When it comes to choosing a wedding location, it is hard to go wrong with Varanasi, or Benaras, (also known as Kashi) which is one of the oldest living cities in the world and a place of endless beauty for those looking to celebrate their nuptials.
Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, is an enchanting city known for its timeless beauty and deep-rooted traditions and sits on the banks of the sacred Ganga River. The city’s unique charm makes it an ideal destination for weddings, especially for those seeking a blend of spirituality, grandeur, and cultural richness.
Everything about Varanasi beautifully pairs with weddings, from using its stunning scenery to make your own wedding invitation card to the venues for the ceremony and reception themselves. This guide will cover everything you need to know about planning a wedding in Varanasi and how to make the most of the spiritual, physical and cultural attractions on offer.
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Why Choose Varanasi for Your Wedding?
Varanasi offers a magical setting for weddings, combining spiritual ambiance with majestic venues. The serene ghats, the echo of morning prayers, and the timeless beauty of the Ganges create a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. Getting married in this holy city ensures that your wedding is not just an event but an immersive experience filled with blessings and cultural richness.
1. Unique Wedding Venues
Forget about the stereotyped wedding venues you see in every photo collage on social media, Varanasi goes beyond the simple parks, lakes and churches that are traditionally used for these ceremonies. Here, you can tie the knot in venues as old as humanity itself that are more picturesque than any other location on earth, including:
For brides who have always dreamed of a fairytale wedding, Varanasi’s wedding venues (a list which literally includes palaces and forts) provide a majestic setting with their grand architecture and historical significance and offer the perfect backdrop for a royal celebration. The renowned Kashi Naresh palaces are particularly popular for weddings, allowing couples to feel like royalty on their special day.
However you don’t need to have your wedding inside these exquisite buildings, you can use them as the perfect backdrop. A unique local attraction is the ghats of Varanasi, which are steps leading down to the sacred Ganges River, offer another popular option for weddings and are deeply woven into the city’s cultural and religious fabric. With around 88 ghats, each holding its own unique significance and rich history, they provide an iconic and one-of-a-kind setting for nuptials. Picture yourself exchanging vows at dawn, as the first light of the sun illuminates the Ganga, with the soothing sounds of temple bells and aarti chants in the background. The spiritual ambiance combined with the breathtaking beauty of the ghats creates a truly unforgettable experience for both the couple and their guests.
2. Bridal Sarees & Jewellery
Forget your white dresses and cliched tuxedos. No Indian wedding is complete without traditional attire, and Varanasi is famous for its exquisite Banarasi sarees. These sarees, made from pure silk handloom, are renowned for their intricate designs and luxurious feel and they come in a variety of shades, patterns, and textures, making them perfect for every wedding ceremony.
You can elevate your bridal look even further by securing bridal jewellery that’s been coordinated to match your saree and perhaps even your wider wedding theme. There are plenty of jewellers operating in Banaras that are able to do bridal wedding sets that include necklaces, earrings, anklets, headpieces, and even bangles that all match your saree.
Planning Your Wedding in Varanasi
The friendly locals in Varanasi will make your arrangements a dream and treat everyone involved like royalty. However a little local knowledge never goes astray, so here are some key aspects to consider:
1. Hiring a Wedding Planner
This is one part of your planning where you definitely want to trust a local. They know all of the secret locations, all of the local bylaws and have contacts that can allow you to have a wedding only royals dream of, on a modest budget. Use Google Reviews to seek out the wedding planners that locals trust and trust their guidance for the wedding of a lifetime.
2. Accommodation for Guests
There are all kinds of different accommodation options to suit most budgets, but timing is everything in Varanasi. November, December, January and February are the peak months which means you may want to book early to avoid disappointment. On top of this, the Monsoon Season runs from July to October so you do run the risk of cloudy skies and heavy rain.
3. Cultural Practices and Rituals
This is not only important to get an authentic experience, but to ensure harmony with the locals and cultural practices that are as old as time itself. However this also presents an opportunity to tap into this rich cultural tapestry and choose from numerous rituals and practices that can be included in your ceremonies. For instance, the traditional Ganga Aarti can be a beautiful addition to your wedding festivities, providing a spiritual start to your new journey together.
4. Food and Cuisine
This is the part where you can get really excited. Forget about the boring buffets and bain maries that are found at most weddings, here you can arrange an authentic local feast that is going to delight all of the senses. The city offers a variety of vegetarian dishes, influenced by both North Indian and Bengali cuisines. Make sure to include local delicacies such as Kachori Sabzi, Banarasi Paan and traditional sweets like Malaiyyo and Lassi. Catering services in Varanasi can provide a diverse menu that satisfies all taste buds.
5. Legal Requirements
Remember, some local laws and customs may be different to what you are used to, so familiarising yourself with them is essential so there are no unexpected hiccups along the way. Ensure that you complete all legal requirements for getting married in Varanasi. This includes registering your marriage and obtaining any necessary permits for your chosen venue. A local wedding planner can assist with these details, ensuring that all paperwork is in order.
So don’t just dream about a fairytale wedding that is fit for royalty, make it happen. Varanasi opens its arms to guests from all over the world every year and you can make your treasured day truly one to remember on the banks of the Ganges with some of the world’s oldest palaces as your backdrop. Go on, you deserve it.
