India’s lush wedding sector has grown into the fourth largest industry.
About 69 percent of urban professionals have shown a growing inclination to host destination weddings, while only 11 percent of millennials have expressed a preference for traditional celebrations, according to a survey by Betterhalf, a wedding planning and planning company.
India’s lush wedding sector has emerged as the fourth largest industry, contributing around Rs 4.25 trillion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) as of October 2023.
While India’s wedding industry has historically fueled the country’s rapid growth, there has been a significant transformation in the wedding landscape in recent times, with millennials driving a trend towards destination weddings.
According to the survey, which collected responses from more than 5,000 individuals across channels including Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Forms and Broadcasting, there has been a significant increase in the number of millennials opting for destination weddings.
Furthermore, modern brides and grooms are showing a strong enthusiasm for travel, with 73 percent of them open to exploring unique destinations in India for their wedding ceremonies.
Pawan Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, Betterhalf, commented on the significant change in the wedding scenario and said, “Brides and grooms-to-be are increasingly cultivating an interest in destination weddings, and Betterhalf is creating impeccable wedding experiences that seamlessly resonate with the voice, values and vision of the current generation.”
The survey shows that millennials love to travel, especially when it comes to destination weddings. Among them, 31 percent prefer a picturesque blue beach setting, while 25 percent and 24 percent respectively choose mountainous landscapes and a rich historical environment for their special day. Reflecting their love for azure waters, breathtaking valleys and cultural heritage, 30 percent of millennials name Goa and Rajasthan as their top choices for a wedding, while 21 percent and 19 percent choose Lakshadweep and Himachal Pradesh respectively.
Despite the appeal of exotic locations, millennials are aware of budget constraints. About 63 percent of respondents indicated a preference for smaller guest lists to ensure a cost-effective yet memorable wedding experience.
Considering the affection among millennials for destination weddings, the survey results indicate that around 33 percent of this demographic consider a budget of up to Rs 10 lakh as ideal for their destination wedding celebrations. However, 22 percent of millennials are willing to shell out more than Rs 30 lakh for their destination weddings, underscoring their strong inclination to spare no expense for their dream day.
First print: February 23, 2024 | 5:58 PM IST