Marriage Budget Calculator India — FY 2025-26

Q: How much does an average Indian wedding cost in 2025?

An average Indian wedding costs between ₹5 lakh and ₹25 lakh for middle-class families. Upper-middle-class weddings typically cost ₹25 lakh to ₹1 crore, while luxury weddings can exceed ₹1 crore. The national average across all segments is approximately ₹12-15 lakh. Costs vary significantly based on city (Metro vs Tier 2), guest count, season (Nov-Feb peak), and food preferences.

Q: What is the typical per plate cost at an Indian wedding?

Per plate costs range from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000 depending on the city and menu. In Tier 2 cities, a vegetarian buffet costs ₹1,500-₹2,500 per plate. In metros like Mumbai or Delhi, expect ₹2,500-₹5,000. Non-vegetarian menus add 20-30% to the base cost. GST on standalone catering is 5%, but if bundled with venue, the combined rate is 18%.

Q: How should I split the wedding budget across categories?

A typical Indian wedding budget splits as follows: Venue 25-30%, Catering 20-25%, Jewellery & gifts 15-20%, Clothing 10-15%, Decoration 5-10%, Photography 3-5%, Music 3-5%, Invitations 1-2%, Transport 2-3%, and Miscellaneous 5-10%. These are industry averages from WeddingWire India and WedMeGood surveys.

Q: How can I save money on my wedding?

The most effective ways to reduce wedding costs: Reduce guest count (every 50 fewer guests saves ₹75,000-₹2,50,000 on food alone), choose off-peak dates (Jul-Sep for 10-20% discounts), pick Tier 2 venues (30-50% less than metro), choose buffet over sit-down (saves 20-30%), negotiate bundled packages, and start saving early via SIP or RD 18-24 months before the wedding.

Q: What GST applies to wedding expenses?

GST varies by category: Venue/banquet hall 18%, Standalone catering 5% (no ITC), Catering bundled with venue 18%, Photography 18%, Event management 18%, Decoration 18%, Gold jewellery 3%, Clothing above ₹1,000 is 12%, Transport 5%. Always clarify if vendor quotes are GST-inclusive or exclusive.

Plan your wedding budget with India's most detailed marriage cost calculator. Break down expenses across 10 categories, calculate per plate cost with GST, and find out exactly how much to save monthly. Covers Metro, Tier 2, Tier 3, and destination weddings with city-adjusted pricing.

Plan your wedding budget and see how costs are allocated across categories

Total wedding budget

₹

Your total budget including all ceremonies and events

Expected guest count

guests

Total guests across all wedding events

City tier

Metro cities cost 1.5-2x more than Tier 2 cities

Food preference

Non-veg adds 20-30% to catering cost

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How to Use This Calculator

Wedding Budget Planner tab

Enter your total wedding budget, expected guest count, city tier, and food preference. The calculator shows a detailed allocation across 10 wedding expense categories (venue, catering, jewellery, clothing, decoration, photography, music, invitations, transport, miscellaneous). It also calculates the average cost per guest and a city-adjusted estimate.

Per-Plate Cost tab

Enter your food budget, guest count, and meal type (buffet, sit-down, or live counters). The calculator shows your all-inclusive per plate cost, GST impact, and how much you save by reducing guest count. Use this to negotiate with caterers and optimize your food budget.

Wedding Savings Plan tab

Enter your wedding date (in months), estimated cost, and current savings. The calculator shows exactly how much you need to save monthly via SIP or RD to fully fund your wedding by the target date, factoring in returns on your savings.

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The Formula

The wedding budget is allocated using industry-standard percentages. The savings plan uses the future value of annuity formula:

Budget Allocation:
Category Amount = Total Budget × Category Percentage
Per Guest Cost = Total Budget ÷ Guest Count
City-Adjusted Cost = Total Budget × City Multiplier

Per Plate Cost:
Adjusted Budget = Food Budget × Meal Multiplier × Non-Veg Multiplier
Per Plate = Adjusted Budget ÷ Guest Count
GST on Catering = Per Plate × 5% (standalone) or 18% (bundled with venue)

Monthly Savings (SIP) Needed:
Shortfall = Estimated Cost − Current Savings
Monthly SIP = Shortfall ÷ [((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) / r × (1 + r)]

Where:
r = Monthly rate of return (annual rate / 12 / 100)
n = Number of months until wedding

Budget percentages are based on WeddingWire India (2024) and WedMeGood survey data. City multipliers reflect actual venue and vendor pricing differences across Indian cities. The savings formula assumes investments at the beginning of each month.

