In India, weddings are not just events — they’re an economy.
At a time when global markets teeter and consumer sentiment weakens, the Indian wedding industry surges ahead, immune to inflation, war, pandemics, or downturns.

How India’s weddings became social spectacles

<p>The 'Big fat Indian wedding' is more than just a slang. A recent report by investment firm Jefferies highlights the economic significance of weddings in India. The $130 billion industry ranks second only to food and grocery and is a major driver of consumption across sectors.</p>

<p>The Indian wedding market is twice the size of the US market. It's estimated that the average expenditure on a wedding is around $15,000. Interestingly, Indian couples spend approximately twice as much on weddings compared to education. The current average expenditure per wedding is around $14,500, which is around five times India's per capita GDP of $2,900 and more than three times the average annual household income. The report added that India's wedding spending-to-GDP ratio is significantly higher than that of other countries.</p>

<p>The report notes that a typical Indian wedding involves five to six functions, hotel accommodations, catering, décor &amp; entertainment. This is more expensive for the rich, who spend more lavishly. The report excludes expenses on jewellery, wedding attire and airfares.</p>

<p>The report further notes that given the sheer size of the industry and its impact, weddings are a key growth driver in India for several categories, ranging from jewellery, apparel, catering, stay &amp; travel, among other sectors. This is reflected in the jewellery industry, where more than 10 per cent of revenues are from bridal jewellery. It also accounts for the largest proportion of the spend, accounting for 25 per cent of the total wedding expenses, followed by catering and events.</p>

<p>Small-scale businesses and individual service providers benefit from this wedding splurge. This is because the industry is highly diversified, with regional players in a better position to address consumer needs. The report also highlights challenges in India's wedding sector, notably being 'unorganised' and 'highly-fragmented.'&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the call 'Wed in India' last year, urging people to explore destinations within the country rather than foreign locations.&nbsp;</p>


The 'Big fat Indian wedding' is more than just a slang. A recent report by investment firm Jefferies highlights the economic significance of weddings in India. The $130 billion industry ranks second only to food and grocery and is a major driver of consumption across sectors.

The 'Big fat Indian wedding' is more than just a slang. A recent report by investment firm Jefferies highlights the economic significance of weddings in India. The $130 billion industry ranks second only to food and grocery and is a major driver of consumption across sectors. The Indian wedding market is twice the size of the US market. It's estimated that the average expenditure on a wedding is around $15,000. Interestingly, Indian couples spend approximately twice as much on weddings compared to education. The current average expenditure per wedding is around $14,500, which is around five times India's per capita GDP of $2,900 and more than three times the average annual household income. The report added that India's wedding spending-to-GDP ratio is significantly higher than that of other countries. The report notes that a typical Indian wedding involves five to six functions, hotel accommodations, catering, décor & entertainment. This is more expensive for the rich, who spend more lavishly. The report excludes expenses on jewellery, wedding attire and airfares. The report further notes that given the sheer size of the industry and its impact, weddings are a key growth driver in India for several categories, ranging from jewellery, apparel, catering, stay & travel, among other sectors. This is reflected in the jewellery industry, where more than 10 per cent of revenues are from bridal jewellery. It also accounts for the largest proportion of the spend, accounting for 25 per cent of the total wedding expenses, followed by catering and events. Small-scale businesses and individual service providers benefit from this wedding splurge. This is because the industry is highly diversified, with regional players in a better position to address consumer needs. The report also highlights challenges in India's wedding sector, notably being 'unorganised' and 'highly-fragmented.' Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the call 'Wed in India' last year, urging people to explore destinations within the country rather than foreign locations.

'The Big Fat Indian 'Paychecks': Wedding industry drives consumption & economic boom

