The luxury Indian wedding industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with ultra-luxury celebrations taking centre stage
The Indian wedding market is expanding at an unprecedented pace, particularly in the ultra-luxury segment, fueled by a growing affluent population and evolving consumer aspirations. The sector is projected to grow by 6.5-7% annually in 2025, with high-end fashion, bespoke experiences, and immersive shopping playing pivotal roles in this surge.
In 2024, an estimated 4.8 million weddings were held, generating a staggering $70.4 billion in revenue. Notably, 9% of these weddings had budgets exceeding ₹1 crore, with over 60% of them being destination weddings, an indicator of the rising preference for opulent, experience-driven nuptials.
As per the latest reports, the Indian wedding industry is currently valued at approximately ₹10.79 lakh crore, nearly double the size of the U.S. wedding market. Today’s Traveller takes a deep dive into some of the factors behind the meteoric rise of ultra-luxury Indian weddings.
The Grand Theatre of Indian Weddings
In India, weddings aren’t just celebrations, they’re full-blown, no-expense-spared productions where love meets limitless luxury. What was once a simple, heartfelt affair has now turned into a grand spectacle, complete with palatial venues, Michelin-starred feasts, and couture fit for royalty. Forget ‘big fat,’ Indian weddings are larger than life where the guest list includes Bollywood royalty, the décor could outshine a film set, and the entertainment budget might just rival a music festival. As India’s economy flourishes and global trends seep in, weddings have become the ultimate status symbol. Because if you’re not making headlines, did you even get married?
Indian weddings have traditionally been elaborate, with rituals spanning several days. However, the scale and execution of modern ultra-luxury weddings have reached heights previously unseen. According to a 2023 report by KPMG India, the Indian wedding industry is valued at over $75 billion, with high-net-worth families spending anywhere between $2 million and $15 million on a single wedding. Increasingly, families no longer view weddings merely as a personal milestone but as a global event, meticulously curated by international planners and stylists.
Destination Weddings: From Palaces to Private Islands
The “Big Fat Indian Destination Wedding” Market is Booming with the industry estimated to be worth ₹50,000 crore ($6 billion) and growing at 25-30% annually. A luxury destination wedding can cost anywhere between ₹5 crore and ₹50 crore, depending on the extravagance of the venue and arrangements. Indian couples are no longer bound by geography when it comes to saying “I do”. Why settle for a local venue when you can whisk your entire guest list away to a palace, a private island, or an entire town?
While Rajasthan’s regal Umaid Bhawan(Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas had their lavish multi-day wedding here, with guests staying in over 350 rooms) and Udaipur’s dreamy Lake Palace still reign supreme, an increasing number of families are taking their wedding celebrations global by exchanging vows among the vineyards of Tuscany, on the sun-kissed beaches of the Maldives, against the breathtaking backdrop of the snow-capped Dolomites, or the entire town of Positano, Italy, which was taken over for a week in 2022 with luxury yachts, private helicopters, and candlelit cliffside dinners.
These destination weddings aren’t just about tying the knot; they’re about taking over entire luxury resorts (or towns) for days on end, where every guest is treated like royalty. From extravagant welcome soirées to personalised cultural experiences, no detail is too small. Think sunrise yoga by the ocean, followed by a champagne brunch, and then an after-party that somehow blends Bollywood glitz with European chic. It’s less about a wedding and more about creating a blockbuster event where everyone leaves with a lifetime of Instagram-worthy memories and possibly a mild case of jet lag.
The Art of Curation: Wedding Designers, Planners, and Haute Couture
This transformation owes much to India’s elite wedding planners and designers, who craft each wedding as an immersive experience. Industry pioneers such as Vandana Mohan of The Wedding Design Company and Manish Malhotra, known for his couture-inspired décor, have redefined luxury in Indian weddings.
They create themes inspired by European royal courts, Persian palaces, and even futuristic aesthetics, ensuring that no two weddings are alike. These planners collaborate with florists from France, lighting experts from Italy, and culinary artists from Japan, orchestrating events where every detail is curated to perfection.
The rise of ultra-luxury expensive Indian weddings has also fuelled India’s couture industry. Brides are no longer confined to traditional red lehengas but commission custom ensembles from leading designers such as Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Tarun Tahiliani, and Falguni Shane Peacock.
Some even collaborate with international fashion houses like Dior and Chanel to create personalised couture infused with Indian craftsmanship. Meanwhile, grooms embrace luxury with bespoke sherwanis woven with gold threads and accessories sourced from heritage jewellery houses.