Example

Rahul & Priya — Jaipur wedding, &rupee;15 lakh budget, 300 guests

Rahul and Priya are planning a traditional wedding in Jaipur (Tier 2 city) with a budget of &rupee;15 lakh and 300 guests. They prefer vegetarian food and want to know how to allocate their budget and save for it over the next 12 months.

Step 1: Budget allocation

Total budget&rupee;15,00,000

Venue & banquet&rupee;4,12,500 (27.5%)

Catering & food&rupee;3,37,500 (22.5%)

Jewellery & gifts&rupee;2,62,500 (17.5%)

Clothing & grooming&rupee;1,87,500 (12.5%)

Step 2: Per plate calculation

Food budget&rupee;3,37,500

Guest count300

Per plate (veg buffet)&rupee;1,125

Per plate with GST (5%)&rupee;1,181

Step 3: Savings plan (12 months, &rupee;3L already saved)

Amount needed&rupee;12,00,000

Current savings&rupee;3,00,000

Monthly SIP (at 8% return)&rupee;96,370

Total available at wedding&rupee;15,24,000

With a &rupee;15 lakh budget in Jaipur, Rahul and Priya can host a comfortable wedding for 300 guests. The per plate cost of ~&rupee;1,125 is within the typical Tier 2 range. They need to save approximately &rupee;96,000/month over 12 months to bridge the gap between their current savings and the total budget.

FAQ

How much does an average Indian wedding cost in 2025? ▼

An average Indian wedding costs between &rupee;5 lakh and &rupee;25 lakh for middle-class families. Upper-middle-class weddings typically cost &rupee;25 lakh to &rupee;1 crore, while luxury weddings can exceed &rupee;1 crore. The national average across all segments is approximately &rupee;12-15 lakh. Costs vary significantly based on city (Metro vs Tier 2), guest count, season (Nov-Feb peak), and food preferences. A Mumbai wedding typically costs 1.5-2x more than a similar wedding in Jaipur or Lucknow.

What is the typical per plate cost at an Indian wedding? ▼

Per plate costs range from &rupee;1,500 to &rupee;5,000 depending on the city and menu. In Tier 2 cities, a vegetarian buffet costs &rupee;1,500-&rupee;2,500 per plate. In metros like Mumbai or Delhi, expect &rupee;2,500-&rupee;5,000. Non-vegetarian menus add 20-30% to the base cost. Live counters and multi-cuisine options add another &rupee;500-&rupee;1,500 per plate. GST on standalone catering is 5%, but if catering is bundled with the venue rental, the combined rate is 18%.

How should I split the wedding budget across categories? ▼

A typical Indian wedding budget splits as follows: Venue 25-30%, Catering 20-25%, Jewellery & gifts 15-20%, Clothing 10-15%, Decoration 5-10%, Photography 3-5%, Music 3-5%, Invitations 1-2%, Transport 2-3%, and Miscellaneous 5-10%. These are industry averages. Your actual split will depend on priorities — some families allocate more to jewellery and less to venue, or more to photography and less to decoration. The key is to plan all categories upfront so there are no surprises.

How can I save money on my wedding? ▼

The most effective ways to reduce wedding costs: (1) Reduce guest count — every 50 fewer guests saves &rupee;75,000-&rupee;2,50,000 on food alone. (2) Choose off-peak dates — Jul-Sep weddings get 10-20% discounts on venues. (3) Tier 2 venues — cost 30-50% less than metro cities with equal quality. (4) Buffet over sit-down — saves 20-30%. (5) Negotiate bundled packages — venues offering inclusive packages (decor + catering + DJ) are usually cheaper than hiring separately. (6) Start saving early — 18-24 months of SIP in debt funds gives your money time to grow. (7) Book vendors early — prices often increase 10-15% as the date approaches.

What GST applies to wedding expenses? ▼

GST on wedding services varies by category: Venue/banquet hall: 18% (on rooms above &rupee;7,500/day). Standalone catering: 5% (no input tax credit). Catering bundled with venue: 18%. Photography & videography: 18%. Event management: 18%. Decoration & florist: 18%. Gold jewellery: 3%. Clothing above &rupee;1,000: 12%. Transport (cab/bus): 5%. When negotiating with vendors, always clarify if the quoted price is GST-inclusive or exclusive. This can add 5-18% to your bill if not accounted for.

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