The phrase "big fat Indian wedding" gets thrown around a lot, but the actual numbers behind it vary enormously depending on guest count, city, and the choices couples make about where to concentrate their spend. In 2026, a mid-size wedding of 250–300 guests in a Tier 1 Indian city typically runs between ₹40 lakh and ₹1.2 crore across all functions — a range wide enough to be almost useless without a breakdown.
Venue and catering together usually consume 45–55% of the total budget. Venue rental for a premium hotel or heritage property in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore can range from ₹8 lakh for a half-day booking to ₹35 lakh for a multi-day exclusive. Catering at ₹1,500–₹3,500 per head per function adds up quickly when you're hosting three or four separate events.
Decor is the second-biggest variable. Couples who prioritize florals and lighting can easily spend ₹15–25 lakh on décor alone for a large reception, while others achieve beautiful results at ₹5–8 lakh by being selective about which functions get the full treatment. Photography and videography together — when you book quality — run ₹3–8 lakh for a comprehensive multi-day package.
Outfits, jewellery, and beauty often surprise couples because these are personal spends that don't feel like "wedding costs" until you add them up. A bridal lehenga from a mid-to-premium designer sits between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹6 lakh before alterations and accessories.
The most consistent piece of advice from couples who've been through it: decide early what matters most to you and protect that budget line. The couples who overspend are usually the ones who didn't make deliberate trade-offs early enough, and ended up saying yes to everything by default.
To build your custom category allocation and track live vendor payments for your guest count and target city, try our interactive **Evershine Wedding Budget Planner Tool** at /tools/budget-planner.
