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Big Budget Weddings: Report Shows Rising Trend in High-End Celebrations

Indian weddings have become even grander in 2024. According to a report by WeddingWire India, average wedding expenses rose by 14% from the previous year, reaching ₹32-35 lakh, compared to ₹28 lakh in 2023

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Big Budget Weddings: Report Shows Rising Trend in High-End Celebrations

Wedding Budgets Reach New Heights

Indian weddings have become even grander in 2024. According to a report by WeddingWire India, average wedding expenses rose by 14% from the previous year, reaching ₹32-35 lakh, compared to ₹28 lakh in 2023. The increase is even more significant—28%—when compared to 2022. This trend highlights couples’ growing preference for experience-driven celebrations with more personalized details.

Bigger and Smaller Guest Lists on the Rise

Guest lists have also seen a shift. The number of weddings with more than 300 guests grew by 16.29% in 2024, showing a renewed love for large-scale celebrations. At the same time, intimate weddings with fewer than 100 guests rose by 26.66%, indicating that some couples prefer exclusivity over size. On average, weddings hosted 119 guests in 2024, a 6.25% increase from the previous year.

Wedding Industry Continues to Expand

India’s wedding industry has been growing steadily at 7-8% annually. In 2023-24, it surpassed $75 billion, making it one of the largest wedding markets in the world. The peak season, typically from November to March, witnesses around 10 million weddings each year, contributing significantly to the economy.

Destination Weddings See a Shift

While traditional locations like Jaipur, Goa, and Udaipur remain popular, couples are now exploring newer destinations. Places like Nainital and Dehradun in Uttarakhand, as well as Wayanad in Kerala, are gaining attention for their serene settings and exclusive experiences. These locations offer luxury with a touch of intimacy, providing a refreshing alternative to the usual wedding hotspots.

Weekday Weddings Gain Popularity

Many couples are now opting for weekday weddings, particularly on Mondays and Tuesdays, to reduce costs and secure better availability. However, Sundays remain a popular choice, as families are less inclined to wait for auspicious dates.

Winter Weddings Continue to Dominate

November, December, and February remain the most preferred months for weddings due to their pleasant weather. November, in particular, accounted for 18.5% of all weddings in 2024, making it the most popular month for nuptials.

A High-Spending Wedding Season Ahead

Despite a slow start to the year with fewer auspicious dates between April and July, the wedding industry picked up momentum in the later months. In 2023, weddings generated ₹4.25 trillion in business over just 23 auspicious days, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). For the November-December 2024 season, Prabhudas Lilladher forecasts a similar revenue, driven by an estimated 3.5 million weddings.

With rising budgets, evolving preferences, and a booming industry, Indian weddings continue to reach new heights in 2024.