Indian Couples Host Tourists at their Weddings
The next time you attend a wedding in India, don’t be surprised if you see a few tourists there, enjoying food and drinks with all the invited guests.
A startup called JoinMyWedding.com is offering travelers an opportunity to experience firsthand the spectacle of an Indian wedding.
“You get to experience all the different cultural elements in one go: meet with local people, taste the local cuisine, dress in Indian attire, music, ambiance, entertainment, learn about the local customs, even architecture, depending on wedding venue,” the startup’s co-founder Orsi Parkanyi told CNN.
Parkanyi wondered if there was a way for people to experience weddings from other cultures without relying on personal invitations. Would couples be willing to open their weddings to strangers?
“We looked at different countries and India seemed the best option, because people there are really open to open up their wedding,” Parkanyi said.Through her website, a visitor can pay $150 for a one-day wedding experience or $250 for two or more days. The experience includes food, drinks and guidance from a wedding guest selected by the couple.
Namrata Nataraj and her partner had six visitors from Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand at their Bengaluru wedding.
“We were thrilled,” Nataraj told CNN. “The two of us didn’t get to interact with them a lot because we were busy, but my friends and my cousins who were taking care of them were with them constantly.”
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Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge.
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