What It Really Costs to Plan a Destination Wedding in India
A grounded guide for couples planning from abroad
Whether it’s Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, or somewhere quieter —
this guide offers what you’ve likely been searching for but haven’t found:
Realistic numbers. Thoughtful context. And the clarity to make confident decisions.
Because doing it well doesn’t mean doing it all.
It just means doing it with care.
A destination wedding in India isn’t about scale. It’s about soul.
Not about going BIG — but going DEEP
A destination wedding in India isn’t about going big. It’s about how deeply it resonates. Into family. Into meaning. Into a celebration that’s personal yet unforgettable..
It’s not really “budget-friendly.” Not if you’re flying people in, prioritizing quality, and want things done right.
So the question isn’t “Why is India expensive?” or “Can’t we do this for less back home?”
It’s: What kind of experience are you building — and what are you willing to invest to make it unforgettable?
📍 These costs reflect popular wedding destinations like Goa, Rajasthan, and Kerala — with a 5–10% variation depending on venue type, guest count, and event scale.
Does Location Really Change the Budget?
💡 Not as much as you’d think.
If you’re working with quality vendors and thoughtful planning, costs across Indian wedding destinations tend to stay within a 5–10% range. The setting may shift — but the fundamentals remain.
Some trade-offs, yes. But also some unexpected strengths:
✦ Goa has wider inventory across hotel categories, including well-rated 4-star properties — which can make mid-sized budgets stretch further.
✦ Rajasthan has fewer affordable options, but unmatched architectural charm and visual drama..
✦ Kerala leans more toward culturally immersive, intimate weddings, with hidden gems like CGH Earth or The Lalit Bekal.
✦ Rishikesh and Shimla offer newer boutique resorts in spectacular settings — ideal for couples seeking a quieter, meaningful backdrop.
✦ Thailand or Bali may look more affordable — with lower F&B costs and flexible vendors. But India isn’t trying to be cheap. It’s trying to mean something.
🌿 Southeast Asia might offer a resort with a view.
✨ India offers a wedding with soul.
💡 If the quality is consistent, the spend usually is too.
The Venue Sets the Stage.
But It Doesn’t Dictate the Cost.
It’s a common trap — thinking the venue’s price will shape everything else.
Many couples assume:
“If we book a luxury hotel, everything else will be more expensive.”
“If we choose a modest venue, the rest will automatically cost less.”
Not quite.
💡 The venue cost — rooms and F&B — is just one part of the spend. Your vendors, décor, planning, production, photography — all sit outside that. And their pricing doesn’t shift based on how much your room cost.
We’ve seen both ends of the spectrum:
✦ One wedding built a beautiful setup around natural florals and handwoven textiles — elegant, intentional, and grounded.
✦ Another at the same venue flew in chandeliers, blocked the property a day early, and rehearsed for hours.
Same space. Different scope. Different cost.
The venue sets the stage. But the experience?
That’s built on intention, not assumptions.
Choosing a smaller or more modest venue doesn’t mean your vendor and décor costs will drop dramatically.
That same planner, same photographer, same setup team — will still cost what it takes to do the job well.
You could work with the same planner or makeup artist or photographer whether you’re at The Oberoi Udaivilas, a heritage palace, or a quiet boutique resort by the beach.
What changes is the vision you ask them to bring to life — not their base price.
Scaling Up Is Easy.
Scaling Down Has Limits.
Even simplicity needs structure.
We once had a client ask, “We’re not doing anything grand — so why does it still feel expensive?”
The answer?
Because the flowers still need to be carried.
The lighting still needs to be strung.
The story still needs to be told — beautifully.
You can scale the look. But not the labour.
There’s no ceiling when it comes to wedding design — chandeliers, floral tunnels, custom-built bars. You can elevate almost anything, if you’re willing to invest.
But the floor?
That’s where most couples hit a wall.
A simpler venue doesn’t always mean the rest will cost less.
Décor, lighting, production — these aren’t about the hotel’s star rating.
They’re about people, time, and care.
There’s a baseline cost to doing things well — even with a minimalist look.
Because taste still takes effort.
Simplicity still needs structure.
And teams still need time and fair pay to get it right.
You might scale down the look.
But the labour? The setup? The sourcing and logistics?
They stay.
This isn’t inflated pricing.
It’s the true cost of doing things right — in a country where weddings are built with craft, care, and quiet hustle.
What Does a Wedding in India Really Cost?
Realistic ranges. Nuanced decisions.
A wedding that reflects you — not a spreadsheet.
This isn’t just about budgeting — it’s about clarity, alignment, and doing things right.
Clarity about what Indian destination weddings truly cost.
Alignment with your priorities and values.
Realism around the work and craft that go into making it feel seamless.
These numbers aren’t fixed formulas — they’re starting points. Expect a natural variation of 10–15% depending on your venue, style, and vendor choices.
The more thoughtfully you build your team and your design choices, the more your budget reflects you — not just the spreadsheet.
Where the Wedding Budget Starts
Realistic ranges. Nuanced decisions.
Most well-planned destination weddings in India tend to follow a broad structure. It’s not a rulebook — but a reliable place to begin.
💡 Here’s what we typically see:
🧩 30% on venue and rooms
🍽️ 30% on food and beverage
🎨 30% on design and vendors
🔖 10% on contingency, logistics, and miscellaneous costs
These aren’t fixed formulas — but they offer clarity as you start thinking about how your budget might shape up.
These aren’t fixed formulas — but they offer clarity as you start thinking about how your budget might shape up.
And Then, There’s Real Life.
It’s one thing to see numbers. It’s another to see them in context.
Here are a few real weddings we’ve planned — each with its own setting, rhythm, and story. These aren’t templates. Just glimpses into what thoughtful planning can look like.
📍 Mihir Garh, Rajasthan
35 guests | 3 nights | All meals | All rooms
💰 Total Spend: ₹95 lakh / 110,000 USD
A slow, soulful wedding in the Thar. Quiet luxury, desert light, and three days of true immersion.
📍 Zuri Kumarakom, Kerala
85 guests | 2 nights | All meals | All rooms
💰 Total Spend: ₹85 lakh / 100,000 USD.
By the backwaters, with South Indian warmth and a hospitality-first approach. Calm, spacious, and personal.
📍 Aashyana Lakhanpal, Goa
100 guests | 2 nights | All meals | All rooms
💰 Total Spend: ₹75 lakh / 90,000 USD
A tucked-away villa estate in North Goa — perfect for couples seeking something laid-back, beautiful, and entirely their own.
What Shapes the Budget Most?
Guest Count. Venue Type. And Your Vision.
Because a 100-guest wedding can look very different at every venue.
You can invite 35 guests and spend ₹85 lakh.
You can invite 100 and spend the same.
Even 200 — if the choices are right.
Because wedding budgets aren’t fixed to numbers.
They’re shaped by priorities.
The guest list affects how much structure you’ll need.
The venue sets the pace.
And your vision decides where the effort — and the spend — goes.
That’s why the same budget can feel intimate or expansive, minimal or layered.
And why two ₹1 crore weddings can look nothing alike.
💡 Wedding cost is never just a number.
It’s an expression of what matters most to you.
How Priorities Shift as Budgets Grow
So how do those priorities actually play out?
Let’s look at how wedding budgets tend to shape up across different scales — and what changes as you go from a curated celebration to a high-production experience.
Here’s what we’ve seen over the years — not hard rules, just familiar rhythms:
💫 Boutique Weddings (<75L)
Intimate, creative, and deeply personal.
Guest Count: 50–80 (often just immediate family and close friends)
Trade-Offs: One or two “hero” elements — think a stunning outdoor setup or an unforgettable meal — while keeping other areas pared back
Example: A beachside Goa wedding with minimal décor, a killer photographer, and bespoke cocktails
💡 These weddings are rooted in creative focus and personal meaning — not production value.
✨ Balanced Luxury (75L–1.5Cr)
Elevated details without going overboard.
Guest Count: 80–120 — the sweet spot for destination weddings
Structure: 2–3 nights, full-service venues, and curated vendor teams
Example: A Jaipur palace wedding with floral mandaps, a live band, and premium catering — but no celebrity performers
💡 This range allows couples to elevate every aspect with intention, not excess.
🎭 High-End Production (1.5–2.5Cr)
Larger vision. Immersive guest experience.
Guest Count: 120–200 — or 80 with opulence dialed up
Upgrades: Luxury buyouts (like Taj Lake Palace), immersive themes, or designer-led experiences
Example: A multi-event Kerala wedding with houseboat arrivals, curated design, and private performances
💡 At this level, spend moves from “coverage” to “impact.”
💎 Ultra-Luxury (₹3Cr+)
Unmatched access. No compromises made.
Guest Count: Can be 50 or 500 — it’s not about size
Hallmarks: Celebrity vendors, custom-built sets, multi-property buyouts, and once-in-a-lifetime settings
Example: A Udaipur celebration where guests are hosted across multiple luxury hotels — The Leela, Oberoi Udaivilas, and Taj Lake Palace — with events unfolding at a different iconic venue each day.
Or an intimate version: 50 guests at a private villa with Michelin-level chefs, couture styling, and multi-day programming.
💡 At this level, spend isn’t about adding more. It’s about crafting something unforgettable — for every single guest.
A Few Truths About Wedding Budgets
Numbers don’t tell the whole story. Priorities do.
The same budget can feel entirely different — depending on what matters most to you.
Flexibility: A ₹1 crore wedding can feel luxe with 80 guests — or feel stretched with 150
Luxury scales poorly: 400 people need logistics. 50 get magic.
No Rules: A ₹75L wedding with soul, structure, and a stellar photographer can outshine a bigger one with poor planning
🧾 What ₹1 Cr Really Looks Like — It Depends.
₹1 Cr for 80 guests = ₹1.25L per guest→ Private villa buyout, gourmet dining, premium bar, designer draping.
₹1 Cr for 150 guests = ₹67K per guest→ Resort banquet hall, buffet-style meals, limited décor zones, IMFL bar.
📌 Lesson: Half the guest list = twice the experience.
Wedding cost is never just a number.
It’s an expression of what matters most to you.
Planner’s Take
Clarity shaped not by theory — but by doing this, again and again.
We bring more than warmth.
We bring foresight, calm under pressure, and the ability to lead with intention — especially when it matters most.
India is a paradox.
Whether in Bekal or Jaisalmer, Goa or Udaipur — you can host a ₹70L wedding or a ₹3.5CR wedding at the same venue — and both can feel incredible.
The key is knowing your priorities.
You don’t need to spend on everything. But once you’ve flown in 100 guests and welcomed them into this moment — every detail becomes part of their experience.
Weddings in India aren’t passive productions.
They’re layered, immersive, and full of joy, warmth, and meaning.
The costs aren’t small — but the feeling?
It’s unmatched.
Especially when you do it with intention, and with the right team beside you.
✍🏽 A Final Note
This isn’t a template. It’s not generic advice.
It’s drawn from real weddings, real numbers, and years of planning with care, clarity, and intention.
Not everything is included. But nothing here is held back.
If this helped you feel clearer about what matters — that was the point.
And if you’re ready to explore what your wedding could look like — we’re here.
📩 Curious about what’s possible?
Reach out for a free preliminary estimate — no pressure, no commitment.
Just clarity on where to begin, and what it could cost to do it well.
We review every enquiry personally — with care, attention, and a genuine interest in your celebration.
Prefer to reach out directly? You’re welcome to email us at hello@memorableindiainweddings.com or message us on WhatsApp at +918882290092
Only your email is required — the rest helps us understand your wedding more clearly.
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