Concerning wedding tourism, Hungary is one of the world’s most popular places to tie the know not only for “ordinary” foreign couples but also for billionaires. Wealthy Indian, Vietnamese, and Chinese sweethearts come to Budapest to say ‘Yes’ because even their well-travelled relatives can experience something new. Budapest and Hungary are on the world’s top for luxury weddings.
Chinese, Indians, and Vietnamese come to tie the knot in Budapest, Hungary
Turizmus.com asked multiple players in the sector about their experience of how Budapest and Hungary became a world hot spot for foreign weddings. Nóra Kisfaludy-Tóbel, the CEO of Cinderella’s Day Ltd., said their first foreign contracts were from Anglosaxon countries. Later, Scandinavians joined the ‘club’, and from 2012-2013, Indians discovered the beauties of Hungary and Budapest.
She said Budapest and the country can offer new experiences for even the wealthy Indians. Hungary has a high ‘wow’ factor, she highlighted. Furthermore, Budapest’s rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage and world heritage sites are highly praised by couples from China, Hongkong, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Indian luxury wedding in the Buda Castle. Photo: Badal Raja Company
Here are the most popular places in Budapest
Couples and their guests regularly spend at least two but regularly 3-4 nights in the city. The venue is Budapest, but there are exceptions. In those cases, the families choose the wine region of Etyek, Lake Balaton or some of our renewed castles. In Budapest, the most popular places are the Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Castle of Vajdahunyad in the City Park, and the Museum of Kiscell (3rd district).
Sometimes there is a demand for traditional Hungarian programs (e.g. equestrian shows), but traditional local ruin pubs and panoramic places are much more popular. Danube boats are not among the target places for the wedding party, but reception parties often take place on their board.
Hungary competing with Portugal, Thailand
Nóra Kisfaludy-Tóbel said Hungary competes with countries like Portugal, Thailand and Spain concerning huge foreign weddings, and our biggest disadvantage is the lack of suitable venues. Meanwhile, Portugal has many places able to welcome even 4-500 guests near the seashore.
Photo: Stuti Tank
She said it is easier to meet the needs of the German or Scandinavian guests. Meanwhile, Asians regularly have several last-minute bids, and they usually cannot tell exactly how many guests they expect. Anglo-Saxons begin to organise the big event 1.5-2 years ahead, while Indians show up 6-8 months before the date.
Mega Indian luxury weddings in Budapest
We wrote about the first huge Indian wedding organised in Budapest in THIS article. We could take part in the magnificent event during which the son of one of the most important Indian families tied the knot in the Buda Castle. Do not forget to check out our exclusive ceremony photos at the end of the article.
Turizmus.com mentioned another wedding concerning one of the most important Indian families in the diamond industry. The wedding took place this May, organised by Liberty Hungary, a travel agency, and the above-mentioned Cinderella’s Day Ltd.
Everybody loves Budapest. Source: depositphotos.com
The number of guests reached 650, and they started to organise it in November 2023. Among the unusual needs, there was an Indian international chef and his team, an air show in the Lázár Lovaspark, stylists, hairdressers, performers, musicians from India, and even a white horse in front of the Four Seasons Budapest Hotel.
New horizons for tourism
Katalin Újbányai, the CEO of Liberty Hungary, said the costs could reach even billions of forints. However, such events could give a significant boost to Hungary’s tourism and economy.
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