OT Wedding Wednesday: Things To Keep In Mind If You're Planning A Monsoon Wedding

There’s something about monsoon weddings which makes couples keen to get married in the rainy season year after year. Is it the cooler climate, the enchanting scenes of lush green landscapes glistening after a rain shower, the romantic charm of raindrops pattering down and lending a cosy ambience to the occasion, or the childlike wonder that makes us welcome the rains after a harsh summer? Whatever it is, nothing beats getting married during this time. If you are planning a wedding soon, here’s what you need to know about tying the knot from the experts.Make A Detailed PlanShrawan Kumar is the founder and lead wedding planner at Shubh Muhurat Luxury Weddings (SMLW). He has worked on over 500 weddings for the past 12 years. In his experience, “Couples should keep the key points in mind like venue selections, weather-proof décor, hygienic food, guests’ comfort with movement to the venue, facilities like raincoats [and] umbrellas at the venue, travel arrangements, and being flexible with any last minute changes because of rainy weather or drizzling.”For Soumya Raghu, the founder of Bengaluru-based Taarini Weddings, those planning a monsoon wedding should prioritise practicality over everything else and keep backup plans in place. “The harsh truth [of monsoon weddings] is that of muddy roads, probably roadblocks, fewer local guests in attendance due to the monsoons, slushy lawns, [and] inconvenient sudden showers that get furniture wet—basically a lot of hassle that the couple, guests, organisers and vendors face with planning weddings in monsoon.” Raghu brings plenty of experience to this area as she has planned over 700 weddings from 2013 in several destinations, both indoors and outdoors.Wedding planners Nose to Tail, who are experts at organising sustainably-run and planet-friendly weddings, echo both Raghu and Kumar’s views. Aishwarya Lonial and Indraja Khare, the cofounders and lead designers behind the company, have organised over 80 events. They say that reliable backup plans for outdoor celebrations should include “waterproof tents and indoor alternatives. Choosing a venue with easy access to covered areas is crucial. Additionally, offering hot drinks like soup, coffee and tea at regular intervals can help keep guests comfortable.”Crunch The NumbersWhile budgeting for a wedding, setting aside a literal rainy day fund in case plans change due to the weather is sound advice. But are weddings during this time cheaper or costlier than at other times of the year?Lonial and Khare from Nose to Tail and Kumar from SMLW say that monsoon weddings are often cheaper than those held during peak seasons like winter or spring. “Venues and vendors typically offer better rates during the monsoon due to lower demand. However, any cost savings might be offset by additional expenses for weather-proofing the venue and ensuring guest comfort,” according to Lonial and Khare. Kumar adds that, “Hotels, flights and vendors are open to offer[ing] huge discounts because of low demand on those dates.”Greenmyna is a sustainable curator of weddings and events who ensure all elements used during the occasion are re-used, recycled or sent to a composting facility to ensure a zero-waste day. It is helmed by marketing consultant Nupur Agarwal and master mariner at the Indian merchant navy, Captain Ashwin Malwade. In Malwade’s experience, “Monsoon weddings can be costly if not planned properly and if done in regions prone to heavy rain. Working with local decorators and vendors helps in cutting down on logistical delays. If planned well, monsoon weddings can actually be a lot cheaper than weddings [at] any other time of the year.”Pick The Right Location For YouIndia has a plethora of amazing monsoon destinations but which of them are suitable for a wedding? Well, it depends on what the couple’s preferences are. For instance, Bengaluru is a convenient location due to well-equipped venues offering the comfort of the indoors and the beauty of the outdoors, says Raghu from Taarini Weddings. “For couples, venues to choose from are aplenty. For guests travelling from outside of Bengaluru, getting to experience the weather of a hill station in the middle of a city is like no other. So hands down Bengaluru as a first option! Udaipur and Coorg are our other monsoon favourites,” she says.While Goa, Coorg, Mussoorie and Udaipur got the most love from our five experts, Kerala, Nashik, Shillong, Pune, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Rishikesh and Gwalior should also be considered as some of the best monsoon wedding destinations in the country. Malwade from Greenmyna had this tip on determining the ideal location: “Monsoon weddings should ideally not be held in areas of rainfall as this causes additional stress on décor and [the] logistics required for a wedding. However, understanding the previous year’s trends on [the] amount of rainfall in a region will give [a] good understanding of ideal locations to host a monsoon wedding.”Stay Flexible If Things Go AwryWedding jitters are normal but it does not help matters when a downpour moves people indoors and puts paid to the best-laid plans. However, embracing the day as it comes and planning beforehand make a world of difference to your memories of the day. Kumar from SMLW says, “If things go wrong on the day of a monsoon wedding, it's crucial to stay calm and flexible. Apart from that, it’s always advisable to have a “Plan B” from the initial planning days which you can switch to if the need arises. Secondly, keep communication with your guests and vendors about the change in the plan. And lastly, just embrace the moment and enjoy whatever comes your way.”Raghu says a seasoned and experienced wedding planning team should be able to help you prepare for unexpected situations. “As a bride or groom, make sure you make these plans ahead of time and then trust your wedding planners to do the job. You only concentrate on getting married to the love of your life and having a wonderful time—rain or shine,” she says. Leave It To The ExpertsPlanning a monsoon wedding requires extra attention to weather-related logistics so choosing the right wedding planners is imperative to having a (mostly) hassle-free day. Lonial and Khare from Nose to Tail say that their job when planning a monsoon wedding, besides selecting for appropriate venues and arranging for waterproof décor, is closely monitoring weather forecasts and maintaining a list of vendors who can provide last-minute supplies if needed.This sentiment is echoed by Malwade from Greenmyna who says that his team does a thorough risk assessment of the venue, catering and other requirements of the couple while planning a monsoon wedding. He says that, “Creating a sheet during our planning stage for contingency measures helps us understand the risks involved. The main points that are covered in this sheet are power backup arrangements, sustainable décor ideas, shelter for guests, maintaining hygiene in catering areas, [and] ensuring there is proper drainage of rainwater at venues and areas where [there] is [a] likelihood of puddles being formed. We also keep a buffer of a day between events, if possible, to ensure that if there is an extreme rain event, the arrangements can be moved to the next day.”The Bottom LineOur five experts bring vast amounts of expertise to planning and curating weddings in India and overseas. So, if you’re planning a rainy day wedding in the coming months, make a detailed plan with contingency measures; finalise a budget that allows for extra expenditure if or when things go off the rails; pick the right location that suits your needs and research previous years’ rainfall patterns; go with the flow (not literally though) and embrace the day as it comes; and finally, trust your wedding organisers to save the day.