The Entertainment Extravaganza
No luxury Indian wedding is complete without high-profile entertainment, and the stakes have never been higher. Gone are the days when a few Bollywood dance performances would suffice. Today, couples seek world-class musical acts, private concerts, and immersive theatrical performances that rival international music festivals.
From global icons like Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay to exclusive performances by Bollywood’s biggest stars, these Indian weddings leave no stone unturned in delivering a spectacular show. The Ambani wedding in 2018, where Beyoncé performed at a private pre-wedding celebration, set a new benchmark for Indian wedding entertainment. Since then, international headliners have become an essential part of the ultra-luxury Indian wedding landscape, with families willing to pay exorbitant sums for top-tier acts.
Beyond musical performances, ultra-luxury Indian weddings often feature aerial dancers, interactive digital art installations, fireworks displays, and choreographed processions, ensuring that guests are entertained at every turn.
The Social Media Wedding Revolution
Gone are the days when wedding albums gathered dust in a cupboard. In the digital age, weddings aren’t just celebrated, they’re broadcasted. Ultra-luxury Indian weddings have become global spectacles, thanks to professional content curation that ensures every moment is Instagram-worthy, TikTok-trendy, and Pinterest-perfect.
Couples now hire digital storytellers, cinematographers, and social media strategists (yes, that’s a job now) to craft an ultra-luxury Indian wedding that not only wows in person but also racks up likes, shares, and the occasional viral moment. Forget about simply looking good; today’s bride and groom want their wedding to trend.
From meticulously curated décor that complements the latest filter trends to cinematic wedding films shot like a Netflix original, everything is designed for maximum online visibility. Event planners, venues, and designers are chosen with social media in mind, because if your ultra-luxury Indian wedding doesn’t look like a fashion editorial, are you even really married?
The “Eco-Friendly but Make It Fancy” Approach
Amidst all the extravagance, a surprising new trend is emerging—sustainable ultra-luxury Indian weddings. Yes, you read that right. Who said you can’t have an Indian wedding dripping in diamonds and be kind to the planet? High-profile families are proving that going green doesn’t mean compromising on glamour.
Zero-waste catering is on the rise (because nothing says opulence like a compost-friendly canapé), locally sourced flowers are replacing exotic blooms flown in from five continents, and repurposable décor is now a must-have. Some couples are even ditching elaborate paper invites in favour of chic digital ones because honestly, most paper invitations end up being fridge magnets or forgotten in a drawer anyway.
Leading the way in this eco-luxe movement was the much-talked-about pre-wedding bash of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in 2024, where solar-powered décor, plant-based cuisine, and sustainably designed couture proved that you can save the planet while still throwing a wedding worthy of royalty.
This shift is redefining the future of grand Indian weddings, demonstrating that luxury and responsibility can go hand in hand. After all, if you can have a carbon-neutral wedding and a Beyoncé performance at the same weekend, why wouldn’t you?
The Future of Indian Weddings: Bigger, Bolder, and Virtually Unstoppable
As India’s elite continue to redefine the meaning of lavish, the ultra-luxury Indian wedding market is only getting bigger—literally and digitally. The future? A seamless blend of age-old traditions and futuristic tech that would make even sci-fi movies jealous. We’re talking immersive experiences, augmented reality, and metaverse-based multi-dimensional pre-wedding celebrations.
Picture this: digital invitations that come with personalised AI-generated messages (because even wedding invites deserve a tech upgrade), interactive holograms of distant relatives giving their blessings (finally, no more buffering on Zoom calls), and entire sangeet performances choreographed using virtual reality. And let’s not forget about AI-generated bridal looks because who has time for a hundred outfit trials when technology can do the work for you?
Of course, not everyone is thrilled about these changes. Some elders may raise an eyebrow (or both) at the idea of a virtual baraat or a priest reading out vows from a digital tablet. For them, a wedding without an overstuffed wedding card wrapped in velvet and an uncle personally distributing sweets just doesn’t feel real. “Arre beta, where is the emotion?” they might ask, as a drone hovers over their heads delivering biodegradable rose petals. But as long as the pheras are done right and the family gets their big buffet spread, even they might admit progress isn’t all that bad.
But make no mistake because these weddings aren’t just about flashing wealth (okay, maybe a little). They’re about creating something unforgettable, a celebration that blends status, creativity, and meticulous planning into one spectacular extravaganza. When the last dance is danced, the last guest has taken their monogrammed wedding favour, and the final firework has faded into the night sky, what remains is not just memories—it’s legacy.
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