Will our elders manage a destination wedding?

One of the first worries families raise when we discuss a wedding in Udaipur is whether grandparents and older relatives will manage. Palaces have steps, havelis have narrow staircases and the rituals run long. With planning, almost every elder can enjoy the whole wedding.

We start by listing every guest over 70, and anyone with limited mobility, by name. For each, we ask about stairs, walking distance, diet, medicines and whether they need a companion. This list shapes the room plan: ground-floor rooms close to the event spaces, rooms with a walk-in shower where available and a room for a carer if needed. In older havelis without lifts, we book elders in a nearby hotel with step-free access instead.

At every venue, we check the route from the car to the seats. Where there are steps, we arrange temporary ramps, a wheelchair and two staff to help, and mark a drop-off point right at the entrance. Elders get reserved chairs with backrests, close to the mandap but out of the direct sun and the smoke of the havan. We plan rest breaks between events, and keep a quiet room with water, tea and simple food at each venue.

We also brief the family on the timings, so elders know when they are needed and can rest otherwise. A local doctor is on call for the three days, and we know the nearest hospital route from each venue. With these small steps, grandparents are usually the last to leave the sangeet.