Marriage is an important phase in the life of an individual, and today’s younger generation is often seeking unique ways of getting into this beautiful, lifelong relationship.
A destination wedding is the in-thing these days. The trend of exchanging vows in the most romantic and exotic location, in the presence of family and friends, is fast catching up. This article focuses on planning a destination wedding on the beaches and backwaters of Kerala. Kerala backwaters offer a unique blend of natural and unpolluted beauty. What else can be better than entering the nuptial bond in God’s own Country?
Wedding Venues: Kerala provides a range of beautiful, backwater wedding venues. Backwater Ripples, located on the coast of Kumarakom, is an exotic wedding venue with its lake view. The occasion can be made even more special by hosting the event in a dusky evening on a quiet houseboat on Vembanad River.
Another resort, The Poovar Island Resort in Trivandrum is apt for holding a private ceremony away from the clatter of the city. The Raviz Kollam Resort housed on Ashtamudi Lake with its private islands, wooden cottages, and a huge houseboat called ‘Randhal’ is another popular backwater wedding venue in Kerala. Other venues include The Ramada Cochin Resort, Gokulam Park in Kochi, and many more.
Wedding Event: The wedding can be planned by the couple themselves; however, it is advisable to hire a wedding planner because it requires a lot of research and planning in hosting a backwater wedding. Depending on the budget, a backwater wedding can be organized either in a simple or a lavish manner. It can be a modest beach party or a grand ballroom reception. Also, it can either be a private affair with few close friends and family or it can be a big lavish matrimony in Kerala with a large number of guests.
Wedding themes: The backwater wedding can be based on either a western or a traditional Kerala theme. You can arrange for a traditional welcome with “Thalapoli” or traditionally-dressed girls with garlands and welcome lamps. Given that backwaters are a very popular wedding venue, you can get easy access to florists, sound providers, videographers, decorators, etc. Kerala is known for its elephants, and you can easily arrange for a few at the wedding. If you are opting for a traditional style marriage, a few decorated elephants can provide a memorable experience for the guests. You can even arrange for performances by local folk dancers.
Food: Kerala offers a wide variety of cuisine options. The traditional vegetarian menu or Sadhya of a Kerala wedding consists of rice, rasam, sambar, along with a number of curries and vegetables, teamed with pickles and papad. Modern wedding menus may include three or four course meals, including appetizers, biryani or plain rice, curries, and desserts. Tapioca appetizers and Kerala bread called as Idiyappam or Palappam served with curries are deliciously savoured. Depending on your guest list, you can also add Chinese or Continental food to the menu.
It may be slightly difficult and expensive to organize a Kerala backwater wedding, but, it will definitely be worth the effort to see the wedding ceremony unfold like a fairytale wedding. Kerala backwater weddings undoubtedly can create some fond memories for newlyweds, which they can cherish for years to come.
