How Much Budget Does a Middle-Class Marriage Cost in India?
Marriage
May-08-2025
A wedding is not a one-day event in India. It starts with engagement, followed by many functions based on religion. It is a celebration of togetherness, along with the family and friends, over several days. Since everyone enjoys all the functions and events with their family and friends, no one thinks about how much it actually costs. In this blog, we will explore all the expenses and prepare a sample budget make a marriage event in a middle-class family in India.
A wedding is not a one-day event in India. It starts with engagement, followed by many functions based on religion. It is a celebration of togetherness, along with the family and friends, over several days. Before the celebrations begin, the first step is finding the right life partner. Start your search on The Mac today. Since everyone enjoys all the functions and events with their family and friends, no one thinks about how much it actually costs. In this blog, we will explore all the expenses and prepare a sample budget make a marriage event in a middle-class family in India.
What are the Primary and Essential Expenses for a Marriage in India?
Expenses can be made in many ways. When it comes to marriage, you must spend more to make everyone happy. You can spend the amount in two ways: primary and non-essential expenses. When you are a middle-class family, you can save money by skipping the non-essential expenses. The primary expenses that are needed to spend on a marriage are listed below.
Marriage Hall
Instead of booking a very large marriage hall, plan according to the number of invitations you have provided. In order to do this, you can choose a marriage hall with certain amenities that fit your budget. Apart from the marriage hall, you can also go with modern venues like hotels and open-air stages at a resort. When you choose the marriage hall, there will be a separate cost for the hall and food. However, if you choose hotels or open-air stages, the venue will be free, and you need to pay only for the food you offer. The pricing starts from Rs 2,00,000.
Catering
Catering is one of the most essential parts of all weddings. When you’re planning a three-meal plan, you may cost approximately Rs 2,75,000 - 4,00,000. However, choosing the hotels or open-air stages from the resort will cost you more than Rs 4,00,000 with a complementary hall or stage. You can budget the meal according to the number of guests you have invited, the vegetarian/nonvegetarian meal, the number of items to be served, and the choice of the caterer.
Wedding Dress
A wedding dress is one of the most unavoidable things that everyone falls into the trap. Plan and purchase the dress according to your usage and the budget. Since you’re going to use it only on the marriage day, or occasionally, think twice before going for the expensive one. When you plan to purchase an expensive one, choose the dress you can use for most functions. Don’t go with a blank mind; ensure to fix your budget before you purchase the clothes. Approximately, it would cost around Rs 50,000 - 70,000 for the bride and Rs 25,000 - 40,000 for the groom.
Jewellery
Purchasing jewelry during the marriage will cost the most. Plan and purchase the Jewelry before marriage to avoid a hectic process. Also, everyone's perception and willingness to gift jewelry may vary. So, we can avoid that portion. Here, we can add only the essential jewelry that needs to be purchased for the marriage. According to religious beliefs, the ornaments may vary. However, it would cost you around Rs 3,00,000 - 4,00,000.
Stage Decoration
Stage decoration is one of the first things guests notice at a wedding. Every middle-class person wants their wedding stage to be grand and elegant, filled with costly flowers, lights, and backdrops.. Instead of spending too much on stage decoration, ask the decorator to show you the budget-friendly packages with an elegant look. Spending Rs 50,000 would be a good number for stage decoration.
Photography and Videography
You can choose a premium or quality photography studio to capture your lovely and memorable moments. Every studio has different packages for weddings and other events; you can go with the medium package for good quality photos. Since this is a lifetime investment that you will have for your lifelong, choosing the premium one will also be a better option. The primary package of most photography studios starts from Rs 40,000.
Makeup
Bridal makeup and groom styling are essential expenses that you may not avoid. An expensive makeup may cost more than lakhs. Also, not every makeup will be matched with every bride and groom. Ensure that you choose the package that suits you well. Also, prepare and fix the budget for your makeup. The average cost of the makeup starts from Rs 30,000.
Invitation
Wedding invitations are the first impression of your celebration, but they don’t have to be costly. You can go with the simple and elegant cards. Also, you can use the E-invites to cut costs efficiently. If you still want printed cards, go for minimal designs at an affordable rate. The marriage invitation can cost around Rs 20,000 - 30,000.
Final Thoughts
An average amount will cost for a middle-class marriage would be Rs 10,40,000 - 11,50,000. However, a beautiful wedding doesn’t need to be expensive. With careful planning and the right choices, you can create a memorable and joyful event without overspending the amount. Remember, a wedding function is not about how much money you spend on it; it's all about how much love and happiness you share with others. Looking to begin your wedding journey? Visit and register your profile on The Mac and find your perfect life partner today.