How Much Do Indian Weddings Cost? Let's Talk Numbers
- raj desai | may 3, 2023
An honest overview of how much Indian weddings cost for South Asian Americans.
Have you noticed that people are chatty about every aspect of their wedding—except the cost?
I have a couple of theories about why that is. One, people think it’s tacky to ask. Two, it diffuses the cloud of wedding allure and magic.
Here’s how I feel about it; when it comes to the 4th largest expense you will make in your lifetime, you deserve to see real numbers and estimates. Forget the secrecy. You’re potentially spending hundreds of thousands of dollars! Would you blindly throw down thousands on a home and the furniture to fill it? What about a car? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Let’s cut through the mystery and find out just how expensive Indian weddings are.
Double than the national average
The Knot collects surveys from couples each year (and probably takes data from their planning tools) to tell us what the national average is for overall wedding cost. For 2022, that number came in at $30,000. For South Asians, it’s double that.
That’s right, the average for South Asian weddings is $60,000.
Some vendors will have you believing that the average falls in the $200-300,000 range. And that may be the average for their clientele, but the national average is significantly lower than that (hey, we’re not all Ambani rich).
In recent years, all weddings (be it Western or South Asian) have gotten more expensive because of inflation, a trend that we’re seeing play out in real time. In a vendor survey about wedding costs for 2023, 77% said they’re raising their rates.
Now, factor in the differences between Western and South Asian weddings. We have more events, more guests, more clothes. Potentially an overseas trip just to buy said clothes. It’s easy to see how South Asian American weddings are double the national average.
Specific numbers
Click the different budgets to see how they break down. Keep in mind that these are estimates, and actual numbers will change depending on your wedding location, date, guest count, and other factors.
*Miscellaneous includes your contingency fund, officiant, mehndi, baraat service, and wedding party apparel.
Destination wedding in Mexico for 150 people. Included in this cost:
- Venue
- Food, alcohol
- Decorations
- Tenting, flooring
- Linens
- Vehicles for baraat and vidaai
Not included:
- Full-service planner
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Full-service planner
- Officiant
- DJ
- Wardrobe
The national average for South Asian weddings in the US. Here’s how this amount breaks out into specific vendor categories:
- Venue: $15,000
- Flowers, décor: $10,200
- Catering: $9,600
- Photography, videography: $6,000
- Entertainment: $4,800
- Bridal wardrobe: $3,000
- Hair/makeup: $2,400
- Full service planner: $2,400
- Groom wardrobe: $1,800
- Miscellaneous*: $4,800
Here’s how this amount breaks out into specific vendor categories:
- Venue: $25,000
- Flowers, décor: $17,000
- Catering: $16,000
- Photography, videography: $10,000
- Entertainment: $8,000
- Bridal wardrobe: $5,000
- Hair/makeup: $4,000
- Full service planner: $4,000
- Groom wardrobe: $3,000
- Miscellaneous*: $8,000
Here’s how this amount breaks out into specific vendor categories:
- Venue: $37,500
- Flowers, décor: $25,500
- Catering: $24,000
- Photography, videography: $15,000
- Entertainment: $12,000
- Bridal wardrobe: $7,500
- Hair/makeup: $6,000
- Full service planner: $6,000
- Groom wardrobe: $4,500
- Miscellaneous*: $12,000
The lower end of luxury South Asian weddings. Here’s how this amount breaks out into specific vendor categories:
- Venue: $62,500
- Flowers, décor: $42,500
- Catering: $40,000
- Photography, videography: $25,000
- Entertainment: $20,000
- Bridal wardrobe: $12,500
- Hair/makeup: $10,000
- Full service planner: $10,000
- Groom wardrobe: $7,500
- Miscellaneous*: $20,000
I don’t go any higher than $250,000 because frankly at that point, you’re probably not constrained by much of a budget. And yes, $250,000 is considered the LOW end of a South Asian luxury wedding in the US. Some can cost up to $650,000 (y’all, please calm down—that’s a whole ass house!).
What do you think about these numbers for Indian weddings in the US? Outrageous? What you expected? Share in the comments!
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