The wonderland of Kerala weddings is booming and how!

Couples pushing the boundaries of tradition, exchanging vows atop cliffs overlooking the sea or immersing themselves in Avatar-inspired wonderlands complete with lush greenery and mystical creatures. The traditional weddings in the state, which were very minimalistic, have now given way to celebrations that span three-four days with elaborate ceremonies like Mehendi, Haldi, and Sangeeth, which are very common in North India and not common in Kerala. Confirming the trend, Raja Gopal Iyer, CEO of UDS Hotel Group, said that the celebrations in destination weddings spread to three-four days, and the local population has also taken to destination weddings, even though in a smaller format. Joel John, CEO of Rainmaker Events, a Kochi-based destination wedding planner, told The New Indian Express that Malayalis are evolving to include experiential events in traditional weddings,inspired by the grand weddings they've seen elsewhere. Experiential celebrations Couples are going the extra mile to make the moment special and memorable with celebrations that are immersive, interactive, and engaging, where participants can experience and enjoy the celebration in a hands-on way, says Kishore, who has conducted weddings on a floating jankar in Ashtamudi Lake and atop precarious cliffs overlooking the sea in Varkala.