How much does an Indian wedding cost?
How much does an Indian wedding cost?
$120,000 – $150,000 cost for a simple Indian wedding
$150,000 – $225,000 cost for a traditional Indian wedding
$225,000 – $300,000 cost for a luxury Indian wedding
Average cost of an Indian wedding
An average Indian wedding costs $500 to $750 per guest for a traditional affair with multiple events over several days. A simple Indian wedding costs $400 to $500 per guest with fewer events and extravagances. An Indian destination wedding costs $100,000 to $200,000. An Indian wedding includes around 300 guests.
| Wedding type | Average cost per guest | Average total cost (300 guests) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $400 – $500 | $120,000 – $150,000 |
| Traditional | $500 – $750 | $150,000 – $225,000 |
| Luxury | $750 – $1,000 | $225,000 – $300,000 |
Indian wedding costs by event
The average cost of a wedding in the United States is $25,000 to $70,000 for a wedding and reception for up to 200 guests. In comparison, an Indian wedding costs $120,000 to $300,000 and usually includes around 300 guests. However, some Indian couples invite as many as 500 to 1,000 guests.
A typical Indian wedding lasts for the entire weekend, starting on Thursday or Friday. The bride's family hosts multiple events including a Mehndi, a Sangeet and Garba night, a wedding ceremony, and a wedding reception. Each wedding event has its own cultural significance and most involve a venue, food, drinks, and entertainment.
| Event | Average cost for 300 guest wedding |
|---|---|
| Mehndi | $5,000 – $15,000* |
| Sangeet and Garba | $60,000 – $75,000 |
| Wedding ceremony | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Wedding reception | $75,000 – $105,000 |
| Total cost for all events | $150,000 – $225,000 |
*When limited to close family & friends.
Mehndi
A Mehndi (or Mehendi) night costs $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the number of guests. This more intimate ceremony often takes place at the bride's home before the wedding. The women attend early to celebrate with the bride during her henna, then the men often join later for food, drinks, and dancing.
The Mehndi night is primarily for close family and friends and centers around the application of traditional bridal henna tattoos costing $500 to $700. For $70 to $110 per hour, a professional henna artist will create small ink designs for the groom, bridal party, and Mehndi guests.
The Mehndi ceremony is designed to relieve stress and beautify the bride for her wedding day.
Sangeet and Garba
A Sangeet is a pre-wedding ceremony celebrated with music and dancing and costs $200 to $250 per guest, or $60,000 to $75,000 for up to 300 guests. The festive and colorful event includes food, drinks, and musical entertainment.
In some cultures, the Sangeet is a time for Garba, or traditional dancing, involving choreographed dances by the wedding guests. Some families go so far as to hire celebrity performers and Bollywood starts to perform at the Sangeet ceremony.
Wedding ceremony
An Indian wedding ceremony costs $10,000 to $30,000 when held at a temple or place of worship. Some Indian weddings host the ceremony at the same venue as the wedding reception, especially for large weddings with more guests.
| Factor | Average cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremony venue | $500 – $3,000 | Sikh gurdwara, Hindu temple, or hall rental |
| Pandit or Priest | $500 – $2,000 | Officiant to perform the wedding ceremony |
| Decorations | $9,000 – $25,000 | Common decorations include flowers, candles, draperies, a mandap, and rangoli art. |
Mandap – This decorative arch costs $5,000 to $10,000 and is made of wood or metal wrapped in flowers and fabric. The arch serves as the ceremony centerpiece under which the bride and groom are married.
Rangoli – Traditional Indian floor art costs $100 to $250 for an artist to create a decorative pattern made of colored rice, sand, or flower petals.
Wedding reception
The wedding reception is usually the most expensive event at an Indian wedding, with costs averaging $250 to $350 per guest or $75,000 to $105,000 for 300 guests. Similar to other wedding receptions, an Indian reception includes costs for venue rental, flowers, lights, decorations, food, drinks, a wedding cake, and a live band or DJ.
Other pre-wedding events
In addition to the weekend wedding events, other more intimate events add to the total cost, including:
Roka and Thaka – The bride's and groom's families visit each other's homes, with the groom's family bringing gifts for the bride's family. The ceremony ends with a puja, where all the family members seek divine blessings for the couple's future.
Chunni – The chunni chadna or chunni rasam is held at the bride's home and marks the official engagement of the couple. The groom's mother places a red scarf, or chunni, on the bride's head to symbolize the bride's new status as a member of the groom's family. The groom's mother also gifts the bride jewelry, clothes, and sweets.
Sagaai or Engagement – This ring ceremony is where the couples exchange rings. In some parts of India, this is a small ceremony for close family, while in other parts it is an elaborate affair hosted in a spacious function hall with as many as 300 guests.
Haldi ceremony – During this pre-wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are covered in turmeric paste which is said to have cleansing and purifying properties.
Indian wedding costs by vendor
Colorful and opulent weddings are part of the Indian culture, with families inviting their entire community to share in their joy while displaying their wealth and status. An Indian wedding hosted in the U.S. is usually just as grand as one held in India itself, with multiple events over several days.
