Planning a wedding in India from abroad takes about 9 to 12 months. Choose the destination and venue first, send save-the-dates by month nine so guests can arrange leave and visas, confirm vendors by month six, and plan guest travel from month four. A planner in India handles site visits, vendors and the days themselves.
12 to 9 months before
- Pick the season first. For most of India that means October to March. See our guide to the best time for a wedding in India.
- Choose the destination. Backwaters in Kerala, beaches in Goa, palaces in Udaipur and Jaipur, the Ganges at Rishikesh.
- Set a budget in your currency. Our cost calculator gives a range in dollars, pounds, euros or dirhams in a minute.
- Book the venue. Popular dates for December to February go 9 to 12 months ahead, palaces even earlier.
9 to 6 months before
- Send save-the-dates. Guests need time for leave, flights and visas.
- Decide your legal route. Most couples marry legally at home and celebrate in India. Read our guide to getting married in India as a foreigner.
- Book the key vendors. Photographer and film team, décor, music.
6 to 3 months before
- Share a guest travel page. Dates, hotels, dress codes, visa steps and airport transfers in one link.
- Plan the functions. A welcome dinner, mehndi, sangeet, ceremony, reception: choose what feels like you.
- Menus and tastings. By video with the chef if you cannot visit.
3 to 1 months before
- Guests apply for visas. Many nationalities can apply online for an Indian e-Visa; we remind everyone in good time.
- Rooming list and transfers. We match every flight to a car or coach.
- Final design sign-off. Mood boards and 3D mock-ups of every setting.
Wedding week
- Arrivals. We meet every guest at the airport.
- Rehearsal. A walk-through of the ceremony with the officiant and both families.
- The days themselves. Your planner runs every function; you enjoy them.
Do we need to visit India before the wedding?
Not necessarily. Many couples visit once, about six months before, to see the venue and taste the food. Others plan entirely by video, with live venue walk-throughs on a phone.
Questions couples ask
How far in advance should we plan a wedding in India?
Nine to twelve months for peak season (December to February), and at least six months for other months.
Can we plan an Indian destination wedding without visiting?
Yes. Many couples plan entirely by video call with live venue walk-throughs, and arrive a few days before the wedding.
When should we send save-the-dates to guests abroad?
About nine months before the wedding, so guests can arrange leave, flights and visas.
