India’s wedding season, running from November 12 to December 16, 2024, is projected to generate an enormous Rs 6 lakh crore in business, a 41% increase from Rs 4.25 lakh crore last year. According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), this surge is driven by a larger number of weddings—around 48 lakh weddings, compared to 35 lakh in 2023. Delhi alone is expected to see business of Rs 1.5 lakh crore from 4.5 lakh weddings this season.
More Higher Demand
This season features 18 auspicious wedding dates compared to just 11 dates last year, creating more opportunities for weddings and boosting business. Delhi alone is expected to see business worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore from 4.5 lakh weddings. The wide availability of favorable dates is expected to fuel spending across goods and services nationwide.
Wedding Budgets Vary Widely
CAIT’s study categorizes weddings based on spending ranges. Around 10 lakh weddings are expected with a budget of Rs 3 lakh each, while 10 lakh weddings will likely spend Rs 6 lakh each. Another 10 lakh weddings are projected to have budgets of Rs 10 lakh, and another 10 lakh with budgets of Rs 15 lakh. Additionally, 7 lakh weddings are expected to spend Rs 25 lakh each, while 50,000 weddings will spend Rs 50 lakh and 50,000 more will see budgets over Rs 1 crore.
Shift Toward Indian Goods
CAIT has observed a growing trend among consumers to choose Indian-made products over foreign goods, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) initiatives. This shift is becoming more evident as people incorporate local products in their wedding plans, contributing to the growth of Indian businesses.
Spending on Goods and Services
Wedding expenses are split across goods and services, with main spending areas including:
- Jewellery: 15% of total spending
- Clothing: 10%
- Electronics and Appliances: 5%
- Food items (dry fruits, sweets): 5%
- Groceries and Vegetables: 5%
- Gifts: 4%
- Other Goods: 6%
On the services side, couples are spending on:
- Venues (banquet halls, hotels): 5%
- Catering: 10%
- Event management and decoration: 3%
- Photography and Videography: 2%
- Music and lighting: various percentages
Season to Continue in 2025
After a short break, the wedding season will resume in mid-January 2025 and continue through March 2025, keeping the demand for wedding-related goods and services high into the new year.
