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Why Do Indians Love to Splash the Cash on Weddings as Guests?

© AP Photo / Ajit SolankiIndian brides wait for their ceremony at a mass wedding in Surat, India, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019.
Indian brides wait for their ceremony at a mass wedding in Surat, India, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019.  - Sputnik India, 1920, 03.12.2023
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Until mid-December, India is set to witness thousands of weddings. Sputnik India interviewed wedding guests to determine how much they spend on festivities and their motives behind it.
India's wedding season is fully underway, and many are participating in festivities with luxurious flair. Individuals are readily spending large sums of money on various items such as designer clothing, upscale beauty treatments, and even traveling to different cities, all in order to create a memorable celebration.
While it's expected for the host family to go all out, what motivates guests to spend generously, especially when they often complain about the rising cost of living and inadequate pay scales in their daily lives?
Sputnik India delved into conversations with various individuals to understand the allure of being part of someone else's wedding, even if it means a temporary dent in their wallets.

Crafting Impressions, Creating Envy

In professional and family circles, Delhi-based HR professional Khushboo Sharma enjoys being recognised for her vibrant joie de vivre. For her, weddings are an opportunity to make a lasting impression and even inspire a little envy among loved ones.

"You see, if you're known among your friends or relatives for your style of dress, you're not going to like dressing casually for once. You have to protect your style quotient. No matter if it pinches your pocket a bit, just take it in stride," she told Sputnik India.

Acknowledging the potential dampening effect of age, Khushboo emphasised the desire for a lively reception: "Who doesn't want to be greeted with 'Wowwww!' by friends for being alive in every way?"
© Sputnik / Sandeep DattaHow Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings. - Sputnik India, 1920, 03.12.2023
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.
Her personal wedding expenses, excluding her husband's penchant for branded items, totalled around Rs 5,000.
The total cost for her family to attend a wedding together is 10,000-11,000 Rs.

Balancing Elegance with Venue Harmony

Shilpi Jaiman, an accountant from Jaipur, believes in matching accessories and attire with the wedding venue. Practical considerations such as the time of day and the season dictate the choice of silk, gold or silver jewellery.

"Besides, if you're the trendsetter in a family or known for your elegance, it's natural to be tempted to maintain it. More importantly, if I'm likely to repeat a dress in a family, I prefer to buy a new one," said an accountant in a multinational company.

© Sputnik / Sandeep DattaHow Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings. - Sputnik India, 1920, 03.12.2023
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.

Cherishing Moments Beyond Extravagance

For Rashi, a legal professional from Delhi High Court, the evaluation of wedding expenses transcends the prism of extravagance, especially when celebrating the union of someone deeply cherished.
Excited about her upcoming childhood friend's destination wedding on December 7, Rashi intends to immerse herself in every ceremony, including 'Mehendi' and 'Haldi,' creating memories that go beyond material indulgence.

"I will be using much of my accessories that I bought during my own wedding two years ago. Still there will be a lot of stuff I can't avoid buying to look really special while being clicked along with my loving hubby," she stated with a blush.

© Sputnik / Sandeep DattaHow Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings. - Sputnik India, 1920, 03.12.2023
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.

Navigating the Social Trap

Yudhweer Singh Chauhan, a property investor from Delhi's Jasola area, voices his discontent with the societal approach that views attending weddings as a means to showcase prestige. He describes it as an unavoidable social trap that comes with considerable financial implications.

"Yesterday, I attended my first cousin's wedding and gave her gold earrings worth INR 40,000, as we have done at all other cousins' functions, along with anklets (INR 5,000). That's apart from a heavy saree and cash," he said.

"A close relative's wedding costs my family 10,000 to 11,000 Rs approximately," revealed Yudhweer, highlighting the financial strain involved in the customary buying of new clothes, accessories, transportation, and the customary cash gifts. He shed light on his recent experience at a family engagement, where societal expectations clashed with personal financial considerations.
© Sputnik / Sandeep DattaHow Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings. - Sputnik India, 1920, 03.12.2023
How Indians love to dress up with high-priced dresses during weddings.
"The day before, I was at my youngest brother-in-law's engagement party. Since he's dear to my wife, the children got their dresses for INR 5,000 and the wife's saree cost INR 6,000. It was apart from INR 5,100 which was given in cash as 'sagan'.

When asked about his personal purchases, Yudhweer said: "I didn't feel like buying anything else after spending so much money on other people's stuff. I just picked something from the wardrobe and went to the venue with my family. Damn society doesn't even care that the poor guy has a reason for wearing similar stuff".

Hafiz Mohammad Awais, groom, center, and bride Musfira Shams, right, during their wedding ceremony in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, March 17, 2022. - Sputnik India, 1920, 27.11.2023
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