pull down to refresh

The Big Fat Indian Wedding

An average Indian spends Rs 12 lakh, or roughly $15,000, on a wedding, which in some cases exceeds the amount spent on 18 years of a child's education. Compared globally, India's wedding spend-to-GDP ratio stands at 5x, significantly higher than several other economies.
Asking our of curiosity — How much did you spend in your marriage?
I want to comment a lot on it but I would hide my views for now. Instead I would love to discuss this Fat wedding Market with all of you in the comments. So, kindly have your say in the comments box and let's discuss 💏 expenses!!!
Did your partner make contributions? In India, it's just the responsibility of the guy who gets the girl
I married in 2015 and at that time it was around $20k to 22k. If we adjust this to current rates. It should be easily double. But yeah if we also include marriages of the middle class in india. The average should be around $10k to 15k in current prices.
reply
Thanks for adding up!
reply
I'm from India and I know the expenses are way too much but I've never thought that it contributes a 5% to the GDP!.
reply
I have also not viewed it from this angle. But the crazy part is that we willingly spend a big share of our wedding expenses on so many things that can easily be avoided. But what they say, "Id you can't spend in wedding, where will you spend?"
reply
125 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 7 Jul
We made an optional donation to the free chapel we went to and paid a judge. I think it was like $300 all told.
reply
I'm shocked! 😳😳 I married in 2022 and my wife's "Lehanga" (much similar to wedding gown) cost me around $700.
reply
I think we spent a little under $10k and that was trying to keep it cheap.
reply
So, it seems like people in the west are more conscious about unnecessary expenses. That's why they are rich!
Here, we may see that we invite thousands of people to a feast when someone dies!
reply
I think it's more that our culture has disintegrated and we don't value these customs like we once did. Beautiful things are what make life worthwhile. It's good to value them.
reply
Yes, you're right!
But, it's a fashion here. If you spend 10k, I would want to spend more than that. Weddings are like a show of your riches!
reply
I agree. That dynamic is crass and ugly.
reply
It is isane people spend this much on a wedding (even $20K is a lot). My wedding I am aiming for about $8K and going to put the rest into bitcoin.
reply
17 sats \ 0 replies \ @guts 7 Jul
Ask sats as wedding gift 😉
reply
I believe 8K is still too much. You can also avoid it. Why not spend 100 to 500 dollars only and invest rest in Bitcoin.
reply
12 sats \ 1 reply \ @Akg10s33 7 Jul
The truth is, I have not gotten married and I have been with my partner for 14 years. For about 3 years now, we have considered getting married... but the truth is that we are migrants in Lima, Peru and the requirements that they ask here for one to be able to get married are the truth. quite a bit, but quite cumbersome if you are from another country... and also expensive and due to the situation that Venezuela currently has, obtaining or obtaining the documents that they ask of us here to get married is even more difficult... so we are simply planning to travel to Venezuela and get married there... and returning married would be easier and cheaper for us... 👍
reply
I invite you to India. It's also very cheap to marry here. Well, we just need a priest and a temple and two garlands!
But, it's crazy in India. Spendings may sometimes eat up all of your hard earned money. May even leave you in debt!
reply
I heard they use onions for a while instead of flowers because onions were so expensive. I thought that was an interesting flex.
reply
Haha! Yes, there were rumours that Onions would be sold by Goldsmith only.
reply
It was a thing for a while lol
reply
This is exalted consumerism in a class of its own
reply
maybe the bride and groom are planning on hosting all Indians
reply
Americans would do even more but 20% of our GDP is stupid healthcare
reply