How Much Does an Indian Wedding Cost in 2026? A Budget by Guests and City

There is no single answer to "how much does a wedding cost", but there is a simple way to get your answer: start from the guest count, the city and the style.

What drives the budget

• Food (per plate) is usually the biggest cost. 300 guests across 3 functions is close to 750 plates.
• Venue and decoration go up with every extra function.
• Outfits, jewellery and makeup vary the most from family to family.
• Photography and video, music, pandit and rituals, invitations and return gifts come next.
• Keep a 10% buffer. Something always comes up.

Typical 2026 per-plate prices (veg buffet)

These are planning numbers, not quotes. Prices change with the season, the day of the week and the vendor.

A worked example

A standard wedding for 300 guests in a big city with 3 functions with food comes to roughly ₹17–18 lakh including a 10% buffer. Food is about a quarter of it, the venue another quarter.

Five ways to spend less

• Cut 50 guests: it saves more than any single negotiation.
• Pick a weekday or an off-season date.
• Send e-invites instead of printed cards.
• Combine haldi and mehendi into one function.
• Book the photographer for the main day only and use family for the rest.

Estimate your own budget, free

Use the free Event Budget Calculator: enter guests, city, style and functions. Untick anything you don't need and compare with your own budget. Then track real spending in the Indian Wedding Planner & Budget Tracker (Excel).