DWP Congress debuts in India with 350-plus planners from 70 countries

The 17th Destination Wedding Planners Congress held its first India edition in Udaipur from Oct. 6-8, drawing more than 350 attendees from over 70 countries. The event mixed business meetings with staged royal experiences to position India as a destination wedding hub.

Why it matters: - The India debut put Udaipur in front of a global destination wedding audience at a time when planners are looking for new locations, suppliers and premium experiences. - The congress paired business development with destination marketing, giving India a high-visibility platform to sell its heritage, hospitality and wedding infrastructure.

What happened: - The 17th edition of the Destination Wedding Planners Congress took place from Oct. 6-8 at Fairmont Udaipur Palace. - The event was held in India for the first time. - More than 350 attendees from over 70 countries attended. - QnA International organized the congress. - Fairmont Udaipur Palace served as the official Host Palace Partner.

The details: - The opening included “Padharo Sa,” a welcome inspired by the Rajasthani phrase “Padharo Mhare Desh.” - The Welcome Night at Chand Baori was themed “Ritual Reimagined: The Haldi Glow – Sunkissed by the Timelessness of Turmeric.” - FB Celebrations created the Welcome Night program around haldi rituals, music, dance, color and food. - The Wedding Design Company shaped the event’s visual identity. - The Congress meetings were held on Oct. 7 and 8 in the Jewel Ballroom. - The agenda centered on curated one-to-one B2B meetings between planners, destinations, hospitality groups and specialist brands. - The Beautiful Gala, curated by Tamarind Global, moved delegates through a royal “Baraat” procession to the Lotus Pond and then to the Jashn Lawn. - The gala was billed as “The Royal Night Out – A Regal Wilderness Experience Beneath the Aravalli Skies.” - The closing party took place at Jag Mandir Palace, managed by Taj. - Absolute Events curated the final-night celebration, “The After Party: One World, One Celebration.” - The program featured Lake Pichola, the Aravalli Hills and Rajasthan’s palace setting throughout the three days.

Between the lines: - The event was designed to make India part showcase, part marketplace: a destination experience for guests and a sales platform for suppliers. - The repeated emphasis on ritual, royalty and local heritage suggests a deliberate push to distinguish India from competing wedding destinations. - The strong international turnout points to sustained global demand for cross-border wedding planning and luxury event sourcing.

What’s next: - Participants left Udaipur with new business contacts, potential destination partnerships and ideas for future events in India. - The success of the first India edition could position the country for more large-scale wedding industry gatherings. - Organizers and host partners are likely to use the 2026 edition as a proof point for future promotion of India as a destination wedding market.

The bottom line: - DWP Congress used Udaipur’s royal backdrop to turn an industry conference into a global showcase for India’s destination wedding appeal.