Weddings have become a symbol of riches. Anybody who can afford it now aspires to have their wedding at a luxury hotel.

Many Indian 5-star hotels are today positioning themselves as the ideal ‘dream wedding’ destination, in the $11 billion wedding market. From having a royal wedding in Jaipur to an ethnic wedding amidst the serene backwaters of Kerala, luxury hotels have become a one-stop shop in helping couples create a dream that posterity will never let die.

“Weddings have become a lifestyle statement and to celebrate it in style people spend lakhs of rupees,” says Mohan Kumar, GM, Taj Properties Bangalore.

As per a Forbes report on the hottest wedding spots in India, “the typical Indian wedding involves hundreds of guests and costs $34,000, a good deal more than the average American wedding at $26,000.” However, having a wedding in an Indian 5-star hotel costs half the price of having one in either Paris or London or any other foreign location, say industry observers.

Right from getting the trousseau to arranging a priest to being an integral part of the decision-making, hotels are doing it all. Some help out in making the invitation cards. Some make power point presentations on different theme-based weddings, giving the couple options to choose from.

“At the Leela we arrange for top of the line sari and jewellery vendors to visit the bridegroom and help her choose her wares,” says Nitienaa Arif, head (communication), Leela Palace, Bangalore.

According to Sunil Prabhakar, head (marketing) at the Leela, the hotel hosts close to 12 mega weddings a year, most of them being NRI weddings. He adds that there is an annual growth of 35% in the number of weddings that take place at luxury hotels.

Industry observers estimate that people on average spend close to Rs 40 lakh for a wedding night at a five-star hotel, which excludes the room nights and other functions held. On an average, a wedding entourage check themselves into at least 50 rooms; sometimes that can cross a 100.

“Dream weddings have become a new avenue of business,” says Kumar, adding that the most sought after weddings include ethnic weddings and “royal” weddings, with decorated elephants, thrones and all the paraphernalia associated with weddings of the erstwhile Indian maharajas.

The Oberoi Amarvilas, located 600 metres from the eternal palace of love — the Taj Mahal — is a favourite among couples. “Though the rituals are not performed at the hotel, arrangements are made for the wedding to be conducted at a temple on the banks of the river Yamuna,” says Ketaki Narain director (corporate communications), The Oberoi Group.

The ties between the hotel and the wedded couple often linger for well over a year. “For the first anniversary celebrations we block the ballroom and then call the couple and ask them if they would like to celebrate at the hotel,” says Kumar.

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