Indian weddings are a celebration of love, family, and culture, with an estimated 3.2 million weddings scheduled to take place last year. These large affairs typically involve 400 guests, with over 80% of these being Hindu. The Indian wedding market was estimated to be $31 billion a year in 2008, and varies from 49 to 50, with over 80% of these being Hindu weddings.
The quintessential Indian wedding is known for being big, fat, glitzy, and recession-proof. However, the industry has faced challenges, including economic turbulence, social reform, modern technology, and the pandemic. The Big Day, a Netflix Original docu-series, highlights Indian weddings in their colorful, vibrant glory and straddles it gleefully with millennial expectations and the way they reinterpret traditions.
A recent survey conducted in 14 countries worldwide found that Indian weddings have the largest number of guests, with an average of 524 participants. The Indian wedding industry is estimated to be worth $50 billion a year, with an annual growth rate of 25% to 30%. Indians spend nearly $130 billion on weddings annually, making it one of the top 5 largest wedding markets.
The wedding season is expected to generate Rs4.25 trillion in business over just 23 auspicious days in November and December. In the North, weddings often feature elaborate Baraats, while in the South, weddings are known for their simplicity and cultural purity.
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How big is a 100 person wedding?
Is 100 guests too many for a wedding? Weddings happen once in a lifetime, so it’s realistic to plan a lot for yours. How many people to invite to your wedding depends on your family and friends. 75 to 100 guests is fine, but 150+ is too many. You might invite almost 100 people to your wedding. This is realistic since you and your fiancé have friends and family you want to be there. What should you consider when deciding how many guests to invite? Budget is the most important thing to consider when deciding your wedding size. Many couples have money problems after their wedding because they didn’t budget for how much it would cost to invite a particular number of people. If you need more money to invite more people, invite fewer. This will help you budget and plan an excellent honeymoon.
Friends and families – some people have many friends and family, and you wouldn’t want to leave anyone out. When planning your wedding, you and your fiancé should make a list of your family and friends and see how many people you can invite. If the list is too big for your budget, you can invite fewer distant friends and families and more close ones.
Is 100 person wedding small?
What is a big wedding? A big wedding is any wedding with over 100 people. The Knots Guest List Manager is useful for any size wedding, but especially for a long list of attendees. The free tool is easy to use and helps you organize your guest list, collect addresses, collect and track RSVPs, share your list with VIPs, and more. What is a small wedding? If you often look up how many people make a small wedding, we have the answer: Anything under 50 is a small wedding. Size isn’t everything. There are many small wedding ideas and venues that will impress guests just as much as a big wedding.
Wedding size and spending per guest. Most couples said that making sure guests had a good time was the most important thing when planning their wedding. This figure increased to 80% among couples with over 101 guests. No matter how big or small the wedding, couples are spending money on food, entertainment, and other things to make the evening fun for guests.
What is the average size of a wedding ceremony?
Wedding ceremony length. A wedding ceremony lasts about 30 minutes. This includes the time for the processional and one to two readings. If your bridal party is big or you have lots of parents and grandparents, you might need more time. If you have just parents and a small bridal party, it could be shorter. If you’re in a church or having a Catholic ceremony with a mass, you’ll need extra time. A wedding ceremony usually includes these key parts:
Processional: the wedding party, parents, or grandparents, and the bride walk down the aisle. Welcome: the officiant welcomes the guests and says an opening prayer. Readings: a religious text, poem, or excerpt from a special book. Vows: the I Dos are exchanged. Pronouncement and the kiss: the officiant pronounces you married, and you kiss your new spouse.
How big is a 150 person wedding?
What is a small wedding? There’s no one-size-fits-all wedding guest list. Different amounts of guests feel right to different people based on family, friends, culture, and religion. Mason considers 75 to 150 guests to be average, and anything over 150 to be large. For weddings under 75, she has three categories: Intimate wedding: 50 to 75 guests. Small wedding: Fewer than 50 guests. “That number can fit in a backyard with 6 or so tables,” she says. Tiny wedding: Fifteen people or less. You might also see “minimony” or “micro wedding” used to describe a wedding of this size.
