Business

Indian couples say ‘I do’ off the beaten path

By Sohail Khan 22 August 2026, 12:38 am

Benchmarks
Nifty24,252.0020.16

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
24.02 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›India›Goa is out, Coorg is in: India’s wedding crowd is looking for new destinations

Read Today's Paper

Goa is out, Coorg is in: India’s wedding crowd is looking for new destinations

Synopsis

Indian couples are increasingly moving away from established wedding destinations such as Goa, Delhi and Mumbai, opting instead for quieter, scenic locations in smaller cities and towns. Wedding planners report rising demand for intimate, personalised celebrations in places such as Coorg, Jaisalmer, Kochi and Uttarakhand, driven by privacy and experience.

Couples Say ‘I Do’ Off the Beaten Path — Indian couples are increasingly choosing smaller towns and offbeat destinations over traditional wedding hubs, seeking more intimate, personalised and scenic celebrations.

Bengaluru: When San Francisco-based designers Smera Rose Jose and Ashwin Nambiar decided to tie the knot in India, they settled for the quiet and natural settings of Coorg in Karnataka over more popular and convenient destinations.

The couple, who got married in January, didn't want an elaborate decor, a long list of guests, or other paraphernalia associated with many Indian weddings. The event felt like an intimate weekend gathering of people who mattered the most, Jose told ET.

They are among a burgeoning base of Indian couples looking beyond the traditional destination wedding hubs. The search for scenic places and personalised experiences for intimate celebrations is prompting them to venture into smaller towns and offbeat locations.

Wedding planners and decor companies said they are seeing a 20-30% increase in bookings for locations beyond the large cities. Destination weddings in Tier 2 and 3 cities rose 12% in the past year, according to the Event and Entertainment Management Association.

"People don't want to go to Goa, Delhi, or Mumbai anymore," said Shehzarin Udwadia, cofounder at Double S Enterprises, a Mumbai-based wedding planning and event design firm. High-income families able to afford homes in metros such as Mumbai are scouting for quieter destinations that can accommodate 300-400 guests, she said.

"We wanted it to feel personal," said Jose, explaining the reason behind selecting the misty hill station of Coorg. "For us, that meant having the people we are close to there, rather than letting the guest list keep growing just because that's what happens traditionally."

Going beyond the usual

For many couples looking for off-beat places to exchange vows, the attraction is simple: they offer more privacy, allowing them to savour every moment of one of the most important days of their lives. They also come without the premium price tag of a big city or a popular destination.

"People had warned us that your wedding can go by in a blur," said Jose. "But because ours was intimate, we had time to talk to people, take it all in, and simply enjoy it. We remember the little things – the conversations, food, music and dancing."

The appeal is also about creating an experience that feels different.

For affluent families, destination weddings are increasingly becoming a way to avoid repeating the same format, said Parthip Thyagarajan, chief executive at wedding planning platform WeddingSutra. A family that hosted its last wedding in Jaipur, for instance, may choose Udaipur, Bengaluru, or Kochi the next time.

Spending by wealthy individuals on weddings climbed 20-25% year-on-year between November 2025 and March 2026, with smaller towns driving much of the increase, according to WeddingSutra, a data aggregator on the luxury wedding business.

Coorg, Jaisalmer, Mahabalipuram, Surat, Rajkot, Nagpur and Kochi are among locations gaining popularity as wedding destinations. The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand is also attracting couples looking for an alternative to beach or traditional South Indian weddings. For those exploring the opposite, Kerala offers an array of great settings.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
offbeat wedding destinationsdestination weddings in Indiaintimate wedding experiencesluxury wedding spendingwedding planning trends 2023Coorg wedding locationtier 2 and 3 cities weddingspopular Indian wedding citiesevent and entertainment managementEvent and Entertainment Management Association

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds