The trends reveal that newer domestic destinations on the radar in 2024 were Daman, Khajuraho, and Mussoorie with Istanbul growing in popularity Internationally, Switzerland, Thailand, U.A.E and Italy were the most popular international wedding destinations for Indian couples while Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala continued to lead the way in domestic choices.
WedMeGood launched its 4th Annual Wedding Report, in 2024. To understand the pulse of the wedding market in India, WedMeGood, who is among the category leaders in the online wedding planning industry, conducted a comprehensive annual survey by quizzing over 3500 engaged couples from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities with weddings until March 31st 2025.
The comprehensive survey delves into key trends and insights surrounding wedding budgets, honeymoon preferences, wedding planners, and the growing influence of digital tools in shaping modern weddings, with the report covering key issues like spending habits, wedding trends, honeymoon destinations and more.
Key highlights
Avg wedding budgets are 35.6 Lakh INR, and reflect a 7% increase in wedding spending compared to last year. 9% of weddings planned cost over 1 cr and 82% of weddings are financed by personal/ family savings, 12% via wedding loans, there’s a 15% increase year on year in couples hiring wedding planners, while 1/4th of all weddings planned are now destination weddings, with over 60% of weddings costing over INR 1 crore were destination weddings and average honeymoon budget was INR 3.7 Lacs; Switzerland, the rest of Europe, Maldives, Bali and Thailand as top international choices for Indian honeymooners
Despite the digital trend, traditional methods continue to play a significant role, demonstrating a blend of tradition and modern technology in today’s matchmaking landscape and 1/3rd of all engaged couples met online via apps. Bumble and Hinge are the most popular dating apps and Shaadi.com for matrimony website. Some key trends include the rise of lab-grown diamonds, the emergence of social media content creators for weddings, the rise of eco-friendly weddings and more.
Shifting trends and consumer patterns:
● How Couples Meet: Social media apps gained more popularity than dating or matrimonial apps with 30% of couples having met online while 60% met offline with 10% through hybrid methods. Bumble and Hinge emerged as the most popular dating apps for engaged couples, with Shaadi.com in the matrimony space. More details in the report.
● Wedding Budgets and Financing: The average wedding budget stood at INR 36.5 Lacs with the average destination wedding budget being INR 51.1 Lacs. India’s income disparity can be seen in the fact that 9% of weddings planned cost over INR 1 core. 82% of weddings were financed by personal/ family savings, 12% via wedding loans and 6% via liquidation of assets like jewellery.
● Wedding Planners and Destination Weddings: Wedding planners are rising in popularity with 16.7% of couples hiring wedding planners; a 15% increase year on year compared to 2023- 24. This is still under-penetrated as 1/3rd of couples in the USA hire planners- double the penetration in India. The increase in destination weddings is largely driving this trend. Destination weddings now form 1/4th of total weddings planned, with over 60% of weddings costing over INR 1 crore being destination weddings. ( A more detailed insight into key cities and emerging cities as wedding destinations is provided in the report attached)
● Honeymoons: The average honeymoon budget was INR 3.7 Lacs and the average honeymoon duration was approximately 8.5 days. 40.2% of honeymoons were planned internationally. with Switzerland, the rest of Europe, Maldives, Bali and Thailand emerging as top international choices for Indian honeymooners.
● Lab-Grown Diamonds, Sustainability and Other Trends: 45.5% of respondents claimed to have opted for lab-grown diamonds with varied use cases (detailed analysis in the report attached), while 52% of couples opted for eco-conscious choices such as donating excess food or limiting the use of plastic.
● Cultural Trends and Thoughts on Marriage of Gen Z’s and Millenials: The report looks at cultural differences between Gen Z and Millennials concerning conversations before and after marriages and choices. Some interesting insights noted are the emergence of social media managers for weddings, the popularity of bachelorette trips and detailed discussions about finances and mental health before marriage.
● Factors Influencing Wedding Decisions: Family and cultural values, followed by social media, and wedding planning apps such as Wedmegood and Bollywood Weddings were the top influencers for wedding decisions. Wedding vendors are now increasingly being discovered online with 55% of the audience using either a social media app or a wedding planning app like WedMeGood for hiring them.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Ms. Mehak Sagar Shahani, Co-founder of WedMeGood said, “Our annual report highlights key trends in the wedding industry in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. The average wedding budget is INR 36.5 lacs this year, and in general, weddings have become 7% more expensive compared to 2023, owing to rising hospitality (venue and catering costs) in 2024. The rising popularity of destination weddings, professional wedding planners, and even social media content creators all point to Indian weddings moving towards a more organised, professionally planned space, whilst still retaining their strong family and cultural values which continue to be the number one influence for young couples. WedMeGood continues to be at the forefront of these transformative trends, offering innovative tech solutions to help couples make more informed bookings and vendor decisions, digital invitations, and tools to help families plan their weddings stress-free.”
The Indian wedding industry has experienced a significant transformation over the past four years, overcoming the challenges brought on by the pandemic; and showing incredible resilience and growth.
Images courtesy: Vibe Munnar Resort & Spa, Tamarind Global Incredible India
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