Banquet halls & wedding venues in Ahmedabad

Banquet halls in Ahmedabad: what you'll find

Ahmedabad has a venue for almost every size of wedding, and they fall into four groups.

Banquet halls are the most searched-for choice. They are indoors, usually air-conditioned, and most come with their own kitchen or a tied-up caterer. They suit receptions, engagements, sangeets and smaller weddings, and they work in the summer heat.

Party plots are large open grounds hired for the night, often with a small hall, rooms for the families and parking. They suit big weddings with a mandap, a stage and long food counters, and they're the usual place for a garba or dandiya raas night. Many are along SP Ring Road, near Vaishnodevi Circle and in Bodakdev.

Hotels offer ballrooms, lawns and rooms for out-of-town guests in one place, which helps when relatives fly in from abroad or other states.

Resorts outside the city, in areas like Sanand, Dahegam, Bareja and Hathijan, suit couples who want a weekend with everyone in one place.

Banquet hall or party plot?

A party plot gives you space and the open sky. A garba night with hundreds of people dancing needs room, and so does a long buffet. The trade-off is the weather. From about March, afternoons get very hot, and even winter afternoons can be warm in the sun, so most outdoor functions start after sunset. In the monsoon, an open plot needs a covered backup.

A banquet hall is easier to control. It's cool, it's quieter for speeches and rituals, and rain doesn't matter. It may limit your guest count and the size of a garba circle, so ask how many people the hall really holds for dancing, not just seated dinner.

Many families mix both: a hall for the griha shanti, mameru or reception, and a party plot for the garba night and the wedding.

Wedding venues in Ahmedabad by area

These are general patterns, so always check the venue itself.

• SG Highway, Bodakdev, Thaltej and Prahlad Nagar: banquet halls, hotels and party plots on the west side.
• SP Ring Road and Vaishnodevi Circle: large party plots and banquet halls with lawns.
• Chandkheda and Ghatlodia: banquet halls on the north side.
• Lal Darwaja and Maninagar: hotels and halls in the older parts of the city, close to many family homes.
• Sanand, Dahegam, Bareja and Hathijan: resorts outside the city, where guests can stay over.

Food, music and the house rules

Most Ahmedabad weddings serve vegetarian food, and many families need Jain dishes made without onion, garlic or root vegetables. Ask whether the venue's kitchen can cook a separate Jain menu, and whether you can bring your own caterer if not.

Music is the other point. India's noise rules ban loudspeakers outdoors from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., so a garba night on an open plot needs careful timing. Ask the venue what time outdoor music must stop.

Questions to ask the venue

• Is the date free, and does the price change on auspicious dates and weekends?
• Is catering in-house only? Can your kitchen make a Jain menu?
• How many people can dance garba in the space at once?
• What time must outdoor music stop?
• Are there rooms for the families to get ready?
• Is there a covered backup for rain, and shade or cooling for warm evenings?
• How much parking is there, and who manages it?
• How much is the advance, and what happens if we change the date?

When to book

The cool months from about November to February are the busiest in Ahmedabad. Many families avoid certain periods in the calendar, so check the dates your family follows: the weeks around those periods are in demand, and the best halls and plots go early. Uttarayan, the kite festival in mid-January, is also a big holiday in the city. If your date is fixed, book the venue first and build the rest around it.

What affects the cost

• Type of venue: party plots and halls usually cost less than hotels and resorts.
• How it charges: per plate, a fixed hire for the plot, or a package.
• Date: auspicious dates and winter weekends are in demand.
• Guest count and menu: the number of plates, Jain dishes and live counters.
• Extras: decor, lighting, sound, generator and fees for outside vendors.
• Location: hotels and large plots in sought-after areas tend to cost more.

Ask each venue what its quote includes.