How to Determine Your Wedding Size. The number of guests doesn’t matter. It’s about who’s important to you. Who do you call or text first when you have a big moment? Mason says the people you want to celebrate with are the ones you put on the list first.
Who pays for the wedding in Brazil?
Wedding cost. Brazilian weddings are expensive. In the past, the bride’s family paid for the wedding. Now, both the bride and groom’s families split the cost. The cost is shared by the bride and groom and both families help with preparations. It doesn’t matter if you have a traditional or modern wedding. What matters is the celebration, the enjoyment, and the commitment. Weddings are one of the biggest moments in a person’s life. Meeting your soulmate makes a big difference. Couples often like Brazilian wedding traditions because they’re fun and positive. If you do a Brazilian wedding, you better have fun.
How big is a traditional wedding?
How many guests are invited to a wedding? A small wedding has 50 or fewer guests, a medium wedding has 50 to 150 guests, and a large wedding has over 150 guests. If your family has big weddings with lots of guests, a small wedding might seem small to you. Similarly, if you’ve only been to very small weddings, a big wedding might seem huge. These numbers will be different for everyone. How do you decide which size is right for you? The main factor in creating a guest list is usually budget. Your guest list and budget will help you decide which size wedding is right for you, says Tara. If your family is big, you can’t have a small wedding. How does budget affect this? Think about what you can afford when choosing the right size event. If your budget is $65,000, it would mean two different things for 50 people versus 200 people, Tara says.
How many people attend the average Indian wedding?
How many guests are invited to an Indian wedding? An Indian wedding is a big event, with about 400 guests. However, Shah says that even though most Indian weddings have a lot of guests, it’s important to read the invitation to see if you’re invited alone or with someone.
Is religion included in most Indian weddings? Hinduism is the most common religion in India and is often observed at Indian weddings. Some Indian couples observe Sikh traditions at their weddings, while others have secular weddings. If the wedding you’re at is Hindu, Diwan says the ceremony can be long and mostly in Sanskrit. Most Indian weddings have a program for guests. It explains the ceremony and what it means. The pandit will translate during the ceremony, so guests will understand.
Is a 100 person wedding too small?
Is 100 people too small for a wedding? A wedding with 100 guests is not too small. A wedding is either small or large depending on who you ask. Some couples want big weddings with lots of guests, while others want small, intimate weddings with just close friends and family. Your wedding should reflect your preferences and the type of event you want.
Cost of feeding 100 wedding guests. Feeding 100 guests is one of the biggest wedding expenses. The cost per person varies depending on the menu, venue, and location. The cost of feeding a wedding guest is between $10 and $150. If you want a budget wedding, think about how much it will cost to feed your guests when you decide how many to invite. A smaller guest list costs less to feed. Think about your personal tastes when choosing the menu. If you want a fancy menu, it will cost more per person.
Which country spends the most on weddings?
Americans spend more on their weddings than people in other countries. In 2023, they spent an average of $30,000, up 2.7% from 2019. But inflation has made weddings cheaper. In 2023 dollars, weddings in 2019 cost about $35,435. Wedding costs have stayed the same for decades. In 2023 dollars, an average 1990 wedding cost $35,400, according to The Wedding Report. The global wedding services industry is expected to reach $429.56 billion by 2030, up 70% since 2022. But the cost isn’t the same in every country. Peerspace looked at global wedding data from The Knot between 2019 and 2023 and reported how wedding spending in 10 countries, including the US, varies and how it has changed. The US spends the most on weddings, but the UK has the highest per-guest costs. A bar chart shows how much US weddings cost compared to other countries. The US spends the most on weddings. Wedding costs in India varied. 15% spent more than $45,000, while the midpoint for educated couples was $25,000.
Which is the richest wedding in the world?
The five most expensive weddings in the world: Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal, Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia, Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock.
Which culture has the longest weddings?
The Zulu wedding lasts up to eight hours. Families and newlyweds meet several times to talk about their future and pay respect to their ancestors. The bride must change into three different outfits to show her beauty to her new husband’s family. The ceremony is so special that she can’t wear just one wedding dress. Women and older people are treated with the greatest respect. Women start marriages, and the groom is called last. Zulu marriages also include dancing and singing. Read also: Nigerian tribes with the cheapest marriage list.
