Mumbai, 24th September 2025 – At the opening session of the International Congress for Wedding Futures (ICWF) 2025, titled “Sacred Backdrops, Soulful Vows”, industry leaders united around a bold vision: transforming India’s temple towns into epicentres of sustainable, spiritual wedding experiences.
The panel, featuring Shri Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni (Founder, Temple Connect), Shri Chetan Vohra (Wedding Line), Tanuja Pandey (Tourism Advisor, Maharashtra), and Rakhi Kankariya (Rachnostav Weddings), highlighted the growing trend of Millennial and Gen Z couples opting for temple weddings, seeking deeper cultural and spiritual connections. The session was moderated by Roshan Abbas.
“Indian temples don’t just represent history—they embody spirituality,” said Shri Kulkarni, aligning his message with Prime Minister Modi’s “Wed in India” vision. He emphasized the huge economic opportunity this shift presents for domestic tourism, hospitality, and local economies.
ICWF’s co-founder Samit Garg—also President of EEMA—has been a key advocate for enabling policy changes that make temple complexes viable wedding venues.
“Temple weddings can become symbols of India’s soft power, combining culture, commerce, and community,” he said.
Key Highlights:
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80+ speakers gathered for the 3-day event, Asia’s largest wedding industry congregation.
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Focus on heritage-led, sustainable, and authentic luxury weddings.
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Temple towns proposed as alternatives to international palace/castle weddings.
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Call to action for infrastructure investment in temple regions to balance tradition with modern convenience.
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Reinforces ICWF’s legacy as a think-tank for the global wedding business and a leader in wedding industry transformation.
The session concluded with a resounding consensus: India’s temples are not just sacred they’re the future of destination weddings rooted in meaning, heritage, and national pride.