Tying the knot to be a costly affair this year
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Wedding planners and venues in India are gearing up for a vital peak wedding season that runs from November to March. This follows a slow first half of the year, which saw just a handful of dates between April and July.
Industry professionals are optimistic that the upcoming months will see a surge in bookings. According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), in 2023, weddings generated ₹4.25 trillion in business over 23 auspicious days. For the period between November and mid-December 2024, stock broking firm Prabhudas Lilladher estimates revenue generation of ₹4.25 trillion from around 3.5 million weddings.
The peak season typically extends from November till March, and India sees about 10 million weddings in a year, per industry estimates. The optimism has translated into a seller’s market for the vendors, particularly for high-demand dates. Hotel catering charges have risen 30% compared to 2022 and 10-15% from last year, to between ₹6,000 and ₹8,500 per plate (not including taxes), according to industry estimates.
Facing the brunt of the market’s upturn is Nikita, an NRI member of a Delhi-based family, and her beau Allan, who are to marry in mid-January. The couple has spent several weekends searching for a venue in the Delhi-NCR area for a small, intimate ceremony with about 100 family members. Despite selecting a ‘non-auspicious’ date, the deals they anticipated have not materialised.
A farmhouse being considered in Gurugram will cost ₹2 lakh for rental alone, for one night. This excludes additional services, meaning the overall wedding budget could reach ₹30-odd lakh, not including jewellery. Such expenses are becoming common as couples navigate a competitive market.
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