The intervention of President Ramnath Kovind saved the wedding plans of a foreign national at a luxury hotel in Kerala which otherwise would have been dashed.
US national Ashley Hall had planned her wedding at a five-star hotel in Kochi on Tuesday about eight months in advance. But a couple of days back the hotel authorities informed her that the wedding plans need to be reworked. The reason, security for President who will be staying overnight on his way to Lakshadweep.
Sometimes you plan a destination wedding for 8 months at an elite hotel in India.
— Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 4, 2020
Sometimes the President of India makes an impromptu trip to that hotel on the day of the wedding.
Sometimes you get 48 hours notice to plan an entirely new wedding.
A much embarrassed Ahsley voiced her concern on Twitter, tagging @rashtrapatibhvn.
Hey @rashtrapatibhvn- anything you can do to help us with your security team so that we don’t have to move our wedding from the @Taj_Cochin in under 48 hours? https://t.co/0S5y9az9Hk
— Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 5, 2020
The Rashtrapati Bhavan did respond and directed the security personnel not to interrupt the wedding plans owing to the President's security arrangement.
I want to thank the @Taj_Cochin and State Officials for working on this with us throughout the day. Hoping we can have a beautiful wedding with the blessings of The Honorable @rashtrapatibhvn. https://t.co/i6lR4D9YDQ
— Ashley Hall (@hall_ash) January 5, 2020
The incident will be helpful to the efforts of Kerala tourism to promote itself as a wedding tourism destination.
The President who came down to Kochi on Monday afternoon left for Lakshadweep by Tuesday morning. Though the President earlier had plans to visit Sabarimala, it was dropped owing to practical difficulties cited by the official in Kerala in making security arrangements amidst the heavy rush of Pilgrims.
We are glad the issues have been resolved. President Kovind conveys his best wishes to you on this joyous occasion
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 5, 2020