How much do Indian weddings cost?
Traditionally, Indian weddings are known for their lavish celebrations, elaborate ceremonies and unique, yet beautiful customs. They are often multi-day affairs filled with rituals, music, dance and delicious food. While they are undoubtedly beautiful and memorable, they can also be expensive. In this article, we'll explore how much Indian weddings typically cost and why.
Understanding culture and traditions
Before we break down the cost, it is important to understand the traditional culture and what tends to happen at an Indian wedding. Indian weddings are steeped in culture and tradition and often involve multiple ceremonies and events over several days. Each event has its own unique customs and the cost of each ceremony will vary with every individual event.
Let’s take a look at an example - the engagement ceremony involves the exchange of rings, gifts and sweets between the families of the bride and groom. The Mehndi ceremony involves applying Henna on the hands and feet of the bride, while the Sangeet ceremony is a musical celebration where family and friends gather to sing, dance and celebrate. These ceremonies involve various expenses, from decorations to clothes to food and entertainment. You should speak to your Indian wedding planner or supplier to discuss individual requirements, whilst also having a clear vision of your dream day, if possible.
Indian Wedding Decorations
Making your dream venue look beautiful can cost a significant amount of your budget. Whilst this process could seem stressful and it can be hard to know where to start, there are plenty of inspirational resources that you can use when deciding on a theme and decorations for your big day. At the RAAJ Events, we have a purpose-built showroom that is designed to give you an idea of what is possible when it comes to the decor of your Indian wedding. Why not book a showroom visit today by filling out our contact form? One of the team will be happy to start the dialogue today!
Venue & Food costs
Venue and catering costs are usually the most important and sizeable expenses for an Indian wedding. Indian weddings often have many guests and finding a wedding venue that suits them all can be difficult. Some couples may even choose to hire a tent and set it up in a large open area, which can be expensive.
Catering costs also depend on the size of the wedding and the food served. Many Indian weddings offer a rich selection of traditional dishes, which often include several appetizers and desserts. The cost of food can add up quickly, especially if there is a large guest list.
Clothing and jewellery expenses
Indian weddings are usually a time to dress up in traditional clothing and this can be a significant expense. Brides often wear heavily embroidered and beaded wedding dresses, which can cost thousands of pounds. Grooms also wear traditional clothes like Sherwani or Kurta which can be expensive in itself.
In addition to the wedding dress and the groom's suit, the cost of jewellery has to also be considered. The respective families of the bride and groom often also exchange jewellery made of diamond and gold, the cost of this can soon add to the overall cost of the day. It is not uncommon for families to spend tens of thousands of pounds on jewellery alone!
Photo and video costs
As your Indian wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, many families want to capture every moment of the celebration. Photography and videography costs can be significant, with some families spending thousands of pounds to hire a professional photographer and videographer. This price may increase if families want multiple photographers or videographers to film the event from different angles. Why not discuss this with your wedding planner and decide how much of your budget you want to assign to capturing the day in all its beauty?
Entertainment expenses
Entertainment is an integral part of every Indian wedding, and couples will often hire live bands or DJs to entertain guests. This price may vary depending on the size of the wedding and the type of entertainment. Some couples may even go the extra mile and hire dancers or performers to add to the celebration. The entertainment at an Indian wedding can really bring the wedding to life by getting your guests onto the dance floor, and this tends to be the reason that couples will allocate a significant amount of money to hire the best of the best.
Why are Indian weddings so expensive?
There are several reasons why Indian weddings are so expensive. First, as we discussed, Indian weddings involve a number of ceremonies and events, each with its own expenses. Second, Indian weddings often involve many guests and hosting them all can be difficult and expensive. Third, Indian weddings place a lot of emphasis on tradition and culture, and couples tend to be willing to pay more to honour these traditions. All in all, although the cost of an Indian wedding may be high, the event is certainly bound to be memorable to the couple on their special day.
Tips to reduce costs
Your wedding decor events supplier will be extremely important in this process. It is important to select a company that will be upfront with you about costs and face any issues head-on. With that in mind, why not contact The RAAJ Events today or book a showroom visit to get the dialogue started?