The much-anticipated Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani wedding at a fort hotel in Jaisalmer brought back the spotlight (yet again) on Rajasthan and showed us how the land of maharajas continues to be the favourite wedding destination for celebrity couples. From Elizabeth Hurley-Arun Nayyar and Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas to Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif, over the years there have been many celebrity couples who chose to exchange their vows in Rajasthan’s regal surroundings. Wedding planners say that ample options of forts, palaces and heritage properties and the privacy they offer are some of the reasons why most celebrities opt for Rajasthan to say ‘I do’.

While it is true that picture-perfect locations, popular heritage properties and the charm of royal weddings attract celeb couples to the desert state when it comes to tying the knot, complete privacy from paps and curious onlookers is another reason why celebs prefer Rajasthan as a wedding destination.

“I think after Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas and Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif’s weddings, most celebs are sure that it is very difficult to breach the privacy and security at heritage properties in Rajasthan. Also, these properties are usually located at remote locations, away from the main cities, which also helps high-profile couples keep their big day a private affair. We have been in talks with a celebrity couple who is planning to get married by the end of this year, and they want the wedding at a palace in Rajasthan, which can be fully booked and blocked for outsiders for four days of wedding festivities,” says a Mumbai-based wedding planner, who organised a celeb wedding in Udaipur last year.

“Privacy and security are of high importance when planning a celebrity wedding. Also, the quality of services, hospitality and crisis management at the event is to be minutely monitored. The other reasons why Rajasthan is the most preferred wedding destination are its royal charm, rustic beauty and authentic venue options, like the spectacular forts and palaces,” says Rajat Gera, Director of Sales & Marketing of the heritage hotel that hosted Vicky-Katrina’s wedding.

In the popularity chart, Udaipur and Jodhpur are rated higher than Jaipur, and wedding planners say that this is because of the availability of better heritage, luxury properties. “Also, Jaipur is mostly overbooked in the wedding season, and celebs look for an exclusive venue that is far away from the city centre. After Sid-Kiara’s wedding, queries for Jaisalmer have increased,” says Minnat Lalpuria, founder and CEO of a company that helps clients with luxury wedding destinations.

Anchor and event organiser Nitin Arora says, “Jaisalmer is becoming popular for celeb weddings, and thanks to Sid-Kiara’s shaadi, people have started looking for offbeat havelis and luxury palaces on the outskirts of Jaisalmer,” says Arora.

Apart from Bollywood couples, there are many other celebs who had their wedding in Rajasthan – including Isha Ambani’s wedding in Udaipur. Wedding planners say that connectivity of major cities in Rajasthan with other metros is one reason why it is easier to plan a high-profile wedding there. 

“Anyone who is having guests from overseas, would want to have a palace or fort wedding in Rajasthan. Popular locations like Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur have good flight connectivity,” says Arora.