The following table details some of the common vendors and costs:
| Factor | Average cost for 300 guest wedding |
|---|---|
| Wedding planner cost | $1,200 – $3,500 |
| Bridal henna cost | $500 – $700 for traditional bridal henna |
| Wedding photographer cost | $175 – $500 per hour, per event |
| Wedding makeup/hair costs | $180 – $600 |
| Wedding venue cost | $2,000 – $9,000 |
| Wedding flowers cost | $500 – $3,500 |
| Wedding DJ cost | $800 – $1,600 |
| Wedding cake cost | $300 – $800 |
| Wedding catering cost | $12,000 – $45,000 |
| Wedding bartender costs | $240 – $400 per bartender |
| Wedding fireworks cost | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Wedding officiant costs | $500 – $2,000 |
| Photo booth rental cost | $400 – $1,000 |
| Personalized dance floor wrap | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| Wedding tents | $5,000 – $12,000 per event |
| Dohl player (drum player) | $800 – $1,200 per player |
| Bride's lengha & adornments | $5,000 – $20,000 |
| Artificial jewelry | $200 – $1,000 |
| Gold jewelry | $4,000 – $10,000+ |
Indian wedding cost factors
The factor that most influences the cost of an Indian wedding is the number of guests. Indian weddings can exceed 1,000 invited guests, which greatly increases costs to rent a large enough venue and have ample food and alcohol for each event. Other factors that influence the cost of an Indian wedding include:
Religion – Sikh weddings typically have fewer guests than Hindu weddings. Also, Sikh weddings are held in gurdwaras, which are less expensive to rent than a temple or hall used for Hindu weddings.
Social status – Families of higher social status will typically invite more guests than families of lower social status.
Budget – Families with a smaller budget will keep the guest list limited to close family and friends. They also may forego some of the more extravagant features such as the groom's procession or fireworks at the reception.
Indian destination wedding
A destination wedding in India costs $100,000 to $200,000, on average, which greatly exceeds the average destination wedding cost of $10,000 to $35,000. While most couples invite 20 guests to an intimate destination wedding at an island resort, an Indian destination wedding couple invites 200 to 300 guests or more.
| Factor | Indian destination wedding | Other destination weddings |
|---|---|---|
| Average total cost | $100,000 – $200,000+ | $10,000 – $35,000 |
| Number of guests | 200 – 300+ | 20 – 30 |
While a destination wedding has added travel costs, the vendors in India charge much less, resulting in some savings.
Indian wedding FAQs
Who pays for an Indian wedding?
Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the entire Indian wedding celebration, including the Mehndi, Sangeet, ceremony, and reception, while the groom's family is responsible for the groom's attire and transportation. However, many couples or families now share the costs to prevent the burden from falling on the bride's parents alone.
What to wear to an Indian wedding?
As a guest at an Indian wedding, you can wear something traditional to show respect for the culture and the couple. Women can wear a lehenga or sari and should cover their heads for weddings held in a Sikh or Hindu temple. Men wear a sherwani or kurta pajama in a bright color.
Avoid wearing black or red since black is considered unlucky and red is generally reserved for the bride.
How long are Indian weddings?
Indian weddings are long affairs lasting from 3 days to a full week, depending on the customs of the couple's community. The wedding ceremony itself can last from 2 to 3 hours.
How do Indian weddings work?
The first day of an Indian wedding is reserved for pre-wedding rituals, starting with the engagement ceremony. Next comes the Haldi ceremony, the Mehndi ceremony, and the Sangeet ceremony, which may take place over 1 or more days. Finally comes the wedding ceremony, followed by the wedding reception.
When is Indian wedding season?
The Indian wedding season runs from October to February because these months are considered to be favorable for weddings according to the Hindu calendar. The months of November and December are a time of celebration and happiness and are the most popular for weddings.
Keep in mind that wedding seasons vary by region, with the southern states of India having a December to April wedding season.
Tips for planning an Indian wedding
Planning an Indian wedding can be a daunting task, with multiple events, venues, and vendors to hire and organize. Here are some tips to help you plan your perfect Indian wedding:
Start planning early – Indian weddings take months or years to plan, so start as early as possible.
Set a budget – Indian weddings are expensive, so avoid overspending wherever possible.
Get help – Planning involves so many steps that it is helpful to ask for help from family and friends.
Be flexible and have fun – With so many events and people involved, it is important to be flexible when things don't go according to plan and enjoy the process.
And for the more practical details:
Choose the date – Find a date that is auspicious according to the Hindu calendar and send out invitations at least six months in advance.
Choose a wedding planner – Find a planner experienced in Indian weddings to help coordinate the multiple events and vendors.
Choose a venue – Find a venue that is large enough to accommodate your guests and the specific rituals and traditions you want to include.
Choose a caterer – Select a caterer that can provide traditional Indian food.
Choose other vendors – Find florists, henna artists, hair and makeup stylists, and other vendors experienced with Indian weddings to help make your Indian wedding dreams a reality.
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.