Now, people vouch by fat weddings

COVID-induced changes have become a trend in the wedding segment. Single event weddings, small and private events, sustainable and budget-friendly, and hybrid weddings are some of the concepts that have now become part of the wedding segment.

Janice Alyosius

Over the years, weddings have been a major revenue earner for most hotels in India. This segment went through a transformation during the pandemic. Though there is a rise in big fat Indian weddings—scrumptious menus, flashy decors, and extravaganza events—it has rather given way to thoughtfulness, personalization and celebrating with loved ones.

Small and private weddings have become the trend now. Abhishek Pani, Hotel Manager, Novotel Vijayawada Varun, said, “The virus has forced families and couples to look at hosting weddings differently. Guest lists have shrunk. If an average wedding had 800 people, they now take place with 400 to 500 invitees. Couples are now opting for new-age wedding formats such as shift weddings where guests are invited in batches or hybrid/intimate weddings. As far as wedding invitations are concerned, while some are choosing to go digital, others are opting for e-invites.”

Lakshmi Sridhar, Operations Manager, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, said, “In the month of January when some weddings got cancelled, they rescheduled them to the summer season. Earlier, people would wait for the wedding season, October to February, to organize weddings. People have now bounced back to celebrate this once in a lifetime event with a lot of pomp and show. There is no halt on bookings. People are coming with different ideas and customs to make the event a more elaborate one.”

Often guests cannot travel, due to various reasons. This has made livestreaming a big booming part of the industry. Micro-weddings, those with fewer than 100 guests, are still a niche idea, he added. A budget-friendly wedding is another factor that the couples and families are looking for.

“Customers, who showed caution towards expenses, now seem to rely more on allied cost. The big fat Indian weddings are now back with large-scale festivities and exuberance,” shared Shiv Bose, General Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa-Panaji.