With the world opening up to international travel, we all are excited to feel the love and spirit of destination weddings all over again. Couples, planners and wedding vendors from all across the globe have started planning again and we hear wedding bells already from some of the most romantic destinations globally from Los Cabos to Greece to Dubai. We all crave to travel and get back into the vibe of celebrating and getting the feels of destination weddings.
But arranging a destination wedding certainly looks different now — it will take far more finesse during and after the pandemic.
To understand this better, we met with Planner Extraordinaire Rahul Kumar, Founder of Vivaah Celebrations & Megha Kewlani, COO of Vivaah Celebrations and explored how planning a wedding abroad might look post-lockdown. Here are some golden nuggets from the interview exclusively on DWP Insider!
Vivaah Celebrations is an award-winning wedding planning agency based in Dubai specializing in Indian weddings abroad and meticulously delivering top-notch events worldwide. With Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah Governments supporting weddings under strict guidelines and measures, the Vivaah Celebrations team has already executed some amazing destination weddings for couples in the last couple of months.
Step out of the Fears; Step into the Magic – There is no denying that the last year has been quite challenging for the events industry, especially for wedding celebrations. The resilient have stood strong and pivoted while many others have sadly crumbled. It’s all in the mindset and actions you take in such a time that defines the future of our business.
“Evolution is key here. In our organization, we have re-structured and evolved with refined leadership where we walk the talk and deliver on our promises. While the danger may not have completely subsided, governments around the world are working their best to combat and neutralize the crisis on hand. The Show Must Go On! With this in view, we have seen a lot many couples continuing their wedding planning in anticipation of better times around the corner and we truly salute their optimism and spirit. We highlight a few important points to note when planning in such times.”
Good To Be Planned; Better To Be Prepared
“The undying human spirit has time and again shown that in times of crisis, we haven’t given up and have begun planning. We have seen that our clients have not stopped planning for their big day. In fact, we have signed up for a lot more weddings for the upcoming season. Wedding celebrations will continue to exist. Families are accepting and understanding of the fact that there may be new norms that they will respect.
We strongly recommend that all plans be in place and ready to execute when the situation permits. On the same note, it is best to be mentally prepared that there may be a need to re-schedule dates or downsize the guest list should there be any limitations to a full-fledged celebration. It is promising to see that venues are sold out on preferred dates with new wedding inquiries. This goes to show the willingness of people to bounce back, celebrate and rejoice in better times.”
Professional Support
Planning a wedding is tricky at the best of times, let alone an overseas wedding during COVID! Wedding planners will have the expertise to help you plan a wedding abroad and can assist in researching the legalities, documentation, research and restrictions.
They will ensure that there are no violations: A wedding planner is needed now more than ever to deal with carefully written out contracts, clauses that protect the client and the fine print that needs to be reviewed thoroughly. Clients need all the professional support in such times to ensure there is no violations pre, during or post events.
Maintain equilibrium: During an event, families and friends are so overwhelmed with all the celebrations around them that they may lose control of participating within the set parameters. A professional company should be in a position to maintain the equilibrium to avoid any violations or unnecessary disruptions.
Help with refunds: In the event of any contract cancellations, a professional team should be able to request and process refunds or credit for their clients. It brings a huge sense of comfort and confidence when you have a professional team by your side.
Spark Positivity
The power of positive talks is seriously undermined. We attract what we put out there in the universe. Sharing this profound sentiment, Megha rightly highlights the importance of being optimistic.”We all need to believe that the world will one day become fully operational. Giving up is not an option. Our attitude has to change from ‘waiting for the moment to ‘creating the moment.’ Planners and event professionals need to speak positively and be optimistic to spark a change in viewpoints and the client’s thought process.”
You’re Not Alone
#inittogether – If one thing that is sure in these uncertain times is that we all are in this together. Together, we faced the pandemic and together we shall rise above it. In the end, love conquers all, isn’t it?
“We can tell you first-hand from experience that couples haven’t stopped planning. If any client is hesitant, they need to be informed that contrary to what they may believe, there is a lot of activity out there. Preferred venues are being booked out and dates to some of the best planners, event professionals and entertainers are running out. This is great news for our industry in hope and anticipation that celebrations will continue albeit with new stipulations and guidelines.”
Celebrate Responsibly
There will be celebrations. There has to be a celebration. It keeps the human spirit alive. But remember, the coronavirus has not been eliminated. Conveying this caring sense of responsibility, Rahul shares – “We urge and request all planners, event professionals and clients to act responsibly when celebrations are back in action. Together, we can help the industry revive and thrive. It is our responsibility to educate our clients and re-align them should we see something out of place. It is extremely important to responsibly manage everyone’s expectations and create an unforgettable memorable celebration while respecting the laws and limitations.”
Being awarded the best Indian wedding organizers in Dubai & UAE and with over a decade of experience in destination & luxury weddings, the team led by Rahul Kumar at Vivaah Celebrations has been synonymous with some of the most remarkable weddings globally. With their bespoke details, attention to detail and global approach, they turn every event into a sensational experience.
Wedding planning can be very overwhelming. If you have no idea where to begin and the right steps to take, book them right here and let all your worries fly away!
Website: www.vivaahcelebrations.com
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