How far in advance should I book a destination wedding in India?+
For Rajasthan palace properties (Udaipur, Jaipur), 18–24 months ahead is realistic for peak season (October–March). The truly iconic venues — Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, Rambagh Palace Jaipur — book even further out for premium dates. Goa, Kerala, and non-palace properties can be booked 6–12 months out depending on size.
Do I need a visa to travel to India for a wedding?+
Yes — most foreign visitors require a visa. U.S., Canadian, and UK citizens can apply for an e-Tourist Visa online (typically approved within 72 hours). The single-entry e-Visa is valid for 30 days; the multi-entry version covers up to 1 year or 5 years. Apply at least 4 weeks before travel. Some nationalities do not qualify for e-Visa and need a regular tourist visa from an Indian embassy.
Can my Indian destination wedding be legally binding?+
Yes, but with friction. Foreign citizens or inter-religious couples need to use the Special Marriage Act, which requires a 30-day public notice posted at one party's district marriage office in India. That means at least 30 days of in-country presence before the wedding day. Most couples we plan for skip this — they do a religious / symbolic ceremony in India and complete civil paperwork at home.
What's the difference between a wedding in Udaipur and Jaipur?+
Both are Rajasthan; both offer palace weddings; both have strong wedding industries. Udaipur is more compact, more visually iconic (lakes, the City Palace, the floating Taj), and pricier. Jaipur is larger, has a wider hotel/decor vendor base, and tends to handle bigger guest counts (200+) more easily. Udaipur for the photography; Jaipur for scale.
How does an Indian destination wedding cost compare to Mexico or the Dominican Republic?+
Different cost model. There's no Caribbean-style 'complimentary wedding package' included with a hotel block — everything is paid à la carte (venue rental, catering, decor, entertainment). For 100 guests, a mid-tier Rajasthan palace wedding typically lands $50,000–150,000+ USD all-in. A comparable Cancún or Punta Cana wedding can run $30,000–80,000 USD. The difference is mostly venue rental and decor production — Indian palace weddings include grander production by default.
What's the best time of year for a wedding in India?+
October through March is peak season — cool, dry, comfortable for outdoor events. December weddings are extremely popular (post-Diwali, pre-Christmas peak); book 18+ months ahead. April–June gets too hot for outdoor events in Rajasthan (95°F+). July–September is monsoon season; most couples avoid these months.
Do we need to be in India to plan our wedding?+
No. The full planning happens via video calls, WhatsApp, and shared documents. Site visits help — we recommend a 4–5 day visit 4–6 months before the wedding to walk the venue, taste catering, and meet the in-country coordinator. DreamWed runs the international travel side (group flights, room blocks, guest visas) and handles handoffs to the in-country coordinator who runs day-of execution.
Can guests with dietary restrictions (Jain, kosher, halal, vegan) be accommodated?+
Yes — Indian wedding catering is typically more flexible on dietary restrictions than Caribbean/Mexico catering by default. Strict vegetarian (no onion/no garlic Jain), kosher, halal, and vegan menus are routinely accommodated. We brief the catering team during planning so all dietary restrictions across your guest list are mapped to specific menu items.