What culture has 7 day wedding?
Wedding traditions vary around the world. A Moroccan wedding can last up to seven days. A week-long wedding was traditional in Morocco. It is now usually three days. Some couples still choose an extended wedding, which is full of celebrations. Most of the week is spent on pre-wedding ceremonies, preparation rituals, and days-long feasts. Some events at a Moroccan wedding include:
The wedding contract is signed. Guests aren’t invited to this part of the wedding. It usually just includes the couple and the bride’s guardian. Once the paperwork is signed, the couple, wali, and witnesses go with the imam to sign the marriage contract. Even though the contract is signed, the marriage isn’t considered final until after the wedding. Hammam day: On hammam day, women get a spa day. The bride, her female relatives, friends, and neighbors usually go. The bride will be pampered before the wedding. She will have her body and hair washed, massaged, perfumed, and waxed. The henna party is a gathering of women where the bride gets henna tattoos on her hands and feet. The henna party is also a female gathering in which the bride will have henna tattoos done on her hands and feet. Henna is a sign of fertility, beauty, and optimism. Henna tattoos are added to give the bride luck in her married life. The blanket tradition: The couple will be draped in a wedding blanket during the ceremony. Wedding blankets are passed down from generation to generation and are usually a neutral color. The ceremony is spread out over several days. Guests are expected to bring milk and dates. Music is usually played. When the couple enters the venue, people will bless them. Food: A Moroccan wedding lasts several days, so there’s lots of food. The wedding feast will include grilled chicken with saffron sauce and lamb tagine with prunes and almonds. Pastries are also served, so guests can have more than one sweet treat. Some weddings have an entire sheet at each table.
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On this World Wide Wed episode, best friends Sonya and Harsh come from two different regions of India, so when it came to their …
My dad used to run a printing business in Bangalore. When I was 17, we didn’t have the money for engineering college seat. I thought of dropping out and start work at the printing shop on a full time basis. Just a week before CET seat selection, a rich guy came with a massive order to print his daughter’s wedding invitation. The entire order gave us a profit of Rs 9000, which was exactly the amount needed for an engineering seat back then. I would say, Before the 2000s, weddings ran the economic engine of the country.
Wedding are once in a lifetime experience. And if someone want to make it memorable then it’s their choice. I appreciate it. Edit: People who fall in debt after weddings don’t really want to celebrate it big but are actually pressurized by the society. Obviously there is need to eradicate this problem so that no one is pressurized in spending more or less. What’s important is freedom.
Yeah its their choice to be financially unstable, if they can afford then its good but the problem is most of the weddings in India are funded by debts and in rural areas those debts come from unauthorized sources which make them fall in a debt trap so tell me is it that important to so off your wedding or just be a financially literate person and spend only if you Can afford it
Personally speaking, there is nothing wrong with big fat weddings. There are many caterers, designers, jewelers, decorators etc who get a job through such weddings. If you have the money for a BIG FAT wedding, go for it. The problem starts when an average middle class girl wants an Ambani style wedding and they force their parents to take a loan and organise such a wedding. Stick to your budget. Just because some people don’t have the money to do a big fat wedding, does not mean you have to be jealous or frustrated looking at somebody else’s Big Fat Wedding. Some people seriously need to Grow Up.
I am pretty sure it is going to grow like other sectors and the most of the growth will come internal standardization and Premiumisation of Products as Wedding is slipping down in the priority list of Indians and when the mean population age surpasses 35, the weddings will start to decrease even more.
Another fact women makes more impulsive purchase need to attract them in the looks . They are more of feeling it visually. I observed these things among my surroundings. The brides and grooms are becoming more status oriented when it comes to major status oriented products like stage settings, clothing and food menu
Sometimes you are even valued for the expensive gifts that are sent to the groom’s family from the bride’s family(it may be plates,spoons,gold jewellery and property etc)and even how many varieties of dishes were prepared for the wedding and we can’t say anything because in the end they say it’s not the gifts it’s about self respect of the family
Ultimately it’s what you PRIORITIZE in your life. Speaking for me, I DO NOT want neither me nor my mom spending an exorbitant amount of money on my wedding. I’ve been saving up for a house and will not participate in some show which caters to some ego contest. And I don’t have any right to my mom’s hard earned money for a three day party. 🤷♀️
Such grandios and pompous celebrations are exactly against the ethos of the Indian civilzation. With so much left for improvement in our country it is inhumane to burn money on such meaningless events. And how ridiculous that these are the things we are giving the world as talking points, not inventions and discoveries but these frawny affairs!
