The new year has brought with it a dash of hope—especially for all those who had to revisit their plans to say ‘I do’ last year. As we begin the new year with a new-found optimism, brides and grooms across the country are set to plan their nuptials, of course, while following safety precautions. It’s that time of the year when couples are looking for convenient dates, picturesque venues, locking in their budgets, and flipping through wedding-related content on social media. And to make this process easier, Weddingz.in shared the ultimate 2021 wedding calendar and guide for couples zeroing in on the perfect date and location for their special day. Scroll down to read all about it!

1. Flower Power

Indian Wedding By IVASHstudio | www.shutterstock.com
Indian Wedding By IVASHstudio | www.shutterstock.com

The best time to plan an outdoor wedding is between January and March, in what is the Indian equivalent of spring. The weather is pleasant, and the sunlight won’t be too harsh on your guests, nor for the picture-perfect posts for Instagram! Consider a beachside, rooftop, or alfresco setting, a grand palace perhaps, or an imposing haveli? Maybe even the backyard of a friend’s farmhouse could be the location of a lifetime! These open spaces make for an exciting canvas and you can DIY the décor to make the place your own.

If you’re looking for an intimate affair, then destinations like Goa, Udaipur, and Jaipur are lovely spots that make for the best wedding locations during this season. For instance, Valentine’s day falls on a Sunday this year, so plan a weekend around celebrating love, or save the dates around Holi since it makes for a long weekend of celebrations. It’s an ideal time to plan a two or three-day-long event with your closest family and friends away from the city.

2. Inside Outside

Indian Wedding By IVASHstudio | www.shutterstock.com
Indian Wedding By IVASHstudio | www.shutterstock.com

To prevent melting in the scorching heat in India between April to June, book a large indoor venue with air conditioning that has enough space to include all the ceremonies. Hotel banquets might offer all-inclusive facilities within a package and will be able to accommodate all your guests and their needs.

Resorts on the outskirts of your city, or in hill stations like Lonavala, and Mussoorie, or even the Jim Corbett National Park make for beautiful spots in the summer in spite of the heat. This quarter has a host of auspicious dates for Hindu weddings: April 22 to 30 will be considered the most opportune, while June 3, 4, 5, 20, 22, 23, and 24 will also be deemed favourable. Some auspicious dates that could turn into long weekend celebrations are between May the 13 and 14; May 21 to 24; or even May 26, 28, 29 and 30.

3. Monsoon Wedding

Monsoon Wedding By rohitnair.photos | www.shutterstock.com
Monsoon Wedding By rohitnair.photos | www.shutterstock.com

The rains in India are entirely unpredictable. Whether it’s welcome showers or dangerous inundations, couples have always had to take extra precautions while planning a wedding between July and September. If you want to skirt the weather, opt for destinations in areas likely to receive less rainfall. But for those who associate the rains with romance and would love to recreate an old-worldly, Bollywood-ish charm, find venues that are placed at a height, maybe on a hilltop surrounded by vineries or maybe a tea garden, of course with a strong shelter, away from areas that get flooded quickly. However, the safest option would be to conduct all ceremonies indoors to avoid the sudden downpour that could wash away all your preparations and to pick a venue that is convenient to get to through multiple modes of transport.

Embrace the cinematic mise-en-scène this season has to offer at places such as Kovalam, Alleppey, Goa, Lonavala, and Udaipur. If you want to offset your guests’ grumblings about the weather with how auspicious the timing is, dates in July – 1, 2, 7, 13, and 15 – would be your best bet. But if you’re not too bothered with that, this season is great to avail discounts on venues and other wedding services. You can plan for intimate weddings at an exotic location this season on weekends like July 17 to 18, August 28 to 29, and September 11 to 12.

4. Winter Wonderland

Winter Wedding By Nishant Jha | www.shutterstock.com
Winter Wedding By Nishant Jha | www.shutterstock.com

From October to December, we expect to see relatively big, fat Indian weddings make a comeback. This season would be your safest bet if you wish to have a big guest list and you’re hoping most guests will be vaccinated to celebrate your big day. With the lovely weather, and hopefully a safer time, these months are when you can plan a grand affair either indoors or outdoors. Keeping with that theme, Kochi, Ooty, Alibaug, Agra, and Jaipur will be stunning and comfortable locations for a winter wedding in India.

For this season, pick an auspicious date while tapping into everyone’s festive spirit from Diwali (November 15) to December 15.

The news of the vaccine has made optimism infectious this year. So grab a pen, a coffee, your partner’s hand, and get planning soon before your favourite venues get booked for the year. For a one-stop-shop solution, you could also check out Weddingz.in’s offerings for services across the board—right from venue booking, wedding planners, caterers, decor, DJ, makeup-artists, band-baaja, choreographers, transport, priest/pandits, among others.

Follow @missmalinilifestyle for more updates.