The return of the Big Fat Indian Wedding is making waves this season, with couples and families going all out after a period of quieter celebrations during the pandemic. Lavish multi-day events, extravagant venues, designer outfits, and a resurgence in traditional customs infused with modern twists have redefined the 2024 wedding scene.
Delhi based top tier marketing professional Rahul Wahi is getting married this November in New Delhi. He has taken two months off to plan his wedding and everything is being micro-managed by him and his fiancée Kanika. They want all of 150 people for their wedding, keeping it an intimate affair with close friends and family. But small doesn’t mean simple… it is as lavish as it can get- qawwali night for the Sufi music enthusiasts and then head banging cocktail.
This wedding season is shaping up to be one of the strongest yet, with a 20-25% increase in bookings compared to last year, says Vikaas Gutgutia, Founder and Managing Director Ferns N Petals (FNP), a company which provides end to end wedding services with Shaadi Central, U Kitchen (catering), FNP Fleur (decor). The shift towards luxury, destination, and intimate weddings is driving this demand, and with our new verticals. Wedding costs in 2024 are undeniably higher than pre-pandemic levels, up by about 15-20% on average.”
Wedding 2024: What’s Trending
For those wanting to plan their wedding, here is a lowdown on what’s popular. Says FNP’s Vikaas Gutgutia- “Trends like personalized decor, experiential weddings, theme weddings heavily inspired by pop-culture (like Bridgerton, Game of Thrones) are gaining traction. Couples are investing more in unique experiences—be it curated décor or customized menus—while opting for smaller guest lists, which allows for higher per-guest expenditure.”
Current demand emphasizes food styling and innovative presentations. Even traditional items like golgappas are reimagined in creative ways, such as served in platters or shot glasses. Food styling has evolved dramatically over the past 6–7 years, with unique ideas like Dal Makhni served as a fondue or in stylish toasties. As per industry standard, premium catering can range from Rs 4,000–5,000 per plate, with prices reaching up to Rs 12,000 for ultra-luxury weddings, depending on guest preferences. Asian cuisine has gained immense popularity, expanding beyond Chinese to include Korean, Japanese and even Hong Kong street food. Mediterranean and Arabic cuisines are also seeing strong demand.
When it comes to bridal outfits, glamour is at the forefront, with a rise in metallic hues like gold, silver, and copper, as well as shimmering details in bridal lehengas, sarees, and gowns. Jewelry is an important aspect of a bride’s appeal. According to Yashovardhan Zaveri, Director – Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Delhi, “Uncut diamonds, polki, kundan are very much in demand. We find the old traditional Indian jewellery styles making a comeback such as mathapatti, kamarbandh, haath phool, nose ring.”
When it comes to décor, there is an increased demand for premium décor and floral arrangements. Demand for imported flowers has grown significantly this year, as per wedding planners.
Gifting is high on design and aesthetics. Says Piyush Jain – Co-Founder – Expression Gifting- “Designer hampers is our USP and people want us to customize these. Our current bestsellers include the Padma hamper with lotus designs in pink costing approx Rs 3,700 while a Mughal inspired hamper with the Dwars, flora, fauna in indigo blue costs Rs 2,500. We get requests both for hampers as well for procuring things and putting them into our hampers.”
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task as the entire event over a couple of days needs to be planned. You can either do-it-yourself or outsource to wedding planners who are generally a one-stop solution for everything from venue selection and decor to catering, logistics, and guest management. At FNP’s Shaadi Central, NRIs constituted 40% of their bookings this year, as this service removes the usual stress of planning, making it easier to plan destination and intimate weddings from afar.
There are always two sets of people in the big fat Indian scenario. Says wedding planner Shashank Gupta, Co-Founder & Director- Tailor-Made Experiences, “Type A look at weddings as a show of power and they’ll go for big names, bigger setups, huge decorations, artists and best of cuisines. Type B wants to keep it intimate and personalize it as much as possible. They don’t mind spending.”
He adds the process is to try and understand what the bride and groom like- whether it’s colours, the type of flowers, their story. At each and every touch point of the guest experience, whether it’s sending out the invites, talking to the guests, welcoming guests, they want personalization and some element of their love story or their arranged marriage story to be represented in some way.” He cites the example of a couple where the groom was Persian and since Persians love pomegranates, the fruit was a very essential part of the wedding. The bride was South Indian, so food was served on banana leaves. But both of them loved a painting by Raja Ravi Verma, which had Goddess Lakshmi holding a lotus. Says Gupta- “Their entire wedding was created with lotus and we actually got Sabyasachi to get a saree and drape the bride like a Goddess and recreated that picture for her because she wanted to make it a loom for herself. So that is the level of personalization.”
