How growing demand for destination weddings is benefitting Goa’s economy

Destination weddings are the epitome of opulence, exclusivity, and escapism. The bride and groom are, quite literally, embarking on a new journey and are inviting their families and friends to join them on an adventure. 106617075A dream wedding is to be planned, and where better than Goa to do it? From saat-pheras on the banks of meandering rivers to saying ‘I do’ in the warm glow of a setting sun, Goa has it all.“Destination weddings are first on the checklist of several young couples. We are seeing a huge surge in destination weddings at our resorts, a growth of almost 25% compared to last year,” said Anmol Ahluwalia, the area director - operations, Goa at Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).. 106617083IHCL, which is the largest hospitality chain in Goa, corners a majority share of the big, fat Indian wedding, which can stretch right up to Rs 10 crore.India’s wedding season began on November 23 and continued till December 15. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) estimated that in this short period, 38 lakh weddings were held, which generated a turnover of Rs 4.7 lakh crore across the country. 106617109The wedding season quietens down in December but picks up in mid-January when the Hindu auspicious period returns.“Goa is undoubtedly the best destination for weddings. However, there are fewer venues compared to the demand. Goa should draw up a comprehensive policy to have many more wedding venues,” said Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT secretary general. 106617118Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently expressed concern over the trend of Indians getting married abroad, which leads to a loss of revenue, employment, and foreign exchange.On average, a big-budget wedding in Goa is spread over three to five days, and often the entire resort is booked for the couple’s big day. “All 5- and 4-star hotels thrive on weddings and events. We can say over 40% of the business comes from this segment,” said TTAG president Nilesh Shah. “There were 100-plus weddings in November and December.” 106617122Destination weddings also contribute GST to the state, and they create business for all verticals, from carpenters, florists, and hotels to taxi operators, musicians, textile vendors, and photographers. As Shah says, this is a strong circular economy.“Goa’s competitive advantage is beach weddings, and the couple’s first dream is to have the religious ceremony against the backdrop of the sea,” said Francis Serrao, founder and managing director of Crosscraft.Marsha D’Souza, an event planner, says that she has seen a 100% increase in destination weddings, with the requirements of couples also evolving.Ahluwalia has a different take. He finds that the number of destination weddings has reduced, but budgets have increased.“Plenty of new destinations have emerged. The interesting fact is that while weddings are fewer, the average per-person cost has increased, leading to more revenue from the wedding. The destination weddings are now more opulent, luxurious, and highly customised,” said Ahluwalia.Wedding KnotsHowever, there is trouble in paradise. The endless norms, red tape, and corruption mar the ‘band, baaja, baaraat’, and couples are increasingly looking at other countries to tie the knot.“Goa is challenging from a compliance point of view. There are many permissions, but there is no cooperation from the government. We are losing out on weddings because Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam don’t ask for beach permissions, tourism licences, or visas. Goa must compete on the international market on pricing, delivery, compliances, and the demands of the customers,” said Serrao.Serrao said that a single-window system for beach wedding approvals will go a long way.“The lead time to book a wedding has reduced as compared to last year. We have witnessed a lead time of two to three months. Traditionally, the bigger Indian weddings used to be booked 10 to 12 months earlier since it involves a lot of planning,” said Ahluwalia.Aisle Be There For YouModern-day couples are shunning thermocol backdrops with gaudy colours and tapping mother nature to light up their events. From draping vintage saris to stringing brass bells, which can be repurposed, event planners must up their game and keep costs down.In the age of Instagram, likes are the currency to build one’s social capital. “Spending on the decor is the new trend, with brides being very conscious. They want to mimic the weddings of celebrities. This means pastel colours, fresh flowers, and a beach backdrop, with the ceremonies being done at sunset. The sangeet needs to have lavish, bling decor,” said Nikhil Rao, owner of Red Carpet Events.To cater to the diverse requirements, some of Goa’s restaurateurs have come up with a unique idea. “People want restaurants to come to their wedding doorstep. Today, clients have started negotiating with resorts to allow them to get a certain restaurant for the wedding in exchange for booking X number of rooms. So, a group of around 20 restaurateurs has started catering at weddings, where, along with the resort banquet, we create a mock-up of a restaurant at the wedding. People love this concept,” said Akshay Quenim, the Goa co-chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India.Quenim says he has seen a 6x growth with 23 weddings in just December.IHCL has seen opulence and environmental concerns go hand in hand. Instead of creating extravagant art decor pieces for the glamorous wedding, families request “vintage accessories” to reduce non-recyclable materials.“The weddings that we witnessed in 2023 show us a new trend of zero waste. These are not only a celebration of love but also a commitment to environmental responsibility. From invitations to decorations, eco-friendly practices create lasting memories with a minimal environmental footprint,” said Ahluwalia.The adage goes that marriages are made in heaven, but for now, Goa is where the celebrations begin.Photo: 7events