<p>The wedding season is about to end in India&nbsp;where it is very uncommon to call off weddings.&nbsp;However, a groom in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh called off his wedding and the reason behind it will amaze you. Well if you’re wondering what was it, then let me tell you;&nbsp;the groom called off his wedding due to the bride’s poor marks in 12th standard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Education indeed plays an important role&nbsp;and is one of the parameters to mark one’s success or talent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident happened in the Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh in the Triva Kotwali neighbourhood, where stressing the “importance of education” and “good marks,” the groom, Sonu, told the bride’s father that her poor performance is the reason why he is calling off the wedding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, contrary to this reason, the bride’s father said that the groom called off the wedding because the dowry wasn’t enough for them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>All of this happened while a ritual&nbsp;in which women from the groom's family were participating with the bride. After the ceremony, the groom decided to call off the marriage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following this heartbreaking decision, Soni’s father went to the local police station to file a complaint and reported his daughter’s situation. In his complaint, the father said that he had&nbsp;fixed the marriage of his daughter with one Sonu, son of Ram Shankar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that till now, he had spent some Rs 60,000 ($763) on the wedding including a demand for a gold ring for the groom worth Rs 15,000 ($181.7). Later, the groom’s family began demanding dowry. After hearing that the bride’s father cannot afford to provide any dowry, the groom called off the wedding, stating he was dissatisfied with her results in academics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Indian police are currently assisting to help both families reach a negotiation.&nbsp;</p>


The wedding season is about to end in India where it is very uncommon to call off weddings. However, a groom in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh called off his wedding and the reason behind it will amaze you.

The wedding season is about to end in India where it is very uncommon to call off weddings. However, a groom in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh called off his wedding and the reason behind it will amaze you. Well if you’re wondering what was it, then let me tell you; the groom called off his wedding due to the bride’s poor marks in 12th standard. Education indeed plays an important role and is one of the parameters to mark one’s success or talent. The incident happened in the Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh in the Triva Kotwali neighbourhood, where stressing the “importance of education” and “good marks,” the groom, Sonu, told the bride’s father that her poor performance is the reason why he is calling off the wedding. However, contrary to this reason, the bride’s father said that the groom called off the wedding because the dowry wasn’t enough for them. All of this happened while a ritual in which women from the groom's family were participating with the bride. After the ceremony, the groom decided to call off the marriage. Following this heartbreaking decision, Soni’s father went to the local police station to file a complaint and reported his daughter’s situation. In his complaint, the father said that he had fixed the marriage of his daughter with one Sonu, son of Ram Shankar. He added that till now, he had spent some Rs 60,000 ($763) on the wedding including a demand for a gold ring for the groom worth Rs 15,000 ($181.7). Later, the groom’s family began demanding dowry. After hearing that the bride’s father cannot afford to provide any dowry, the groom called off the wedding, stating he was dissatisfied with her results in academics. The Indian police are currently assisting to help both families reach a negotiation.

Indian groom calls off wedding over bride’s poor 12th standard grades, here’s what happened next

Nearly 4 million weddings to be solemnised from April-July period in India. After past two summer seasons were hit by pandemic-related curbs. As per estimates, 5 lakh weddings will spend an average of Rs 200,000 on the event. The next three months will be critical for the wedding ecosystem in India.

Indian wedding season: 4 million weddings, Rs 5 trillion business

Lockdowns have pushed everything online across the world. In India, virtual weddings are slowly becoming the new normal. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Indian weddings go online during lockdown

This Swiss couple got married in Indian style. Their wedding took place in King Daksha Prajapati's city Kankhal in Haridwar, India. Not only this, they were also joined by their family and friends from Australia, Germany and Switzerland. This is setting an example, how couples around the globe are attracted towards Indian style weddings and are excited about Indian culture and Indian civilization.

Watch: How Indian wedding vows are attracting couples from all over the world

As many as 1,100 Hindu and Muslim couples got married in a mass wedding ceremony in India's western Gujarat state on Saturday (February 08).

1,100 couples tie nuptial knot at mass wedding ceremony in India

PM Modi launches the renovation of 200 years old Shrinath temple in Bahrain. This program is basically aiming to be it a hub for Indian weddings. PM Modi is the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Bahrain. Bahrain is actually the home to several Hindu temples.

