WedMeGood’s 5th Annual Wedding Report reveals average wedding budget of INR 39.5 lakh, with experiential venues and digital payments reshaping India’s INR 6.5 lakh crore wedding economy
India’s booming wedding industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with couples prioritizing unique experiences over traditional extravagance while spending patterns continue their upward trajectory, according to the 5th Annual Wedding Report 2025 released by WedMeGood, the country’s leading wed-tech platform.
The comprehensive report, based on a survey of over 2,000 couples whose weddings were scheduled between April 2025 and March 2026, along with insights from 500+ wedding professionals, reveals that the average wedding budget has reached INR 39.5 lakh in 2025, marking an 8 percent year-on-year increase. Destination weddings command even higher budgets, averaging INR 58 lakh.
“Our Annual 2025 Report reflects how deeply Indian weddings are transforming, not in scale alone, but in meaning,” said Mehak Shahani, Co-Founder of WedMeGood. “They are becoming personal, experiential, culturally rooted, and tech-enabled -all at once. As the ecosystem grows, WedMeGood remains committed to helping couples make better decisions and helping vendors run stronger, more future-ready businesses.”
Regional Variations in Wedding Spending
The report highlights significant geographical disparities in wedding budgets across major Indian cities. Jaipur leads with the highest average wedding spend at INR 73 lakh, driven primarily by destination wedding expenditures. Delhi follows with INR 38 lakh, while Mumbai records INR 35 lakh. Bangalore and Hyderabad both average INR 37 lakh in wedding expenses.
These figures reflect not just regional economic differences but also varying cultural approaches to wedding celebrations and the availability of destination wedding infrastructure in different states.
Destination Weddings Reach Tipping Point
One of the report’s most striking findings is that one in four Indian weddings is now a destination wedding, representing a fundamental shift in how couples approach their celebrations. Notably, over 60 per cent of weddings with budgets exceeding INR 1 crore are destination affairs, indicating that high-net-worth individuals are leading this trend.
Contrary to expectations, destination weddings are remaining predominantly local, with nearly 90 per cent being hosted within India. Dehradun, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Shimla, Corbett, Udaipur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Goa have emerged as top national wedding destinations. For couples venturing abroad, Bali, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand are the preferred international locations.
Destination weddings also feature smaller guest lists, with an average of 280 attendees compared to 420 guests at local celebrations, suggesting couples are trading larger gatherings for more intimate, curated experiences.
Financing the Big Day
The report provides revealing insights into how couples finance their weddings. While 78.65 per cent fund celebrations through personal savings, 15.2 per cent rely on loans, including 8.85 per cent from banks and 6.25 per cent from friends and family. Another 6.25 percent liquidate assets to meet wedding expenses.
The average wedding loan size stands at INR 15.5 lakh, typically utilised for major expense categories including venues, jewellery, décor, and catering. This financing pattern reflects the significant economic commitment Indian families continue to make toward wedding celebrations.
Digital Payments Gain Ground
While cash transactions still dominate wedding payments at 62 percent, digital payment adoption is rising steadily, with 38 percent of couples reporting majority digital transactions. This shift is attributed to UPI and QR code convenience, GST compliance requirements encouraging traceable transactions, and practical limitations on large cash payments.
The trend toward digital payments represents a broader modernization of India’s wedding industry, bringing greater financial transparency and operational efficiency to an traditionally cash-heavy sector.
Experience-Driven Celebrations
The report confirms that Indian weddings are becoming increasingly experience-led, with 48 percent of respondents choosing offbeat wedding venues or organizing unique guest activities. Palace and heritage venues remain popular, but notable upticks are occurring in villa-style weddings (4 percent) and temple weddings (4.13 percent).
Venue selection is also becoming more practical, with 69 percent of couples preferring locations within 10 kilometers or a 30-40 minute drive. However, venue-related frustrations are mounting, with 37.91 percent of couples citing availability of auspicious dates (Saya dates) as their primary challenge, followed by pricing pressure (33.8 percent) and vendor panel restrictions (14.6 percent).
Pre-Wedding and Honeymoon Travel
Couples are investing significantly in travel experiences, with pre-wedding trips and honeymoon spending averaging INR 3.41 lakh. Goa, Jaipur, Mumbai, and Eastern India are preferred destinations for pre-wedding shoots, while Europe, Dubai, Bali, and Thailand top the list for post-wedding honeymoons.
Beauty Investments and Technology Adoption
Pre-wedding beauty preparation has become standardized, with 65 percent of brides and grooms undergoing clinical skin treatments. Notably, 17 percent of users opted for dermal fillers as part of their pre-wedding treatment plans, indicating growing acceptance of aesthetic procedures.
Technology is also making inroads into wedding planning, with nearly 24 percent of wedding vendors using artificial intelligence for photo and video editing, design mood boards, content drafting, and automated client communications. WedMeGood recently launched an AI-powered chatbot called Wedika to assist couples with wedding planning.
Changing Demographics and Relationship Patterns
The report reveals evolving social patterns in how couples meet and marry. While 76 percent met offline through work, college, or mutual connections, 24 percent connected online via matrimonial platforms, dating apps, or social media. Love marriages now account for 62 percent of unions compared to 38 percent arranged marriages. Additionally, 28.74 percent of couples lived together before marriage.
Marriage ages have also risen, averaging 28.6 years in Delhi, 30 years in Mumbai, and 29.5 years in Bangalore and Hyderabad, reflecting broader trends toward later marriages among educated urban Indians.
Vendor Selection and Reviews
Trust and transparency are increasingly important, with one in three couples checking online reviews before booking vendors. WedMeGood has positioned itself as a pioneer in providing genuine customer reviews of wedding professionals, addressing a critical need in an industry historically dependent on word-of-mouth recommendations.
Looking Ahead
As India’s INR 6.5 lakh crore wedding economy continues evolving, the report suggests the industry is poised for sustained growth driven by millennials and Gen Z couples who prioritize experiences, originality, and personalization over traditional ostentation. With digital payments expanding, venues diversifying, and destination celebrations becoming mainstream, the wedding ecosystem appears set for continued innovation and transformation in the years ahead.
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