Against all odds, the great, big Indian wedding is only getting greater and bigger. But speak to the young adults on the brink of marriage, and a surprising number of them are dreaming of something else entirely—a small, intimate wedding that feels cosy, homely, even. The challenge is that Indian weddings aren’t just about the bride and groom. They’re about two families, often quite large ones, coming together to create an even larger family, with a very long guest list. So, is it possible to have a wedding feel intimate, without it actually being small?
At Palan House, a private estate in Palaspa, about an hour from Mumbai, the answer appears to be yes. Spread across eight acres, the property includes 85,000 square feet of landscaped lawns, a private villa, a banquet hall, a glass house and more. For Arya Mehta and Raena Doshi, who got married there last year, it felt like a home away from home.
The couple had been looking for “something unique and connected to nature,” according to Doshi. They visited hotels and beautiful venues, but wanted something that felt different—not necessarily unconventional, but not the typical wedding venue either. Somewhere with greenery, and character. With lush gardens and serene architecture woven into the landscape, Palan House fit the brief.
The estate’s layout is an experience in itself. Rather than having every function unfold in the same ballroom or lawn, guests move through different parts of the property as the celebrations progress. “The bar, the food and the high tea were all in different locations. The baraat was in one area, the ceremony in a different location,” says Doshi. “Every time guests moved to the next event, they felt like they were discovering a completely new venue. It genuinely felt like a destination wedding because there was always something new to experience.”