for the backdrop. The property, a boutique hotel in a heritage haveli, is an ideal destination for an intimate, tasteful and luxurious wedding just like #riali’s.
It helps that Lucknow is well connected by rail, road and air and has a fair bit for your guests to do too — think chikankari shopping, food trails, cultural evenings and historical walks.
Apart from the regal intimate splendour that the hotel offers, Lebua Lucknow is also known for its food. At the speciality restaurant Azrak, chef Mohsin Qureshi whips up forgotten heirloom Awadhi recipes, both vegetarian and meaty, that can add Char-Chand to your celebrations, a la Lucknow; the terrace bar boasts a setting straight out of a period film, and the European restaurant, 1936, named after the year the haveli was made caters to all your European gourmet needs.
Umaid Bhawan, Jodhpur
While it was Priyanka Chopra’s expansive train in the gown designed by Ralph Lauren that captured our fancy at the much talked about wedding, there is no denying that the grand staircase and the long walkway played a key role in giving the ceremony the quintessential fairytale look. Tall columns, grand arches, regal domes and the sandstone facade of this grand old dame of Rajasthan, Umaid Bhawan Palace, made it the perfect choice for the actor-singer duo.
The property which stretches across a sprawling 26 acres and includes 15 acres of private gardens, offered many little venues for the different ceremonies of Nickyanka’s wedding. The palace, also the royal residence of the Maharaja, has since hosted Isha Ambani’s glittering wedding too and is a perfect choice if you want the quintessential fairytale wedding — whether modern like Priyanka or traditional like Ambani.
Taj Palace, New Delhi
What is common between Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra and Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra’s weddings? Well, for one they all shared the reception venue. The go-to place for the grandest receptions in the county is the capital’s palace and its grand ballroom, the Durbar Hall.
Nestled amidst the heart of the historic Delhi, the iconic Taj Palace has held a distinguished position amongst the finest hotels of the world for close to four decades and is perfect for those who expect high-profile guests at their wedding, as well as those who love to wed in style.
The sprawling hotel offers multiple luxurious banquets and beautiful lawns that can play host to your wedding ceremonies. Meanwhile, its common areas, speciality restaurants, tea house and the chic Blue Bar are perfect to entertain your discerning guests who will thank you for your brilliant choice of venue for years to come.
ITC Maratha, Mumbai
If pictures are anything to go by, Gauhar Khan’s wedding was one of the most aesthetic in recent times. The venue’s ivory setting played the perfect backdrop to rich yellows, regal maroons and subtle whites and creams that the couple adorned. But it was not just couture, it was also the subtle luxury, emanating from every frame, that had us enchanted. Long corridors, large windows, airy balconies, palm-laden terraces, and discerning artwork added glamour to the otherwise simple wedding.
The venue, ITC Maratha, a grand hotel in the heart of Mumbai, is a great choice if you are planning a large, lavish wedding. With multiple speciality restaurants, over 300 rooms, two large ballrooms, and outdoor features like the beautiful central and many mini gardens, it is one place that despite being in the middle of a busy city can be your sanctuary.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Just a stone’s throw away from the city’s heart, Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad has been home to many celeb weddings, the most popular of which was Arpita Khan’s, for which brother Salman Khan is said to have booked the entire palace. Located on a small hillock, the 32-acre palace overlooks the Nizami capital and is perfect for a grand royal wedding.
The 101 dining hall with swinging chandeliers and over a hundred chairs is known worldwide for its grandeur. The state reception room with fresco ceilings and the magnificent ballroom with glittering chandeliers and gilded walls are the jewel in the crown of the palace and will light up your celebrations with their gilt-edged detailing and warm tones.
Every room in the palace has been restored by the royal family personally and common spaces like the Jade room, library room, hookah room, and billiards room keep your guests entertained. As for the bride and groom, the place not just makes them feel like royalty but also treats them like royals. What else can you ask for?
Six Senses Fort Barwara, Sawai Madhopur
If you are a wedding watcher, there is no way you’d have missed the biggest wedding of the year. Yes! We are talking about Vicky-Katrina’s elegant wedding at Six Senses Fort Barwara in the heart of Rajasthan. The 14th-century fort was recently and sensitively restored to its current form by Six Senses and includes two palaces that reinterpret the gracious and regal ambience of a bygone era, something we caught a glimpse of in the few pictures of the wedding. Worry not if you could only manage glimpses of VicKat ceremonies though, for you can choose to officiate your nuptials here too!
The subtle elegance and understated luxury of the place are for the discerning brides and grooms who prefer substance over flamboyance and sustainability over wasteful expenditure. The fort offers a quaint backdrop for the ceremonies with its stone walls, traditional architecture, modern amenities, and most of all, world-class service that’s the trademark of not just Rajasthan but also Six Senses.
Photo: Featured Properties and Celebs