Once a personal milestone marked by rituals and community participation, the Indian wedding is now increasingly a spectacle – curated for the camera and priced for the elite. As social media continues to redefine love, celebration and status, weddings in urban India have witnessed a staggering inflation in cost. Over the past decade, the average wedding budget has ballooned five-fold. What could be done for Rs 10–15 lakhs in the mid-2010s now routinely crosses Rs 50 lakhs, and luxury weddings easily soar into the crores.
Reels over rituals – at what cost?
Want a quick 30-second reel for Instagram? Be ready to shell out Rs 20,000. Prefer a more cinematic vibe with drone shots and same-day edits? That’ll cost between Rs 8-10 lakhs – just for content creation. “Couples now hire dedicated teams for reels – directors, drone operators, on-site editors. It’s basically a movie set,” says Keerthi Mohan, a Hyderabad-based wedding photographer.
Makeup artists with high Instagram following charge double the industry standard, and often have to be booked months in advance. “High-definition, airbrush-ready makeup has become non-negotiable, costing `2-3 lakh per event,” says Lavanya, a professional makeup artist. “Saree draping alone can cost up to `1 lakh.”
When the lehenga costs more than a car
Designer lehengas start at `3-4 lakhs and can go well beyond `15 lakhs. “I wanted to rent mine. But everyone around me – relatives, friends, even colleagues – made me feel like that wasn’t good enough,” says Amulya Eerati, who will be getting married in August. “So I bought one worth `4.5 lakhs. I know I will not use it again.” The pressure to spend isn’t just external – it’s internalised. “People say it’s your ‘one big day’. That line justifies every unreasonable splurge,” she adds.
Even pre-wedding shoots now span multiple locations and days. “We shot in Jaipur, Hampi, and a beach in Goa. It cost us Rs 3 lakhs, excluding travel,” says Samhitha Gundi, a 27-year-old IT professional from Hyderabad. “Honestly, I don’t even remember the shoot or the wedding day. I was just tired.”
‘I’m not spending on a hashtag’
Sravani Bhaskara, an IT engineer from Hyderabad, is consciously cutting down on unnecessary spends. “I’ve reduced the guest list, skipped return gifts, chosen a simple venue and décor, and avoided splurging on outfits I won’t wear again,” she says. “Instead, I’m spending on fabric and tailoring, something I can reuse.”
“I don’t want to spend on a wedding that feels like a product launch,” says Ravi Alwala, city-based IT engineer, who has invited just 100 guests to a simple farmhouse celebration. Opting for `5 lakh wedding, he says: “No hashtags, no drone shots, and no outfit changes. Just close family, good food, and some music.” Madhu Allam, 26, feels the same. “Why blow up crores for validation that disappears in 24 hours on Instagram Stories?” she says. “I’d rather invest in a home or travel.”
Caught between culture and camera
But it’s not always easy to opt out. “My husband and I wanted an intimate temple wedding and to save the money for travel, because I love exploring new places. I was against a big fat Indian wedding, but we couldn’t convince our families—so we ended up having a lavish `3 crore celebration,” says Piyanka Aaru Jain, fashion designer & celebrity stylist.
“Every relative has an opinion, and every friend expects a visual treat. Even if you want to keep it small, you feel like you’re letting people down,” says Samhitha.
And with limited auspicious dates, prices of venues and vendors skyrocket during the season. “We were given a quote for Rs 10 lakhs for a venue that normally rents for `2-3 lakhs,” shares Samhitha.
Micro weddings: A New Niché
The rise of micro weddings is truly a game changer, shining a spotlight on the beauty of intimacy, the charm of personalisation, and the power of intentionality in celebrating love. As wedding costs soar and expectations mount, some Gen Z couples are choosing to rewrite the rules.
Grand gesture:
“Probably we all started off with the concept of ‘bigger often means better,’ but nowadays we are turning towards intimate weddings with more meaningful moments put together,” says Swetha Mathukumilli, PG in Dermatology and adds, “For my wedding we cut corners in places we thought weren’t completely personal to us and diverted that towards more meaningful experiences. It also adds an element of mystery—creating exclusivity by limiting the guest list, making it more exciting.”
Less stressful
I truly believe they’re going to become the next big trend. Micro weddings create a more intimate atmosphere where only the closest friends and family are present, allowing everyone to feel genuinely involved in the celebration,” says Karan Malik, director, Malik Group of Companies and adds, “They also reduce the stress on both the couple and their families during the planning process, making the entire experience more enjoyable. Ultimately, it’s a more meaningful and heartfelt way to ensure that the couple’s special day is just as memorable and magical as they’ve always dreamed it to be.”
Byline: Sruthi Kuruganti