It’s only a North-India thing. South Indian families spend relatively less (although they have more money). Marriage halls are cheaper, food is simpler, the event is short, no insane flight or train booking or ‘wedding season’. Please stop this plague of weddings in an already poor country; Instead please nudge people to spend on health, comfortable living, career support etc.
Wedding is one of the most Precious Movement is Human Life 👩❤️👨 We spend almost all life Savings on this Occasion That’s good thing we celebrate this occasion with such high Spirit But it should be done according to your Capability not in Comparison with Other’s Investing on that things Such as Gold Jewellery, Property, etc which gives Profit in Long Term Rather than on some Luxury Resort or Fancy Costly Decoration which will be there for couple of day’s Try to go for Sustainable, Eco Friendly ways which benefits all of us Don’t try to do all thing’s Try to do quality thing’s For ex – 40 Varieties of Food Doesn’t matter if quality is bad Rather than focus on which can be best even if variety decrease but quality will increase Elite Class has many options to go by, It doesn’t matter them much if they spended huge amount of money Common People should go by there Budget Don’t take Loan or EMI for Unnecessary Things – Pre Wedding Photoshoot, Cocktail Party, etc
It is so strange to see the stereotype of Indian guy speaking in hindi. Indians speak in Tamil,kannada,telugu and Malayalam. Don’t know how long bollywood wil represent India. It actually represent a bunch of pani puri states that succumbed to the mughals. This notions creates a false narrative among western audience. Varun should speak in kannada because he represents us.
Apparently as a child, before I even understood race, I was obsessed with Indian women. Mom tells me that as a toddler, we lived in an area with a very high population of Indian and travelor people. And the Indian women often dressed in traditional garb. I would get so excited to see them and wander off from my mom and tell them how beautiful they were and how beautiful their clothes were and I’d ask if I could touch their hair and clothes because it was so new and exciting. They almost always said yes. And even though I don’t remember my life as a two year old, those experiences stuck with me. They really shaped a lot of my experiences as I grew up. I dressed up as an Indian princess from one of my favorite books for a book report. I got a diversity scholarship to college. I’ve felt so much kindness from these immigrants and daughters of immigrants. The only thing I remember is the way that some of the women’s dresses felt and jingled in my hands and that they touched my hair and smiled at me. I felt very loved and respected. I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of amazing people who have somehow maintained the impossible balance between assimilation and maintaining their culture heritage. Thank you to all of those anonymous women that nurtured me before I could even understand. I also am grateful to all of the black ladies and old ladies who felt comfortable to touch my hair (with permission) and tell me I was beautiful despite me not having traditional white textured hair. It made me feel special and formed a huge part of my identity.
Now THIS is how you celebrate a marriage! It’s a 3 day epic event! I would love to attend something like this it must be so much fun! I loved the first part where they had the Bollywood style dinner and talent show… there was so much color and it was so bright! I love the beautiful Fabrics used in this type of clothing ❤️ simply amazing. The whole weekend was beautiful. Congratulations to the bride and groom and to each of their respective families!! Thank you for sharing your wedding with us!
I am not Hindu, but I have a great admiration for their culture, I been wishing to learn the language, I know they have at least 50 but still, so I can connect in a new level with the culture, I found weddings to be one of the most pure and truetful ways of showing culture to others, and East Asian weddings are some of the most amazing and beautiful I had ever had the pleasure to watch, even tho it would be almost impossible for me to witness one of them in person
not the worst portrayal, but also not the best. Wedding ceremony traditions and rituals are not divided by north and south, rather there are regional differences. Punjabi and Gujaratis are both North Indians, but have different traditions they emphasize during a wedding. Similarly, not all South Indians are the same. I think perhaps this was a very important point missed by this article.
