How Six Senses Fort Barwara Is Redefining Sustainable Luxury Weddings In India

Jeffrey Smith: Hospitality is never just a place to stay. To us, it's about how our places and spaces can reconnect people with themselves, others and the world around them. Sustainability and wellness have always been central to Six Senses, long before they were a trend. They have always been part of our DNA—lived, breathed, and constantly evolving. Regenerative travel is about how we can take this outlook further. We should not just minimise our footprint but also pave new paths that positively contribute to the ecosystems and cultures we inhabit. Weddings are a natural extension of this. It is not just a personal milestone but an opportunity for purposeful connection and doing so with a considered approach. As such, we make a promise to our guests of a fantastic stay with a light footprint and tangible positive impacts for the local community and ecology.

Jeffrey Smith: Everything we do has a reason behind it. From the food we serve to the materials we build with, every detail is considered and chosen with care. Sustainability is a key to our decision making. We always focus on community, culture, and conservation. Across every property, we spearhead initiatives that uplift the local communities. It begins with the people working within our hotels. We hire locally and build skills from within. Behind the scenes, we are eliminating plastic, sourcing renewable materials and pioneering energy-efficient, low-impact design. We track carbon, steward water, and rethink food waste. Our supply chains are rooted in place. We partner with local farmers, artisans, and small businesses as well as grow much of our own produce within the walls of many of our hotels. Outside of the hotel, we support community-led projects through the Six Senses sustainability fund. This fund donates 0.5 per cent of the total revenue at each one of our 27 Six Senses properties to local projects selected to make a measurable and meaningful impact for that location. For communities, these range from improved sanitation, to providing essential medical equipment, or access to education.

Jeffrey Smith: We are living in an era dubbed the 'Plastic Age'. It's impossible to go a day without encountering plastics, and their impact on the planet and us as people is undeniable. Now, more people are waking up to this reality. Six Senses is ahead of the curve in that sense, as from the very beginning, we've been working to eliminate plastics from our hotels. Last year, we published our Plastic Freedom Playbook of 82 tried and tested solutions to the common plastic items so often found within hotels. Rather than keeping those solutions to ourselves, we want to share them with the entire industry. I am excited to see this paradigm shift gaining momentum across the hospitality industry and beyond. When working together, we hope to go further. Education and the work we do in our Earth Labs also play an important role. These are dedicated spaces where guests and communities come together to learn about how we can collectively do better for our planet and people. Our guests don't just observe, they immerse themselves in it, and ultimately become part of it.

Rajat Gera: Sustainability isn't a feature—it's our foundation. Even as we host elaborate, multi-day weddings, our core ethos of environmental sensitivity is seamlessly woven into every element of the celebration. We offer all full and half buy-out guests a comprehensive set of Guiding Principles, which outline our firm commitment to a no-plastic, zero-waste, and low-carbon ideology. From the outset, we engage our event hosts, planners, and partners in meaningful conversations about sustainability. We provide a framework that encourages the use of biodegradable materials—like jute, flowers, ceramics, and plant-based alternatives—in place of plastic and paper. Items such as confetti, party poppers, helium balloons, and cold pyrotechnics are respectfully discouraged. 

Sound levels are capped at 70 decibels, and all music ceases by 11 PM, reducing noise pollution in the surrounding village and wildlife habitats. Our culinary experiences are driven by our organic gardens and in-house farms, which reduce our reliance on transported produce. Compost from our kitchens nourishes the spa's medicinal gardens, and rainwater harvesting sustains our landscape. To deepen awareness, we invite guests to participate in hands-on sustainability experiences, such as Earth Lab workshops, block printing, and nature walks. These offer both education and entertainment, proving that eco-consciousness can be immersive and joyful. For us, it is not about compromise; it's about inspiring abundance that respects the land we celebrate on.

Rajat Gera: At Six Senses Fort Barwara, cultural preservation is not an afterthought—it's the soul of our storytelling. The 14th-century fort has been lovingly and responsibly restored to its former glory, with most of the work carried out by local builders and craftsmen whose knowledge of Rajasthani architecture brings an unmatched authenticity to every detail. Their deep-rooted connection to the land and its heritage ensures that every arch, jharokha, and courtyard echoes the fort's regal past.

Rajat Gera: Our guests don't just come for a wedding—they come for a one-of-a-kind experience that's deeply personal and enriching. We host only intimate social gatherings for like-minded individuals who choose to celebrate milestone moments with sustainability, history, and wellness at the heart of it all. What sets us apart is not only the regal setting or luxurious suites, but the uniquely curated blend of heritage, mindfulness, wellness, and emotional hospitality that defines the Six Senses ethos. Every wedding celebration is elevated by this rare combination, where ancient traditions meet tailored experiences, making each guest's journey truly unique.