Food is a big thing in weddings and the menu includes a lot of international cuisines, nowadays even regional Indian food is popular. Eg, a couple got married in Chhattisgarh and many of the Chhattisgarhi cuisines were integrated. Likewise Goan hyper local food and decor was woven into a wedding of a couple who recently got married in Goa.
Which are the top trending wedding destinations. “Indians are looking inwards rather than outwards with PM Modi’s focus on “Wed-in-India. Apart from the typical Goa and Udaipur, there is a focus to create new destinations,” says Ruchin Kohli, Director, Occasion Xperts and Chairperson Events & Promotions MSME Dev Forum, “Uttar Pradesh has lot to offer especially with potential to create weddings alongside the Ganges. Besides, there are a lot of forts which hold good potential for experiential weddings. Even the South of India has a lot to offer which has not been explored yet. We have places like Andaman, Lakshadweep, Pondicherry which are also being tapped.”
Hospitality chains are also jumping onto the wedding bandwagon in a more organized way. Take the case of Eros by Shangri-La hotel which has two properties in India and a total of 90 properties worldwide. They recently launched Bandhan by Shangri-La, a one-of-a-kind luxury wedding service for opulent, meticulously curated experiences. According to Katerina Dixon, Assistant Vice President for Marketing (F&B) and Corporate Communications for MEIA region, Shangri-La Group, “For Bandhan, first of all we have two beautiful properties in India – Shangrila Eros New Delhi which is undergoing renovation and beautification and the other one in Bengaluru. We are also pitching our properties at Bangkok, Bali, Sri Lanka and have an incredible demand even for the stunning Muscat one which has a scenic view of the ocean surrounded by the cliffs- a perfect destination for wedding photography. We really would like to add Istanbul which offers incredible cultural immersive experiences. These properties offer different venues and opportunities to celebrate not just meaningful haldis and mehndis but lively sangeets and other ceremonies.”
EXPENSES INCURRED
The weddings in 2024 are far more elaborate and personalized. They also come with a higher price tag compared to pre-Covid events. However, with the right planning and streamlined solutions, people can navigate these financial challenges. It’s important to prioritize. Identify which elements are most important to you and allocate funds accordingly. One must get quotes and detailed ones at that, from the wedding planner to avoid surprises and stick to your budget. Plan for extras and include a buffer for unexpected costs to ensure you stay on track.
If a wedding budget is around Rs 1 crore, here’s how the expenses typically break down (This data is courtesy FNP):
- Venue (30%): The cost of securing a venue often represents the largest portion of a wedding budget. This includes not just the rental fee, but also any additional costs such as wait staff, furniture, and decor. To manage these expenses, couples should consider their priorities—whether they prefer a luxe venue or a more intimate space—and book well in advance to secure the best rates.
- Catering (20%): Food and beverage expenses can quickly add up, especially with larger guest lists. Couples should plan their menu in advance, considering options that fit both their culinary preferences and their budget. Opting for a plated dinner versus a buffet or exploring moderately priced dining options can make a significant difference. However, for ultra-luxury events, catering alone can make up 30–35% of the total wedding cost.
- Wedding Decor (10%): Transforming the venue with beautiful decor adds a personal touch to the celebration. This includes elements such as fresh floral arrangements, theme setting, furniture arrangements and lighting. Collaborating with a planner to design a cohesive and visually appealing ambiance can enhance the overall atmosphere and leave a lasting impression on guests.
- Attire and Accessories (20%): Choosing the perfect attire for the bride, groom, and bridal party is a special and exciting part of the wedding journey. Couples can ensure they look and feel their best by setting a thoughtful budget (discuss with the planner well in advance), which includes not only the outfits but also any necessary alterations and accessories to complete the look.
- Entertainment (15%): Live bands, DJs, DIY activities or other entertainment can add to the overall expense. Couples should decide early on what type of entertainment they want and factor this into their budget.
- Photography (5%): Capturing those special moments is crucial, so allocating around 5% of the budget for professional photography and videography ensures that memories of the day will be beautifully preserved.
