Weddings in India are not just events or a series of rituals – they are full-blown blockbusters. We’re sure every woman who’s grown up watching KJo’s dramatic or should we say dharmatic movie sets has dreamt of a big fat Punjabi wedding.
From Kareena Kapoor’s Bole Chudiya outfit designed by Manish Malhotra to professional dancers choreographing the family performances so every move screams, “Shava shava ft: Indian wedding.”
But sadly, you don’t have a B-town producer sponsoring the wedding – so you gotta make it easy on the pocket.
Worry not! As we’ve got you some tips and tricks to make your wedding day a grand memory without burning a hole in your pocket.
We know you’re super excited to plan your bachpann ka sapna – but let’s go step by step.
Step 1:
We all have that cousin who’s a pro in finances – it’s time to sit down with her. Think of your wedding as a startup and allocate budgets into every segment.
Your wedding planning needs an actual spreadsheet to analyse all expenses and profits. Let’s break it down for you:
- Looks (clothes, jewelry, accessories)
- Space (venue, decor, seating)
- Taste (food, drinks, dessert)
- Memories (photography & videography)
- Fun Stuff (music, entertainment, surprises)
Pro tip: Add 10–15% extra for those unexpected plot twists, like your guest list suddenly growing or your lehenga needing last-minute alterations.
Step 2: The Lehenga Listicle
Renting an outfit is the new sustainable trend – no more need to shy away from renting that Tarun Tahiliani outfit.
Or show off your old money style by upcycling your nani’s jewellery and mommy’s reception saree.
Just how luxury content creator Tarini Manchanda upcycled her grandmother’s gold kada’s into hoops for her pre-wedding outfit. And don’t even get us started on how she used the antique border from her great-grandmother’s saree to make her wedding outfit memorable.
And how can we miss out on the talk of the town — pre-loved bags! A stylish bottega veneta clutch is no longer going to cost you your kidney.
Don’t get overwhelmed! The trick is: List down your favourite designers and check out outfit rental and pre-loved bag selling sites. We know we’re totally crushing over these sites –
- Date the Ramp for luxury dresses and jewellery
- Flyrobe for renting bridal wear
- Confidential Couture for bridal handbags
Step 3: Don’t Go Overboard with the Cheese Board
Food is and will always be the highlight at an Indian wedding because hello? Who doesn’t attend weddings just for dal makhani and garlic naans?
But it doesn’t need to be a 20-cuisine buffet that leaves you broke and with excessive food waste.
So what’s the wallet-friendly hack to save on that one thing everyone is looking forward to?
- Focus on regional comfort foods: Keep food options your guests actually loveFor instance, you don’t need to go overboard on the dessert section. If your guests love just the traditional sweets aka gulab jamun and gajar ka halwa so let it be that way!
- Limit live counters — no one really needs sushi and tacos and pasta at the same wedding.
- Go per-plate pricing for smaller weddings; it’s chic and cost-effective.
- Keep it creative: Replace the dessert counter with summer popsicles, think fruity pops, kulfi sticks, and frozen treats that are as Insta-worthy as they are affordable.
- Cut down the options: Salads, but make it fancy: Instead of a dozen bland options, curate one grand signature salad that looks stunning and tastes amazing. Quality > quantity always wins.
Step 4: Party But Keep it Intimate
You don’t need to throw a 500-guest sangeet to have a good time. And celeb weddings have proven this over and over again – think Virushka’s intimate pre-wedding ceremonies or Alia and Ranbir’s cozy wedding setup at their own house.
But how do we go about it? After all, you cannot piss off the mausas and the fufads. So how to keep it small without sparking family drama?
Here’s how to strike the perfect balance:
- Segment the guest list:
- Pre-wedding events like mehendi, haldi, or cocktails? Keep them intimate and inner-circle only.
- The main wedding day? Invite the extended family and make them feel included.
- This way, everyone feels special without you footing the bill for five massive functions.
- Entertainment that fits the vibe: You don’t need a celebrity singer or over-the-top choreographers.
- Hire a local indie band or instrumentalists for soulful, budget-friendly music.
- Or create a shared Spotify playlist and let your friends take turns as DJs.
- Bonus: Cousin-led dance performances > pricey professional dancers.
- Create your own invites: Rather than considering high-end illustrators, create digital invitations using free online platforms such as Canva. This way you can save on print too!
Step 5: DIY Your Way into His Life
Pinterest inspo is cute — until you see the price tags.
The good news? DIY weddings are highly trending, and they’re not only budget-friendly but also unique and exciting.
Here’s how you can get the most of your wedding décor without spending a bomb:
- Fairy Lights Under the Stars: Elevate your space with strings of fairy lights hanging from trees, balconies, or even your terrace. Add colourful lanterns and mason jars with tea lights for an enchanting and dreamy glow.
- Personalized Signage: Bid goodbye to the overpriced décor boards and create your own.
- Paint wooden planks with romantic quotes, song lyrics, or fun cues such as “Dance Floor → This Way” or “Bar → Happiness Ahead”.
- Pro tip: These make cute keepsakes for your future home together.
- Memory Corners: Create a DIY corner using polaroids, handwritten notes, and your favorite holiday photos.
Guests will love walking down memory lane — and it doubles as low-cost decor. - Homemade Favors: Skip generic, expensive giveaways. Opt for craft meaningful favors such as:
- Homemade cookies or mini jars of spiced nuts.
- Hand-poured candles in your wedding scent.
- Little potted succulents with tags like “Let Love Grow.”
- Handmade Decor Touches:
- Mix thrifted fabrics for quirky table runners.
- You can utilize painted glass bottles as vases for fresh flowers.
- Repurpose old crates as stands for welcome hampers or drinks section.
So couples, budgeting takes you a long way. Spend smart so that you have the freedom to invest in what really matters later — beautiful home décor, a dreamy honeymoon, or start a business together!
A happy and joyous wedding is one that is filled with love, laughter and joy – not merely shiny backdrops, expensive DJs and high-end catering.
