WeddingWire India Reveals The Newly Wed Survey Report 2024-2025
Find answers to top wedding planning questions here, answered by over 1500 couples who planned their wedding in 2024.
2024 was a celebration of a kind for the Indian wedding industry - a jam-packed year full of destination weddings, bridal exhibitions, wedding conferences, industry meets and more!
We didn’t simply crawl out of the COVID times; we skyrocketed towards growth and new beginnings. While the average wedding cost grew to 29.6 lakhs (from 20 lakhs in 2022), the average wedding guest list is stable at 330. The 100 billion dollar Indian wedding industry continues growing as the second-largest global wedding industry. With the Wed in India push by our honourable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, this giant economic force continues to grow with new business opportunities for hotels and the wedding vendor market.
Amidst the ever-changing dynamics of the Indian wedding industry, we surveyed and gathered responses from more than 1500 couples who tied the knot in 2024. The Newly Wed Survey by WeddingWire India collects accurate data, statistics, and information from couples who planned their wedding on our app.
Check out our findings below:
- Wedding Planning & The Most Popular Wedding Season
- Average Cost of Weddings in 2024
- Popular Wedding Format and Venue Booking Trends
- Top of Mind Wedding Planning Decision Makers
- All About Vendor Bookings
- Categories that Recorded the Highest Wedding Spends
Wedding Planning & The Most Popular Wedding Season
1. What is the most popular month for getting engaged in India?
There is no best time or season to get engaged or plan your roka ceremony. You can choose the date and season as per your feasibility; however, according to 2024 results, 13% of the couples chose Valentine's month, February, as their engagement month.
2. How are couples announcing their engagement to family and friends?
57.4% of couples said they announced their Roka/Engagement through Whatsapp texts that are more personal than a social media post. 51.9% of the couples chose to call their loved ones to break the news! 18% of the new-generation couples took to social media channels like Instagram or Facebook to announce their engagement. In comparison, 16% said their loved ones were present during the roka/engagement.
How to Plan Your Wedding Step by Step
Average Cost of Weddings in 2024
3. What is the average cost of planning a wedding in India?
The average cost of hosting a wedding celebration in India is Rs 29. 6 lakhs per 2024 respondents. The price is growing yearly, with destination weddings and personalisation growing on the trend radar! 30% of the respondents spent more than 30 lakhs, 25% more than 40 lakhs, and 17% confirmed they planned a big fat Indian wedding with a 50 lakh+ budget!
4. What is the average guest list size in modern Indian weddings?
The average guest list size for Indian weddings in 2024 was 330 (in comparison to 326 in 2023). This indicates a stable return of Big Fat Weddings in India, which was seen as a dying trend in the years after COVID-19.
5. What is the average cost spent on booking venues in India for all wedding events?
According to our 2024 report, booking one or more venues in India for your wedding events costs approximately six lakhs. However, many factors can influence the total cost of venues. 40% of the respondents said they spent 7.5 lakhs on their wedding venue, and 31% spent 10 lakhs or more!
Popular Wedding Format and Venue Booking Trends
6. How far should the wedding venue be from the couple's home location?
65% of the survey couples chose a wedding venue within 50 km of their home. The proximity of the wedding venue to your house often helps cut down additional costs like paying for accommodations and travelling to and fro for each event. However, 15% of the couples confirmed they chose a destination wedding venue that was situated 200 km away from their house. If you want to spend money on your dream wedding, a destination wedding venue in a nearby city/ hill station or resort town can be ideal.
Also Read: Guide to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue
7. How many days are wedding celebrations being planned?
Indian weddings were never a one-day celebration, but with the growing demand for destination weddings, celebrations have become chapters that can last two to three days! 34.5% of the respondents confirmed that they planned a three-day wedding chapter in 2024, closely followed by 25% of the couples who planned a two-day wedding chapter with back-to-back events!
8. Which of these factors are essential when choosing a wedding venue?
71% revealed that the cost of the venue profoundly influenced their decision. 52% said they chose the venue based on its type and style, hinting at the growing demand for wedding themes in India. 17% of the couples preferred venues with verified profiles in the WeddingWire India marketplace. 16% highlighted an increasing trend of outdoor weddings in India as they revealed opting for venues that can host an outdoor ceremony!
Top of Mind Wedding Planning Decisions
9. Which factors should couples prioritise during the wedding planning process?
55% of the respondents who tied the knot in 2024 said they prioritise wedding food overall! 53% said that staying within their wedding budget is important to them! 49.6% wanted to ensure their guests have a good time and are cared for! 38.5% prioritised the overall look and vibe of the wedding!
10. How are couples sharing key details about their wedding with the guests?
58.6% of the couples who took our survey confirmed using WhatsApp for all wedding-related communication. 54% said they opted for physical wedding invitations, bringing back the demand and need for wedding invitation cards in Indian weddings.
12. What popular trends from 2024 weddings are here to stay?
- 30% of the respondents planned wedding favours for their guests - the trend of curating them is here to stay in 2025!
- 27% included eco-friendly elements in their wedding. (Here's hoping this trend becomes a lifestyle choice and the percentage continues to grow in the years to come!
- 25% of couples performed a choreographed dance at the wedding celebration. Wedding Choreography is a growing trend deeply inspired by Bollywood weddings in India and will continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the years to come!
- 21% planned a First Look before the wedding ceremony to ensure perfect photos to look back on and cherish from their wedding day!
- 20.6% said they set up a wedding registry or gift list for their guests - a trend inspired by Western culture that has been growing in GenZ weddings!
- 13.5% included more customisations in their wedding to create a unique experience for their guests.
Also Read: Editor's Pick: 14 Biggest Trends of 2025
13. What personalisation ideas for weddings are popular right now?
- 63% of the respondents said they changed into a different outfit for their wedding functions throughout the day!
- 61% said they customised their wedding attire to add elements of their personality.
- 52% said they curated a sophisticated ambience for their wedding functions.
- 37% said they chose a specific colour palette for their wedding events.
All About Vendor Bookings
14. Which Vendor Categories Have High Booking Demand?
According to the 2025 Wedding Industry Report, 77% of couples vouched for Wedding Photographers as the most popular category, followed by 71% of brides who opted for a Bridal Makeup Artist for their big day. Next on the list are Mehndi Artists (69%), Videography services (67%) and Wedding Decorators (63%).
15. How do you find Trusted Wedding Venues and Vendors?
Finding trusted wedding venues and vendor partners is of fundamental importance in a couple's wedding planning journey. 52% of our survey couples heavily rely on Word of mouth to find vendors they can trust for their wedding services. 33% use Google, and 30% wedding-related websites like WeddingWire India to do the research. It is not always easy to find vendors through word of mouth, especially when planning a destination wedding and hiring local vendors to curb the destination wedding cost. The Indian wedding industry is brimming with talent and vendors that offer exceptional services for your dream wedding. To help you find the right talent, WeddingWire India's Vendor directory has reviews and ratings from real couples. Reviews are the fastest method to spread word of mouth in this digital age and can help you find trusted vendors and wedding venues through our app.
Categories that Recorded the Highest Wedding Spends
According to the 2025 survey and our free wedding cost calculator, booking the wedding venue is undoubtedly the highest wedding expense. 40% of the respondents spent more than 7.5 lakhs on their wedding venue. Couples also spend money on photography and videography services, the perfect engagement ring, the bride's wedding dresses for each event, wedding decoration services, and the groom's attire.
If you are planning your wedding right now, download the WeddingWire India app today to plan your wedding effortlessly!
