HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR INDIAN WEDDING BUDGET
When it comes to Indian weddings, most people think big – big venue, big guestlist, big celebration. Of course, that means a big bill at the end of the day. Asian weddings are oftentimes a lot more expensive than the average wedding in the UK. While the average UK wedding costs around £20,000, the average UK Indian wedding costs £50,000 with that figure going as high as £100,000.
Why are Indian weddings so expensive?
While not every Indian wedding will cost £50,000, they’re often more expensive affairs due to the culture. In Indian culture, a large guest list is common. In addition to the usual close friends and family in attendance, you may expect to see coworkers, wider relatives, and figures within the community included on the guest list. This then requires a higher budget to book a venue that can accommodate that many guests, enough catering to feed them, decorations to fill the room, etc. Larger weddings will often cost more.
But more than this, while the average UK wedding will consist of a ceremony and reception, many Indian weddings will be made up of multiple events, often spread over many days. At a northern Indian wedding, you’re likely to see the Sangeet which will often look like a traditional British wedding with caterers and entertainment. Then there will be the Mehndi where close female friends and women from the wedding family will gather to celebrate and get traditional henna designs. After this comes the actual wedding ceremony and the wedding reception (which is often the most expensive part of the proceedings).
What are the main costs to consider for an Indian wedding?
When it comes to Indian weddings one of the largest costs is going to be your wedding venue. Venues can be expensive, with some spaces costing thousands. For many Indian couples in the UK, they’ll book a dry-hire space so they can provide their own caterers and make sure the menu reflects their heritage with meals that are appropriate for different dietary needs (as many Hindus are vegetarian for example).
The average cost of a large dry-hire wedding venue in the UK can range from £10,000 to £15,000. Luckily, at Holiday Inn Brentford Lock, externally catered wedding packages for our venue The Waterfront start from just £2,000.
Who pays for Indian weddings?
Just like many other cultures, there are traditions that dictate who pays for the wedding. In Indian communities, it is common for the bride’s family to foot the bill for the majority of wedding celebrations.
However, as times have changed, so have attitudes towards this custom. Nowadays you may find that the bill is split between both families or that the couple themselves decide to pay for their wedding.
How to make the most of your budget for your Indian wedding?
- Consider hosting your pre-ceremony functions at home, rather than booking a venue. Choosing to host your Mehndi party or Puja ceremony at your own home will let you cut down on costs for booking a separate venue, while still letting you take part in the important rituals of your culture.
- Choose the right venue for you. While the perfect venue is important for helping create the big day you’ve always imagined, it can also help you keep costs down. With the right backdrop and setting, you can afford to utilise fewer decorations letting the beauty of the space shine through. That’s why many guests decide to hold their celebrations at The Waterfront, as the setting of the lock can help set the serene vibes they’re looking for.
- Cut down or divide the guest list. While it’s considered polite and respectable to be reciprocal with your wedding invites (to always invite those who invited you to their wedding), if you don’t have space in the budget and won’t miss them from the day, it’s okay to not ask them to attend. Oftentimes meals are worked out at costs per plate, making your catering bill rack up. If you’d still like them to be involved, consider splitting your guest list and only inviting certain groups to certain events.
- Choose just one caterer. While you may want options for your guests, working with multiple caterers will increase the costs of your meal compared to negotiating just one contract. Find a caterer who can fulfil your needs and offer variety.
- Consider doing your own makeup or picking a different makeup artist with a lower price point for your smaller events. While you want to look your best for your wedding, hiring a professional makeup artist for the multiple events of an Indian wedding can become very expensive.
- Choose a wedding date in the off season to avoid competitive pricing.
- Think about renting your jewellery instead of purchasing it outright. It’s likely you won’t wear such intricate jewellery every day after your ceremony so if you can do without it, it can be an excellent way to save costs.
- Purchasing traditional wedding garments in the UK can be expensive, so think about borrowing them from friends and family or ordering them far in advance of the big day.
- Hire a wedding planner and ask them to ensure that they’re planning the wedding on a budget. They’re professionals at organising weddings and you can find plenty who are experienced in cultural weddings and will be able to work with you to execute your vision. The costs spent on the planner will be saved in other areas and will help you avoid plenty of stress and hassle.
- Make sure your accommodation is close to your venue to avoid pricey transportation costs. Picking a hotel with an event space (like Holiday Inn Brentford Lock) is a great way to achieve this.
Indian weddings are fantastic events that bring so many people together. Don’t let the issue of finances get in the way of you celebrating your love. There are many ways to get the most of your Indian wedding budget.
Holiday Inn Brentford Lock are experts in Asian wedding planning as the host of hundreds of cultural weddings.