Brides, grooms, the bride’s father, the groom’s mother and assorted relatives are chosen from among the tourist party itself, who are then dressed in Indian finery, says Bhasin, who runs the show with her sister Vinita Kohli. Most often, real life couples, either married or about-to marry, are chosen as bride and groom. “The venue, often a hall in the five-star hotel where the tourist group is staying is decorated with a proper mandap, havan and stage for the ‘married’ couple. Then there’s the baraat, with the groom on horseback and Bhangra dancers leading the way. The band plays the latest Bollywood hits while fireworks light the sky,” says Bhasin. Apart from the number of goras in attendance, even a seasoned Indian wedding-goer would mistake these mock affairs to be the real thing. Especially since there’s a pandit in attendance, who mumbles authentic mantras aided by a translator. The ceremony is wrapped up with a sumptuous dinner—yet another staple of Indian nuptials.

“Earlier Russians dominated the foreign tourist profile and they would really enjoy these mock ceremonies. Nowadays, the visitors come from all over. Our last mock wedding was on 3 December for a group of Spanish tourists,” says Bhasin.

In the past three decades, nothing has changed except the show and shine of these weddings that have become more ornate and lavish in keeping with the times. Kohli says they offer a gamut of choices to their foreign guests, from simple weddings to regal Rajasthani affairs to Mughal era marriages and sometimes, even a combination of different styles. “The grandeur depends on the budget and a wedding with the basic trappings comes for Rs 1.5 lakh,” says Kohli. The budget, as with normal weddings, decides the grandeur and if the price is high enough, a “mock” groom can arrive for the ceremony on an elephant instead of a horse. “Unfortunately, nowadays elephants are barred at places like Connaught Place. In some areas, there are even restrictions on the type of fireworks. But inside the venue, we keep the exotica effect high by having mehendiwalis, pagriwalas and churiwalas,” says Bhasin. Talk about creating the right ambience for brilliant photographs and happy memories.