PM Modi launches the renovation of 200 years old Shrinath temple in Bahrain

<p>A bill in the Lok Sabha seeks to put a limit on the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served in Indian weddings to check &ldquo;show of wealth&rdquo;, and would force&nbsp;those spending above Rs&nbsp;5 lakh ($7,476) to contribute towards marriages of&nbsp;girls from low-income families.</p>

<p>If a family spends above Rs&nbsp;5 lakh ($7,476) on a wedding, it has to contribute 10 per cent of the amount on marriages of girls from low-income&nbsp;families, according to the bill introduced by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan. The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill, 2016, may be taken up as a private member&rsquo;s bill in the upcoming Lok Sabha session.</p>

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<p>A bill in the Lok Sabha seeks to put a limit on the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served in Indian weddings. More on this story on: http://bit.ly/2llRGNq (WION)</p>
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<p>The estimated cost of an average wedding in India can run between Rs 5 lakh ($7,476) to Rs 5 crore ($747,328), according to <a href="http://retail.franchiseindia.com/article/whats-hot/trends/The-Flourishing-Indian-Wedding-Industry.a247/">retail.franchiseindia.com</a>. On&nbsp;average, a wedding in metropolitan Indian cities costs between Rs 25 lakh ($37,349) to 70 lakh ($104,579), the website says.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The purpose of this bill is to prohibit extravagant and wasteful expenditure on marriages and to enforce simpler solemnisation, Ranjeet told PTI. &ldquo;Great importance should be assigned to the solemnisation of marriage between two individuals. But unfortunately, these days a tendency of celebrating marriages with pomp and show and spending lavishly growing in the country. These days, marriages are more about showing off your wealth and as a result, poor families are under tremendous social pressure to spend more. This is needed to be checked as it is not good for society at large,&rdquo; she said.</p>

<p>The bill seeks that &ldquo;if any family intends to spend more than Rs&nbsp;5 lakh towards expenditure on marriage, such family shall declare the amount proposed to be spent in advance to the appropriate government and contribute 10 per cent of such amount in a welfare fund which shall be established by the appropriate government to assist the poor and Below Poverty Line families for the marriage of their daughters&ldquo;.</p>

<p>It says that after this proposed legislation comes into force, all marriages shall be registered within 60 days of the solemnisation.</p>

<p>The government may fix the limit of guests and relatives and number of dishes to be served to the guests and relatives for solemnisation of marriage or for the reception held thereafter as it may deem necessary or expedient to prevent the wastage of food items, it adds.</p>

<p>(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;</p>


If a family spends above $7,500 it must contribute 10% of the cost to pay for the marriages of women from low-income families

A bill in the Lok Sabha seeks to put a limit on the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served in Indian weddings to check “show of wealth”, and would force those spending above Rs 5 lakh ($7,476) to contribute towards marriages of girls from low-income families. If a family spends above Rs 5 lakh ($7,476) on a wedding, it has to contribute 10 per cent of the amount on marriages of girls from low-income families, according to the bill introduced by Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan. The Marriages (Compulsory Registration and Prevention of Wasteful Expenditure) Bill, 2016, may be taken up as a private member’s bill in the upcoming Lok Sabha session. A bill in the Lok Sabha seeks to put a limit on the number of guests to be invited and dishes to be served in Indian weddings. More on this story on: http://bit.ly/2llRGNq (WION) × The estimated cost of an average wedding in India can run between Rs 5 lakh ($7,476) to Rs 5 crore ($747,328), according to retail.franchiseindia.com. On average, a wedding in metropolitan Indian cities costs between Rs 25 lakh ($37,349) to 70 lakh ($104,579), the website says. The purpose of this bill is to prohibit extravagant and wasteful expenditure on marriages and to enforce simpler solemnisation, Ranjeet told PTI. “Great importance should be assigned to the solemnisation of marriage between two individuals. But unfortunately, these days a tendency of celebrating marriages with pomp and show and spending lavishly growing in the country. These days, marriages are more about showing off your wealth and as a result, poor families are under tremendous social pressure to spend more. This is needed to be checked as it is not good for society at large,” she said. The bill seeks that “if any family intends to spend more than Rs 5 lakh towards expenditure on marriage, such family shall declare the amount proposed to be spent in advance to the appropriate government and contribute 10 per cent of such amount in a welfare fund which shall be established by the appropriate government to assist the poor and Below Poverty Line families for the marriage of their daughters“. It says that after this proposed legislation comes into force, all marriages shall be registered within 60 days of the solemnisation. The government may fix the limit of guests and relatives and number of dishes to be served to the guests and relatives for solemnisation of marriage or for the reception held thereafter as it may deem necessary or expedient to prevent the wastage of food items, it adds. (With inputs from PTI)

Lok Sabha bill seeks to cap guests, spending at Indian weddings

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