The REAL reason why Priyanka Chopra chose Jodhpur over all international destinations for her wedding to Nick Jonas

 

When people talk about Bollywood weddings that changed the way India looks at destination weddings, the Priyanka Chopra wedding to Nick Jonas is usually the first one that comes up. It had everything you’d expect from a fairytale: a global star, a pop icon husband, a royal Rajasthani palace, and enough gold and marigold to fill a dozen magazine covers.

But behind the glitter, there’s a simpler story here, about a woman who had every international destination in the world open to her and still chose to get married close to her own roots.

How Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Fell in Love

Before the wedding talk began, there was just a text message. Nick Jonas Priyanka Chopra wedding got talking after a mutual friend connected them, and what started as casual conversation over messages slowly turned into something more serious.

They met up for a drink, kept in touch during Priyanka’s shoot schedules, and within a year of dating, Nick proposed. The couple had a traditional roka ceremony at Priyanka’s Mumbai residence in August 2018, and from that point, the countdown to the big day had officially begun.

What made this pairing stand out wasn’t just the age gap people loved to talk about, or the fact that an American pop star was marrying a Bollywood actress who had already made her mark in Hollywood too. It was how quickly the two families blended into one, with Nick’s parents and brothers, including Joe Jonas and his then-fiancée Sophie Turner, becoming a familiar part of every pre-wedding photo and video.

Priyanka Nick Wedding Venue: Why Jodhpur Won Over Every International Option

Once the engagement was public, tourism boards from several countries reportedly reached out to the couple, hoping to host what was already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about weddings of the year.

Destination weddings abroad had become something of a norm among Bollywood’s biggest names by then, with couples like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, and Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, choosing Italy for their own ceremonies. Priyanka went the other way. Despite the international offers, she picked the Umaid Bhawan Palace wedding in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, a venue that sits right in the middle of her own heritage.

Priyanka has always described herself as a desi girl at heart, no matter how big her Hollywood profile grew, and this wedding felt like her way of saying that her new chapter had to begin from the place where her roots are. Her mother, Dr Madhu Chopra, echoed the same sentiment when she told reporters that Jodhpur was one of her favourite cities in the world, and that the family had chosen to bring everyone there instead of going anywhere else.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace wedding itself made the decision easy. Built in the 1940s and now run as a heritage hotel by the Taj Group, it’s one of the largest private residences in the world, with roughly 347 rooms spread across banquet halls, ballrooms, and manicured lawns that look straight out of a period film. For a couple who wanted grandeur without stepping outside India, there wasn’t really a better choice.

Priyanka Chopra Jodhpur Wedding: How the Celebrations Unfolded

The Priyanka Chopra Jodhpur Wedding wasn’t a single event, it was a run of ceremonies spread across nearly a week. Things kicked off with a puja at Priyanka’s mother’s house in Mumbai, a ritual she insisted on because she believes any new beginning should start with a blessing. From there, the couple and their families flew to Jodhpur, where the Umaid Bhawan Palace shut its doors to the public for security reasons through the first few days of December.

The mehndi and sangeet took place first, with Nick performing a medley of his own songs and Priyanka joining in with a few dance numbers of her own. A haldi ceremony followed the next morning, and a cocktail party brought both families together before the main event. Guests arrived by helicopter straight from the airport, and the palace grounds were done up with the kind of scale that only a royal property like this one can offer.

Outfits, Décor, and the Details People Still Talk About

Every outfit through the week was designed with intention. Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla handled the mehndi and sangeet looks along with parts of the decor, while the wedding planning itself was managed by Motwane Entertainment and Weddings.

Priyanka’s shoes changed with each ceremony too, from Jimmy Choo for the white wedding to a Christian Louboutin collaboration with Sabyasachi for the Hindu ceremony. Even small details, like her mehndi footwear from the label Needledust, got their own share of attention online.

Florist Havovi Readymoney took care of the flowers across all the Jodhpur functions, and the overall look leaned heavily into warm, regal tones that matched the palace’s own sandstone architecture. If you look back at photos from that week, nothing feels accidental, right down to the lighting.

The Receptions in Delhi and Mumbai

The celebrations didn’t end in Jodhpur. The couple hosted a reception at the Taj Palace in Delhi, followed by two more in Mumbai, one at JW Marriott Juhu and another at Taj Lands End.

These events brought in a wider circle of friends, colleagues, and Bollywood names who weren’t part of the smaller Jodhpur guest list. Priyanka’s mother also hosted a separate gathering for close friends and family, giving the whole celebration one more personal touch before the newlyweds settled into married life.

What the Wedding Meant for Jodhpur and Umaid Bhawan Palace

Beyond the personal side of things, the wedding turned into a genuinely big moment for Jodhpur’s tourism story. Puneet Chatwal, who heads the Indian Hotels Company, later said that the wedding alone brought in revenue equal to three months of the palace’s regular business.

International media covered the event extensively, and Umaid Bhawan Palace, already known among heritage travellers, found itself on a much bigger map after that December.

For anyone researching royal venue as Priyanka Nick wedding venue in India today, this event still comes up as a reference point, and you’ll find it mentioned across travel guides and wedding planning sites, including a detailed piece on bharatstories.com that looks at exactly why Jodhpur won out over every other option on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas get married?

They got married at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, a heritage property run by the Taj Group. The venue hosted both their Christian and Hindu wedding ceremonies along with the mehndi, sangeet, and haldi functions.

What dates did the wedding take place on?

The Christian ceremony took place on December 1, 2018, and the Hindu ceremony followed on December 2, 2018. The pre-wedding functions, including the mehndi and sangeet, started a couple of days before that.

Why did Priyanka Chopra choose Jodhpur instead of an international wedding destination?

Priyanka has always spoken about staying connected to her Indian roots, and choosing Jodhpur was her way of starting this new chapter of her life close to home. Her mother, Dr Madhu Chopra, also mentioned that Jodhpur has always been one of her favourite cities, which made the decision an easy one for the family.

What did Priyanka Chopra wear for her wedding?

She wore a custom Ralph Lauren gown for the Christian ceremony, complete with a 75-foot veil, and a Sabyasachi sari in gold and silver for the Hindu ceremony. Her mehndi and sangeet outfits were designed by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.

Did the couple host any other wedding events after Jodhpur?

Yes, they held a reception at the Taj Palace in Delhi and two more receptions in Mumbai, at JW Marriott Juhu and Taj Lands End. Priyanka’s mother also organised a smaller, more personal gathering for close friends and family.