From big & fat to small & curated

The pandemic was not all destruction, after all. Sylvain Laroche, Director of Operations, ibis & ibis Styles, India, says, ‘Indians know how to see the silver lining! Turning the adversity of small gatherings into opportunity led to the growth of the trend of intimate destination weddings.’

The global pandemic has made social distancing the norm, which has in turn globally affected the way people celebrate.

The spread of COVID-19 has given rise to smaller and intimate gatherings as the big fat Indian weddings turned leaner this year. With fewer people being able to travel, virtual ceremonies have been paving the way for technological advancements at hotels across the world. Watching the rituals on the big screen is a whole-new experience for guests. From attending office meetings to online lectures, attending weddings online is fast emerging as the latest trend.

The wedding industry in India was pegged (according to Digital Classified in India 2020 by KPMG India and Google) at an estimate of $50 billion and a rapid annual growth rate, which was attributed to the fact that half of India’s 1.3-billion people were aged below 30 and an estimate of 10 million weddings held annually. Popular online wedding platform Shaadi.com said that a 20-30 per cent surge in the online matchmaking industry during the lockdown is going to result in a reasonable uptick in the number of weddings.

At ibis, we are delighted to see a gradual uptick in wedding queries and bookings over the last few months. Few of our hotels like ibis Jaipur Civil Lines and ibis Delhi Aerocity offer exquisite poolside venues ideal for intimate weddings. Strict adherence to social distancing norms and hygiene protocols remain our top priority. At all ibis hotels, we have adopted contactless measures from booking the room and check-in to check-outs and payment procedures.

While some couples have been postponing their wedding, the others are looking for curated food for their D-day. Pool-side venues that were earlier used for pool parties are now being used for bachelor’s night and haldi ceremonies. With the shift in trends, there is a pent up demand due to all the weddings and events that were put on hold during the lockdown period.

Good food, music and décor are at the heart of any celebration. At ibis, self-help buffets have been replaced with one-bowl eats, pre-plated food options served by the team. Our interactive kitchen concept at Spice It – the restaurant, also offers confidence to guests. The food culture at different cities ranging from Kolkata to Delhi to Jaipur is extraordinary. We aim to blend different cultures through food under one roof. We promise and aim to make every moment personal for the bride and the groom. We don’t hesitate to go that extra mile to make the biggest and brightest day of their life a safe and memorable experience. ibis is a smart economy brand from the Accor stable, and has always prioritised the safety of its guests and employees. It has always had high standards of hygiene and cleanliness.