Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar's wedding celebrations in India have shifted from the glitzy city of Mumbai (Bombay) to the more laidback, historic city of Jodhpur in the western state of Rajasthan.
The couple arrived here on Wednesday evening by a specially chartered plane and were whisked away by a waiting car to Umaidh Bhawan palace where they will be staying with the Maharajah of Jodhpur in his private residence.
The guests arrived earlier in the day, and while Jodhpur residents are no strangers to foreigners, visitors or mega-weddings in historic palaces and forts, they are aware that this wedding is quite an exception.
The differences were apparent from the start. The Indian private airline that normally flies a 45-seater every day from Mumbai to Jodhpur changed planes to an A-320 aircraft to accommodate more passengers.
Luxury hotels
At Jodhpur airport, men dressed in linen clothing mingled with women wearing over-sized designer sunglasses and sporting perfect hair to wait for their luxury luggage to arrive.
"We are all very excited that the wedding is taking place in Jodhpur"
Large numbers of photographers waited outside and clicked anyone and everyone coming out to ensure they had not missed any celebrities.
Such was the eagerness of the Indian "snappers" that they photographed any group of foreigners arriving, even overseas paparazzi who had travelled to Jodhpur in the hope of getting pictures of the bride for themselves.
Hotel attendants wearing traditional Rajasthani turbans stood with lists, ticking against each name and leading them to their respective conveyances.
About 300 guests are expected to attend the festivities, many staying in luxury hotels.
A private security company from Delhi has been hired to ensure that media is kept at bay.
In fact, so strict is security around the Umaidh Bhawan palace, that anyone who is not on the list or works as staff is not allowed to go in.
It is easy to see why the celebrity couple have chosen Jodhpur for their wedding. There is a sense of history and faded grandeur to the place that gives it an appealing allure.
Already a favourite with tourists, the city has some beautiful forts and palaces.
Many of those former palaces have now been turned in to hotels, known as heritage hotels, and have been designed to give guests a glimpse of how royalty might have stayed in the old days.
And the desert landscape is a feast for the eyes no matter which way the head turns.
Umaidh Bhawan itself - where the Indian part of the wedding is scheduled to be held - is one of the most beautiful palaces in the entire state of Rajasthan.
Palpable excitement
The sandstone art-deco style building has 347 rooms and 26 acres of lush gardens. It is highly opulent and has lavish marble interiors.
Despite the security and restrictions around the palace, there is a buzz in nearby areas and the excitement of people is palpable.
A handicraft store next to the hotel is putting up a banner with mammoth photos of Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar welcoming them to Jodhpur city.
Handicrafts exporter Rakesh Surana told the BBC they are doing this because it is their culture to welcome guests and make them feel at home.
"We are all very excited that the wedding is taking place in Jodhpur. We left our factories and work midway to come here and catch a glimpse of all the VIPs coming in," he said.
"These events are too far removed from our lives"
Another textile exporter, Hukumchand Daga, said it is a matter of great honour for them that the wedding is taking place in Jodhpur because they will learn about Indian culture.
He said this will translate into good business for most shop owners in the city as more tourists will want to visit after this wedding.
However, in Sojati Gate, the main city centre, it's business as usual. People go about their daily chores and do not seem concerned or affected by the mega-celebrity wedding taking place nearby.
Shopkeeper Suresh Rajwani told the BBC celebrity weddings do not affect them or their profit margins.
"These events are too far removed from our lives. In any case, tourists come, buy from the handicraft stores and all the other posh shops, but how many of them come to these markets?"
But even the sceptics acknowledge that the wedding will help to increase tourism in Jodhpur and help the city as a whole, even if opinions about the ceremony itself are not always complimentary.
Occasional grumbles
"It is a shame that Indians are going on about Elizabeth Hurley's wedding and have forgotten their own values and traditions," said Jodhpur resident, BM Gupta.
"After all, who is this lady?" he asked.
"She already has a son out of wedlock and is now getting married.
"We just seem to keep quiet and accept everything when shown lots of money. I am not happy that this marriage is being given so much importance here."
Indian society is still quite conservative, and live-in relationships are not encouraged at all. Divorces are looked down upon and having a baby out of wedlock is seen as bringing shame to the family.
While people living in some urban areas have become more liberal in their outlook, smaller cities and towns still take these conventions seriously.
But despite the occasional grumbles, it is difficult to deny the underlying sentiment of happiness among most people that Jodhpur is the chosen venue.
For a city that depends heavily on tourism for its income, the residents are hopeful that the wedding will result in more elaborate functions being held here in the future.
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