Across the country, most wedding venues are booked on all auspicious dates till February, as many prefer getting married on these days. However, to ensure availability of venues and services and to avoid a rush on auspicious dates – especially amid the pandemic – wedding organisers, hotel chains and other stakeholders have collaborated on the ‘Har Din Shubh Hai’ campaign, to ensure that weddings remain a happy occasion and not contribute to the spread of COVID.
‘Choose other dates to get better price’
Every year, wedding planners, hotel operators, caterers, and travel agencies struggle to accommodate bookings on auspicious days, and end up turning away clients. While these days see a record number of bookings, on other days, there are hardly any bookings.
Don’t need a perfect date to marry: Wedding planners The wedding industry has been over-dependent on auspicious wedding dates, which planners are trying to change. Dakshna Moorthy N Naidu, MD, Dakshna Weddings, says, “Limited wedding dates mean a shortage of services, and companies have to turn away requests even after upping manpower. So, it’s better to select other days, which is the purpose of this movement. It’s the mindset we’re trying to change.” A wedding planner says, “Ceremonies last for three-four hours, and people don’t always wear masks indoors. Earlier, we handled multiple weddings in a day, which isn’t possible this year. So, to ensure everyone’s safety, such a concept is needed.”
Rajeev Jain, Director, Rashi Entertainment, which plans weddings, says, “Wedding planners and stakeholders have collaborated on this campaign to tell people it’s high time we get over this idea of a perfect wedding date. You don’t need a perfect date to get a perfect match. Shubh kaam karne ke liye har din shubh hai. While we won’t get immediate results, we want to normalise choosing other wedding dates in the post-COVID world, too.”
Dinesh Jhunjhwala, whose friend’s children are getting married soon, says, “One of my close friend’s daughter got married recently and they were looking to book a venue on the auspicious days, but couldn’t find the pricing they wanted.” He adds, “They discussed with the hotel and got a much better deal for the wedding on a regular date. Things are changing; this year, more couples are opting for dates other than the auspicious ones. I know several people who are choosing wedding dates according to the convenience of their friends and family, and not perfect planetary position.”
Shampa Dhali, Area Director, National Sales, Marriott Hotels India, says, “It has always been our endeavour to appeal people to opt for other dates besides the auspicious ones, but now amid the pandemic, more people are opting for these dates. We’re seeing a demand for weddings on dates other than the auspicious dates, too. For December, February and March, hotels are booked for the special dates. We’re telling families to select our available dates so that they can get a rate that suits them.”
Rohit Chopra, spokesperson and Regional Director, sales and distribution, India and south Asia, Accor, says, “We’ve seen in this wedding season that customers are hosting weddings on regular dates, too. This has helped them get the best possible packages, and hotels have been able to plug in their free dates. Hotels have responded well, and the message has been echoed across the industry with a positive impact.”
‘Many couples are getting married in next the two months without considering the auspicious dates’
Pradeep Sureka, Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce, says he knows many couples who are getting married without considering whether the day is auspicious or not. He says, “Getting married on a regular day isn’t a new concept. In fact, it is popular among NRIs or in families where kids have settled abroad, because they get leaves only during Dec-Jan, and hence there’s no other option but to organise a wedding in this period. This year, due to the pandemic, this concept is being promoted. In fact, I know a lot of couples in my family and friends circle who are getting married in the next two months without considering auspicious dates.”
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