Recently, I came across a news article that shocked me. The average wedding expenditure in India has risen to a massive ₹36.5 Lakh, a mind-blowing 7% up from the previous year. This has made destination weddings to be expensive events with an average cost of ₹51 lakh. According to the survey, 9% of couples spent more than a crore on their big day.
However, there is a dark side to this seemingly perfect picture. The wedding industry has now grown into a multi-lakh crore sector on the premise of big, fat Indian weddings and the exorbitant spending that comes with it.
When considering these statistics, the first thought that came into my mind was, why? This has created a culture of spending more than what is needed with many people taking loans and even using their savings to ensure they have the best wedding ever.
The pressure to keep up with societal expectations has led to a culture of overspending. A recent survey revealed that 12% of couples took loans to finance their weddings and 82% of couples used their savings to cover wedding expenses
As I consider these findings, I believe it’s time for us to reassess our values and priorities. Instead of focusing on lavish experiences and material possessions, I think we should emphasize building meaningful relationships and creating lasting memories.
When thinking about these implications, it is important to say that it is high time we changed the approach to weddings. Let us make it our mission to shift the culture of weddings in a way that would emphasize the importance, realness and simplicity where everyone’s well-being is part of the big day. I think that is how we can guarantee that our weddings will not only be memorable but also the perfect embodiment of our feelings.
As per my opinion wedding is a joyous occasion where two people decide to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s essential to understand that the value of a wedding does not depend on the amount of money spent, but on the feelings that the two partners share and the bond they have.So if we focus on what’s truly important, we can create a more authentic, beautiful, and special wedding day.
Here are some suggestions to make the wedding ceremony simple yet elegant:
- Simplify and Downsize: Encourage couples to simplify their wedding plans, focusing on intimate gatherings and meaningful rituals rather than grandeur and extravagance.
- Budgeting and Financial Planning: Promote budgeting and financial planning among couples, helping them prioritize their spending and avoid debt.
- Alternative and Eco-Friendly Options: Support alternative and eco-friendly wedding options, such as outdoor ceremonies, sustainable decorations, and locally sourced food.
- Shift the Focus: Encourage couples to shift their focus from material possessions and external validation to the true essence of marriage: love, commitment, and mutual respect.
- Education and Awareness: Organize workshops, campaigns, and online resources to educate couples and their families about the importance of responsible spending, financial planning, and meaningful relationships.
- Government Initiative: Government can do initiatives to promote simple and affordable weddings, such as subsidies for eco-friendly weddings or incentives for couples who opt for simple ceremonies.
- Community Involvement: Encourage community involvement and social support for couples who choose to have simple and meaningful weddings, rather than extravagant ones.
By implementing these solutions, I believe we can work towards creating a more mindful and responsible wedding culture in India one that values simplicity, sustainability, and the well-being of all individuals involved.
