With destination weddings continuing to evolve into immersive, cross-cultural experiences, Arabia Weddings is set to host an exclusive Wedding Planner FAM Trip across two of India’s most iconic wedding destinations—Jaipur and Udaipur.
Curated in partnership with Accor, the four-night experience from March 26–30, 2026 will bring together a select group of international wedding planners to explore Rajasthan’s luxury hospitality landscape. The itinerary highlights renowned properties under the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Raffles Hotels & Resorts portfolio, offering a deep dive into venues designed for both grand-scale celebrations and ultra-exclusive weddings.
In an exclusive interaction with EVENTFAQS Media, Samar Shawareb, Founder and CEO of Arabia Weddings, she shares insights into the vision, strategy, and impact of this initiative.
Q. What is the core vision behind this Wedding Planner FAM Trip to Rajasthan, and what role is Arabia Weddings playing in shaping and driving this initiative?
The core vision centers on empowerment and professional expansion. In 2025, we took a strategic step to formalize our FAM trip program by launching a dedicated platform and website, Weddings FAM Trips, to manage these high-level experiences. Since then, we have successfully led groups of event planners to destinations like Thailand, Oman, Bahrain, and Ras Al Khaimah.
At its heart, this initiative helps our community of wedding professionals and members move beyond their traditional boundaries. By providing them with direct exposure and high-level connections, we enable them to grow their businesses and offer more diverse, global solutions. For the Rajasthan trip, Arabia Weddings is serving a very focused segment: planners who specialize in grand Indian weddings. We are the bridge helping them reconnect with the latest luxury developments in Jaipur and Udaipur, ensuring they have the on-ground confidence to execute complex, multi-day celebrations.
Q. Is this your first FAM trip of this kind in India, or have you curated similar experiences in the past across other destinations?
This Rajasthan journey is our first deep-dive into India, but Arabia Weddings has curated and participated in many high-level FAM trips over the years. Our expertise is built on a global foundation, having explored the wedding infrastructure of destinations like Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Switzerland and many more. Travels to over 60 countries further back this expertise, providing a unique lens through which to evaluate what makes a destination truly “wedding-ready.”
Q. How are you navigating travel logistics amid the current geopolitical situation, and how has the scenario impacted the industry?
In the current climate, we remain vigilant, flexible, and positive. Our approach is defined by clear, constant communication with all our delegates and partners to ensure everyone feels secure and informed. While we are sensitive to the evolving scenario, our role is to provide stable leadership and reliable alternatives. We navigate logistics proactively, prioritizing transparency to maintain confidence among planners and their clients.
Q. Why was Rajasthan chosen as the focus for this FAM trip? What makes cities like Jaipur and Udaipur stand out?
For this mission, we are collaborating exclusively with Accor to showcase their remarkable luxury lifestyle portfolio. We chose this focus because Accor’s luxury properties in Jaipur and Udaipur offer a level of discovery that surprises even the most seasoned wedding planners. Properties such as the recently opened Raffles Jaipur and the magnificent Fairmont Udaipur Palace offer the grand scale and “Quiet Opulence” that high-net-worth clients demand. From the intimate, palace-style sanctuary of Raffles to the legendary event spaces of Fairmont, Accor’s luxury services and infrastructure are unmatchable.
Q. Could you tell us more about the wedding planners who are part of this journey? What was the selection criteria?
The primary criterion for all our FAM trips is the likelihood of the nominated wedding planner will book a wedding at that destination or property – it has to be a “win-win,” ensuring the trip benefits both the venues and the planners. We are aiming for 10 companies, primarily based in Dubai – some have their original offices in India, while others are purely Dubai-based. Unfortunately, some delegates in Qatar are no longer able to join us due to current flight restrictions, but the group remains a powerhouse of industry influence.
Q. How important are immersive, on-ground experiences like FAM trips in influencing destination wedding decisions today?
In an era of digital saturation, on-ground experience is everything. A planner cannot sell a “feeling” from a brochure or website; they need to experience it to recommend it with conviction. Experiencing the local culture firsthand helps with communication with the couple and provides vital inspiration and creativity. When a planner understands the soul of a destination – its rituals, its flavors, and its pace – they can design a celebration that feels deeply personal. We absolutely plan to expand this initiative to other premier destinations around the world and are currently in discussions with several ones.
Q. Beyond venue showcases, what kind of experiences have you curated to give planners a holistic understanding of Rajasthan?
We always incorporate experiences into our programs that serve different purposes. Some are for team-building among the group to strengthen B2B relationships, which is vital for growth and development. More importantly, the goal is to experience the culture and tradition; in Rajasthan, this includes city tours of both Jaipur and Udaipur. Over the years, we have taken our delegates on boat rides, zip-lining in adventure parks, and indulged them in immersive experiences like painting, cocktail-making, and cooking classes. These “Sensory Touchpoints” give planners the authentic insights needed to craft a complete guest journey.
Q. How do you see collaborations like these impacting cross-border wedding business?
For these FAM trips to be successful, we believe in a strategic partnership model built on three pillars: Tourism Boards, Hotel Chains (like our collaboration with Accor), and local wedding planners who have the vision to showcase their destination. In all cases, the partners must be visionary to see the long-term value of these programs. By bringing these stakeholders together with our curated group of planners, we are creating a high-trust ecosystem. As we grow into a truly global platform, these collaborations provide our network with the reliable channels they need to suggest destinations with absolute confidence, establishing a permanent bridge where grand vision meets unmatched hospitality.
