Marriage Budget — Discovery Notes

Average Indian Wedding Cost (2025-26)

By Economic Segment

Cost Breakdown by Category (% of total budget)

CategoryShareExample at ₹15L budget
Venue & banquet hall25-30%₹3,75,000 — ₹4,50,000
Catering & food20-25%₹3,00,000 — ₹3,75,000
Jewellery & gifts15-20%₹2,25,000 — ₹3,00,000
Clothing & grooming10-15%₹1,50,000 — ₹2,25,000
Decoration & flowers5-10%₹75,000 — ₹1,50,000
Photography & videography3-5%₹45,000 — ₹75,000
Music & entertainment3-5%₹45,000 — ₹75,000
Invitation & stationery1-2%₹15,000 — ₹30,000
Transport & logistics2-3%₹30,000 — ₹45,000
Miscellaneous (pandit, tips, misc)5-10%₹75,000 — ₹1,50,000

City Multiplier

City TierMultiplierExamples
Metro (Tier 1)1.5× — 2.0×Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata
Tier 21.0× (baseline)Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Pune
Tier 30.6× — 0.8×Smaller cities and towns
Destination wedding2.0× — 3.0×Udaipur, Goa, Jim Corbett, Jaisalmer

Per Plate Cost (all-inclusive)

TypeRange
Vegetarian (Tier 2)₹1,500 — ₹2,500 per plate
Vegetarian (Metro)₹2,500 — ₹5,000 per plate
Non-vegetarian premium+20% — 30% over veg
Live counters / multi-cuisine+₹500 — ₹1,500 per plate

Seasonal Pricing

SeasonMonthsImpact
Peak (shaadi season)Nov — Feb+20% — 30% premium on venues
ShoulderMar — JunStandard pricing
Off-peak (monsoon)Jul — Sep10% — 20% discount on venues
Auspicious dates (muhurat)VariableAdditional 10-15% premium

GST Rates (applicable to wedding expenses)

ServiceGST Rate
Venue / banquet hall (>₹7,500/day)18%
Catering (standalone)5% (no ITC)
Catering bundled with venue18%
Photography & videography18%
Event management18%
Decoration & florist18%
Tent / pandal18%
Transport (cab/bus)5%
Jewellery (gold)3%
Clothing (above ₹1,000)12%

Wedding Savings Plan Data Points

Sources