Kashmir emerges as enchanting wedding destination

Srinagar, Sep 14: Last year, a couple from Mumbai held their wedding ceremony in Pahalgam and they couldn’t stop praising Kashmir’s beauty and people.
The marriage function, which was managed by a local hotelier Umer Malik, was an instant hit on all social media platforms.
The trend caught the eye of many wedding planners across the valley who organized a series of destination weddings and other marriage-related functions in the valley.
Couples from India and abroad are now increasingly choosing Kashmir as their wedding destination, turning their special day into an unforgettable experience set against the backdrop of nature’s grandeur.
“We get a lot of queries related to the destination wedding functions in Kashmir. Destination weddings, which is a trend in Jaipur, Goa and Kerala, now also happen in the valley. There can’t be any better place than Kashmir for a destination wedding, given its beauty, culture, food and favourable weather,” Malik said.
From the pre-wedding function to the bride’s farewell, the hoteliers and travel agents plan each and every event as per the local traditions.
“Last time when we held a destination wedding function , we served local cuisines including wazwaan and kehwa. We manage each and every function as per the expectation of our clientele,” he said.
Wedding planners and travel agencies have also capitalized on this trend, offering comprehensive packages that take care of all the logistics, leaving couples free to savor every moment of their special day.
Priya Mehta, a wedding planner from Maharashtra said the Kashmir gradually was getting promoted as a destination wedding ‘heaven’.
“Not too much but some people are interested to hold their wedding function in Kashmir. They enquire about the situation and services which they can enjoy here. While some want their wedding during summers, others like it when the valley is entirely draped in snow,” she said.
She said inquiries related to pre-wedding shoots in Kashmir were often received by them from their clients.
The tourism players claimed they have kept available various facilities for ‘Made in Heaven’ wedding in Kashmir.
“It is good if such functions are organised during July and August which is a lean period for tourism. We have accommodation as well as other facilities including a cruise boat, musical evenings and gala parties for tourists aspiring to celebrate their wedding in Kashmir. There can’t be any other attraction than houseboats to hold such functions,” Chairman of Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association (KHBOA), Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon said. (KNO)