Here’s how a bridal retreat sets the stage for a bride’s journey into matrimony

The days and months before getting married can be termed as fast-paced and chaotic for a bride. But it’s important for Bridezillas to feel like Bridechillas. Enter bridal retreats. These can play an instrumental role in the larger scheme of things as they not only provide brides-to-be with the practical knowledge and tools needed for wedding planning, but also create a space for personal growth and empowerment. 

Ekta Shah, the founder of House Of Eekkta, hosted ‘Here Comes The Bride’, India’s inaugural bridal retreat, which was nothing short of a game-changer. Over three days (September 9-11), the event, held amid the splendor of ITC WelcomHotel Khimsar Fort & Dunes in Rajasthan, brought together 50 brides-to-be from diverse backgrounds and traditions.

Brides Today, spoke to Shah to know why bridal retreats are the need of the hour, what one can expect there, and what's in store in the months to come.

Why the wedding industry and brides-to-be need a bridal retreat 

Having worked with brides for more than two decades, Shah realised that there exists a huge gap in a woman’s bridal journey. “When you look at the industry (wedding), you’d see that only shopping, exhibits, pop-ups, and wedding planning are being offered. But there have been no attempts to build a sisterhood or a community, specially designed for brides-to-be, especially considering India is home to one of the world’s biggest wedding industries. There isn’t anything dedicated to their journey—transforming them from a Miss to Mrs.” 

So, what does a bridal retreat entail? “They’re planned in such a way that they go over and above the fun, shopping, creating your D-day look, and making the day really special,” says Shah. The dots are connected when one thinks about it as a girl might have a beautiful wedding, but feel completely lost when they begin this journey. 

A bridal retreat helps build a community that inspires them and helps them via expert talks and resources provided to them over the course of experiential workshops, styling master classes, and personalised guidance.

Types of workshops and classes at a bridal retreat 

There are a lot of individual courses—think make-up master class, table styling, home decor, etiquette schools—that are specially designed for brides-to-be. A bridal retreat focuses on their mental well-being. For instance, a meditation session, an expert talk on legal aspects of a marriage like the Indian family law system, or a session with an intimacy coach, all of which play an instrumental role in helping girls smoothly navigate their wedding journey.

As far as the ‘Here Comes The Bride’ retreat goes, there was a jewellery customisation session which the brides loved, a discussion on sexual wellness products, bridal make-up sessions with renowned skin experts, counselling sessions, a sound healing session, must-know bridal secrets talk, and panel discussions on curating a dream wedding, among others that were incredibly well-received and garnered significant interest. 

Creating a community of sisterhood

It’s one thing to experience all the above-mentioned classes in isolation and another to enjoy and learn with other brides-to-be and be part of the journey together. Shah says, “It’s like you’re going to a class. You’re learning different things, but have the same end goal. It's nice that despite the girls' different conditioning and backgrounds, they are all going through the almost same thing and phases. It’s not that your friend or girl gang won’t know what you’re going through, but here everyone is in the same boat.” 

The importance of the location

Rajasthan was the chosen destination for a reason. Shah says, “We wanted to start with something royal that touches our roots and culture, and makes the girls feel like the queens that they are. Their experience at the dunes, the dessert, and the 500-year-old fort brought out the essence of the location at its best.”

As far as what’s next? “We're already in the early stages of planning our next retreat, which promises to be even more impactful. There are a host of other destination wedding spots that will make a bride wish she got married there. We’re talking Goa, South India, and across the country. Additionally, we're exploring partnerships and collaborations to reach more brides and continue on our mission of creating confident, empowered brides, who are ready to embrace their happily ever afters.”

Image credit (all images): Camlition Production