Indian marriages are often celebrated on a very grand scale, involving elaborate ceremonies, multiple events, and many guests. Earlier, it was commonly believed that due to relatively lower purchasing power and a significant portion of the population belonging to the lower middle class, the expenses associated with marriages were not substantial.
But, with the transition of an increasing number of individuals from the lower and middle class to the upper middle class, the expenses related to weddings have been consistently rising. At present, the situation has escalated to the point where parents often find themselves compelled to sell their assets that were originally set aside for their retirement to cover the wedding expenses.
The issue of Extravagant and Expensive weddings
Nowadays, weddings are held at luxurious venues, involving substantial financial investments. These venues are embellished with extravagant decorations, offering a wide array of cuisines, showcasing opulent wedding attire and jewelry, and capturing special moments through professional photography and videography services.
Moreover, the previously condensed schedule of 1-2 day-long rituals and ceremonies has now evolved into an extended series of events spanning multiple days. These include pre-wedding, wedding, and post-wedding ceremonies, along with engagement ceremonies, haldi ceremonies, mehndi (henna) application, sangeet (musical night), and reception parties, strategically organized in local cities to accommodate distant relatives.
Furthermore, there are additional costs associated with wedding invitations, transportation arrangements, accommodations for out-of-town guests, wedding favors and gifts, entertainment programs, as well as the hiring of professional event planners or wedding consultants. Interestingly, the paradox lies in the fact that the main purpose behind all these expenses is to make an impression on friends and relatives.
Understanding the Root Causes of Expensive Weddings
The question that we need to ask is what brought about this shift and who is responsible for introducing these changes in our everyday lives? It seems to me that the credit goes to the glamour industry for this, which draws influence from the film industry, TV serials, print media, and social media platforms. With everyone involved in this business making significant profits, marriage has emerged as one of the most lucrative ventures.
During a short period of my career, I resided in Pune, where I observed that weddings exclusively took place during the daytime. The food menu served during these weddings consisted of a fixed selection, including one vegetable curry, and one lentil preparation, along with rice, salad, curd, and chapati, which essentially resembled our daily meals. Moreover, the cost of arranging such a menu for a large gathering of people remained reasonable and the whole society follows this menu irrespective of their purchasing power. Also, due to the daytime wedding ceremonies, the decorations primarily consist of flowers, resulting in cost savings on lighting setups.
If we analyze deeper, we will find that excluding major cities and states in the northern region of India, where the influence of Bollywood is less prominent, weddings are generally simpler and less costly affairs. This concept of extravagant weddings at high costs doesn’t appear to be an innovation originating from the Bollywood film industry but rather seems to be borrowed from Western nations, as anticipated.
In those regions as well, the expenses associated with weddings are so significant that parents often begin saving or investing in a kitty or insurance scheme from the moment their child is born. And the worst part is the entirety of that money is exhausted during the span of a few days of ceremonies. This excessive spending is primarily done for the sake of capturing a few photographs and videos, which hold little interest for anyone afterward. Consequently, these extensive albums mostly end up lying in the parent’s house, occupying valuable space.
It is imperative that we conduct a thorough examination of everything transpiring under the pretext of celebrations in marriages and diligently strive to strike a balance between having a memorable wedding and being financially responsible.
Effective Strategies to Manage and Reduce Wedding Costs
Here are some measures that can help in managing and reducing wedding costs.
Venue Selection
To begin with, consider hosting all the ancillary functions like the engagement ceremony, haldi ceremony, mehndi (henna) application, and sangeet (musical night) within your own home, allowing your family members to come together and interact with one another. Even the wedding ceremony needs to be planned during the daytime, and explore venue options such as temples, community halls, gardens, or smaller banquet halls, instead of opting for extravagant and expensive venues.
Guest List Management
Keep the guest list limited to close family members and friends to minimize the number of invitations and associated costs. It is unnecessary to invite friends and extended family members who are unfamiliar to both the bride and groom. If the intention is for the bride and groom to socialize with them, it can be accomplished by planning visits to their homes after the wedding ceremony. Consider having an intimate wedding instead of inviting a large number of guests
Catering Choices
Instead of extravagant and multi-cuisine spreads, consider serving a limited menu with delicious, locally sourced dishes. Focus on quality rather than quantity to reduce catering costs.
Simplify Decorations
Opt for simple yet elegant decorations that fit your budget. Contemplate incorporating natural elements such as flowers and greenery for decorations, as they can offer a more budget-friendly option compared to elaborate setups.
Prioritize Essentials
Identify the essential elements of the wedding that hold the most significance to you and allocate a larger portion of the budget to those aspects. Trim down on less important or extravagant elements to keep costs in check.
How to Catalyse Societal Change
Implementing this concept of minimalist wedding may be the most challenging aspect but it can be readily accomplished if people unite and collaborate. We must begin declining invitations to weddings held at night, those involving distant relatives, and that is scheduled to take place in large venues. It is the social responsibility of everyone to boycott such weddings, thereby gradually phasing out the trend of high-cost weddings and establishing simple weddings as the norm.
Additionally, the temple complexes in our vicinity can be prepared as venues for weddings by undergoing renovations, including the installation of marble flooring, and the creation of a few rooms to accommodate distant guests attending the wedding. The necessary funds for these renovations can be easily collected through donations to the temple, and the local governments can also contribute towards the cause.
This culture of serving multiple cuisines live counters, and a wide range of dishes as a part of the wedding menu need to be restrained and instead need to opt for a simple meal plan that can be easily afforded by everyone in society.
We must engage in positive marketing of budget-conscious weddings within our society and establish social ambassadors who can effectively spread this message. It is essential for politicians, sportspeople, business leaders, and social media influencers to step forward and advocate for economical weddings and encourage people to plan marriages in the corridors or the immediate surroundings of temples.
Finally, through persistent endeavours, we can gradually educate society about the merits of cost-effective weddings, thereby alleviating the substantial financial burden on the parents of the bride.
