Most Indian families plan a wedding budget twice — once on a spreadsheet, and once again as the bills arrive. The spreadsheet always loses. Here is a sensible breakdown of where the money actually goes, and the line items couples most often forget.

The Working Budget

For a 350-guest Indian wedding in 2026, a realistic working budget breaks down roughly as follows:

  • Venue & decor — 30% (banquet hire, mandap, florals, lighting)
  • Catering & bar — 25% (live counters, plated dinners, dessert station)
  • Photo & video — 12% (lead photographer, second shooter, cinematographer)
  • Apparel & jewellery — 10% (lehenga, sherwani, family outfits, light jewellery)
  • Music & entertainment — 7% (DJ, live band, choreographer)
  • Stay for guests — 6% (out-of-town family rooms)
  • Mehndi, bridal styling — 4%
  • Stationery, invites, gifting — 3%
  • Buffer (always plan one) — 3%

The Line Items Couples Forget

  • Vendor meals (your DJ, photographer, decorators all need to eat)
  • Tips and gratuities (10–15% of service costs)
  • Pandit / priest fees and ritual supplies
  • Transport for out-of-town guests within the city
  • Storage for gifts during the wedding week
  • Last-minute touch-ups (hair extensions, broken bangles, etc.)

How to Save Without Looking Like You Did

  • Book non-Saturday dates. Friday or Sunday weddings often save 15–20% on venue and vendor rates.
  • Choose seasonal flowers. Marigolds in October, roses in February; out-of-season florals double the bill.
  • Use the same room for two functions. A clever flip between sangeet and reception saves a full venue hire.
  • Limit the bar. Two house cocktails plus beer and wine instead of an open bar.

What "Done Right" Looks Like

Couples who finish their wedding without resentment usually do three things: they pick a single coordinator (in-house or independent), they write down decisions before they negotiate them, and they keep a 3% buffer untouched until the morning of the wedding.

If you'd like, our in-house wedding team will put together an itemised quote against your budget — no obligation. Most couples find we're priced like a mid-range planner because everything is produced under one roof.