How can you miss the phere and the vidai? Vidai is very much emotional so when the ceremony ends and the bride finally leaves her house and her family and her Ma and Papa, there is usually a lot of crying. Phere is what the groom and bride have to take 7 revolutions around a sacred fireplace called Mandap this means their bond will not break even in 7 births or ages. Believe me Indian weddings are like a festival and they are very very BEAUTIFUL.
This is beautiful to watch. I am East Indian as well. My parents are from Kerala, India and I am born and raised in Alberta, Canada. I wish I could have a wedding similar to this. These traditions and ceremonies are beautiful. In Kerala, we are Orthodox Christian but these traditions are beautiful to watch. It made me want to cry perusal many of these ceremonies. Thank you for this article. I wish this couple blessing and happiness always. PS: If you have a friend that is devote, committed and single, (lol) please let me know 🙂 Congratulations to the beautiful bride and groom 🙂
I love the fact that they focused on the rituals and told the significance of each one of them. A lot of western people complain about how long Indian weddings are but it’s long because we have a lot of such rituals and cultural pre and post wedding celebrations and events, each of which has a deep meaning and significance and they begin atleast a week or 10 days before the wedding.
I love desi weddings! One tradition that’s been present at weddings I’ve attended (and will definitely be at mine in the far future) is where someone from the bride’s side of the family (usually the bride’s sister or next closest female relative) steals the shoes of the groom. If they succeed, the groom must pay them to get his shoes back. It’s called joota chupai
Everyone who said so beautiful things about my culture and my country I am grateful, really . Thankyou, I was just on the brink of concluding that everyone hates me, my culture as well as my country … But you people just saved me from reaching that, thankyou. Every person and every culture is beautiful let’s hate noone
Omg my people came from ancient India Roma gypsies one of half of our tribes comes from south India the other from north .. and this explains everything why my people have little bit different cultures and kinda beefing with each other about stuff like who is the real Roma when each tribes came from different Indian cast’s lol .. god bless this couple and India 🇮🇳 🙏 ❤
Thank you very much! Indian weddings are so beautiful and I have always been curious about them but didn’t want to offend anyone. This was filmed beautifully and the information amazing and informative. Congratulations on your beautiful wedding and I hope you have a long, prosperous marriage filled with love, happiness and friendship.
There is /so much joy/ in this wedding! A perfect blend of cultural respect for India, and modern American tradition. I especially loved the way everyone of all ages was dancing throughout — with a complete, serene lack of self consciousness. Including that ridiculously handsome groom (who has real moves). And those clothes! The bride looks radiant and completely gorgeous — and that lenga, wow. Just wow. Is the anything more beautiful than an Indian woman in a lengha? This one suits the bride perfectly, complimented so well with the traditional jewellery and henna. Really, I think the India cultural is a serious contender for best weddings (as judged by, how much do I wish I was there?) Congratulations to them both!
this is a punjabi hindu wedding… not north indian. In northern india, there are other cultures too and they don’t all have the same wedding as punjabis. same with southern india. different states/regions in india have different wedding style and customs. it’s not divided as ‘north’ or ‘south’. 😂😂 and plus your wedding will look different based on religion……indian Christian wedding ceremonies are different to hindus, sikhs and muslims.
At same time it’s transient as we don’t know tomorrow what happen to couple but they live each day their lives fully. Even though it’s materialist and not all can afford but ones who do have a treat. So everyone admires and look them. But my well wishes to this family and couple. It’s beautiful indeed
Traditionally, haldi isn’t applied when they have already slept together. They have to be virgin but I guess nowadays it’s not that important. That said, this family is extremely wealthy. A lot of people see these articles and the Indian movies where everything is lavish but the majority can’t pay for this luxury. The rituals may remain the same but the execution is less expensive.
Her dress and necklace were stunning! This reminds me my cousin-brother’s wedding except there was a lot more people. My mom has 4 sisters and 8 brothers so I have alot of uncles and aunts which makes this look kind of small compared to all the Indian weddings that I have been to. Also, in this article they don’t show the most important parts of the wedding.