You’ve now learned Secret #1 and Secret #2! Which means you know how to identify your target budget and allocate it appropriately as well as the importance of allowing us to help you picking the right venue for your budget and criteria!

Secret #3 | DON’T START FROM SCRATCH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS ALREADY INCLUDED

To be quite honest with you, there are so many secrets to be successful at planning your Indian destination wedding while stretching your budget! In Part 3, we share some of our top little secrets that all have to do with taking advantage of what’s already included! Let’s get to it!

Tip 1 - Leverage what comes included, then upgrade: Most resorts will offer you a complimentary basic setup. Round dining tables, high cocktail tables, white linens, silverware, a variety of glasses, chairs (sometimes even Tiffany ones), a cake table, buffet line themed decor based on the cuisine served, and more… they might not be as pretty as you imagined, but here’s the thing. The secret when planning on a tighter budget is to enhance the beauty that’s already there! Instead of renting 15 tables for say $250 each, mix and match your tables in an elegant manner. For example, take 8 of the included tables and spend an extra $50 on nicer centerpieces for those tables. Then upgrade with 7 specialty tables (perhaps mirror top squares or wooden swing tables that don’t even require extra spend on tablecloths) and go lighter on centerpieces for those tables. It’s all about taking advantage of what you already have.

Tip 2 - Speaking of taking advantage of what comes included, please don’t forget that even if you had the same budget on decor for an event in the US vs an event in Puerto Vallarta, for example, your money goes a lot further in Puerto Vallarta. Not only because each line item will be cheaper, but most importantly your event in the US will likely be in a ballroom or convention center. Your event in destination can be on the beach, where the sand looks a lot better than the carpet and the palm trees look a lot better than the stained walls. The amount you need to spend to make paradise look stunning is just not as high! Take the win and keep your events in beautiful places!

Tip 3 - It even applies to food! Many of the resorts we recommend have an Indian chef on-site and apart of the Shaadi Destinations perks, their service is likely included or deeply discounted as compared to if you went directly to the hotel or through another agency (our clients always save more money due to our unmatched volume and dedication to service). Sometimes, we have clients who are dead-set on catering or bringing their own chef. After lots of math and - in some cases - in person food tastings that blow them away, our clients learn that by taking advantage of the on-site chef, their budget will be stretched so much farther. Now, they can afford to spend more on that sunset cruise excursion for their guests or the groomsmen golf tournament before the rest of the guests arrive, etc. Don’t forget, we can always work with your resort to see if we can take the included meal, then supplement with an external restaurant to perhaps just have one live station for each event - from pani puri shots to a live tandoor naan to a pav bhaji tava, our partners in paradise have something to add just the right spice to your event!

Tip 4 - Private post-wedding lunches are a waste of your budget! We say it almost everyday when we are onboarding new clients. We know your parents are used to hosting a lunch post-wedding back home. The difference is that back home, you are trying to keep guests fed between events as they are your responsibility. In paradise, the good news is that your hosting duties are shared with the resort! With lunch included in so many resorts at various restaurants, by the beach, by the pool, and with room service, why keep people in a boring venue eating lunch when they would gladly rather take off the heavy Indian clothes, then meet up at one of the restaurants that happens to have a stunning view! If your parents still insist on a private lunch, ask us about which resorts we have negotiated with for a private buy-out of one of the specialty dining restaurants as it will be far cheaper and you won’t need to spend a dollar on decor!

Okay friends, this is all we have time for today. We promise we will be back with more! Remember you are not alone in this when you partner with Shaadi Destinations - we are after all, Your Partners in Paradise! We are here to walk this planning journey with you and hopefully make things a little easier, not only with our travel agency services but with our planning consultation program and our matchmaking process to help you find the perfect paid planner if your budget allows for it - don’t underestimate the value of a true professional not only for planning but also for on-site execution!

Shaadi Destinations is the premier, award winning, modern-day destination wedding travel agency for South Asian couples seeking a streamlined process, incredible experiences, and a party friends and family will never forget! We save our couples thousands of dollars while throwing them the wedding festivities dreams are made of. We live and breathe destination weddings - with just one consultation, you will be light years ahead in your destination wedding planning process. In less than one week, Shaadi Destinations will find you the most perfect resort that meets your needs, your budget, and your desires. With our vendor relationships and pre-negotiated exclusive perks at resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, we are confident we can find exactly what you are looking for. You'll find we have the best rates, best incentives, and best booking experience.