In India, marriage generally means spending and consumption. But many feel that nuptials are more than just a status symbol and don’t want to waste a lot of money on the D-day. DNA takes up the issue with a cross-section of people and elicits their views on the big fat Indian weddings.
I don’t really prefer lavish weddings
It’s a fact that lavish weddings in India help generate a lot of income and employment. But, I am against the concept of big fat Indian weddings. For certain communities, spending huge sums on weddings and inviting hordes of people is the only way of showing how wealthy they are. Though people ensure that there is a variety of cuisines, from starters to desserts at the wedding, there are some who will still try and find faults. Besides, a huge amount of food is wasted at the weddings. Taking all this into account, I would prefer having a simple wedding. But, unfortunately not many parents would agree to the idea of keeping it a simple affair.
— Charmi Khot, 23
Money can be utilised for other purposes
The concept of big fat weddings has caught up with people a lot. Most of them are keen on spending huge sums on their D-day. But, according to me, it is nothing but a waste of money. Enormous expenditure on making a bunch of people happy for few hours serves no good. It is also waste of resources and money which can be utilised for other purposes. I don’t think I would like to spend a lot on my wedding. Clothes and jewellery will be the things I would like to focus on rather than spending on huge quantities of food and decorations. People should stop the whole concept of showing off to the society. Weddings shouldn’t be equivalent to status.
— Nidhi Jain, 24
I would rather spend on my honeymoon
I don’t believe in spending so much on weddings. I would like to have a quiet and simple court marriage followed by a party for close family and friends. I will never spend a lot on my wedding as it is a waste. Weddings shouldn’t be a medium to show off how much wealth you possess to the community. In any case, Indian society is full of hypocrites. Even after spending lakhs of rupees, people will still find excuses to criticise. So, instead of making others happy we should focus on something which will help a couple in the future. Also, I would rather spend on my honeymoon and go to an exotic location such as Egypt or Greece.
— Kartik Shah, 29
People are okay with spending on weddings
For Indians, marriage is once-in-a-lifetime event. That precisely explains the reason why even in times of recession the people from the country didn't stop spending or curtail their expenditure on wedding.For many, organising a grand wedding and making it memorable for everyone is a dream. Clothes play a vital role in case of marriage. Not only the bride or the groom, all people who attend the ceremony too are keen on looking good and unique at the function. So, during the wedding season, we get loads of orders. They are many aspects that go into the designing aspect of the event. The location, the time or the theme of the wedding is also considered. People don't just place an order, but they also discuss their complete look for the marriage. So, we try to design according to their idea of the event. Moreover, we also make sure that everything fits into the budget.
—Falguni Peacock, fashion designer
On D-day, everything has to be just perfect
We get a variety of clients and their demands depend on their budget. For instance, medium-class people have a tight budget whereas as elite class or NRIs have no limit and want a fairytale wedding. From the olden times, Indians weddings have been known for their grandeur. In fact, even today, people don't mind spending half of their savings. It has become a status symbol for many. On an average, there are three major aspects on which families like to focus. Grand decorations in order to make the place look magnificent is their first criterion. Food is very important aspect of weddings. The third factor remains the attire. Today, both bride and groom want the traditional yet stylish look. To get all this in order and to make sure that it is close to perfect, people don't mind seeking help
from professionals
—Nisha Bhide, wedding planner
The ceremony is an occasion to splurge
I am not too sure about the correlation between the number of marriages and the growth of the industry but, I think Indian weddings are revered and talked about all over the world. Weddings don’t happen everyday. There are people who save a major chunk of their salary just to make sure that they or their children can have a great wedding. It’s not always about showing off or money power. I think having a grand wedding is more of a personal choice. Music, dance, lot of delicacies, inviting friends and family from all over and exquisite outfits are all a part of the wedding celebrations. It happens once in a lifetime and is definitely an occasion to splurge.
— Chandrika Sanghvi, 25
If you have the required resources, why not?
In our society, having a big fat wedding is vital to our status. All these rituals are a part of Indian culture and tradition. So if one has the resources, why should we refrain from having a great grand wedding? I consider it as a matter of prestige. If you don’t have a proper wedding, people in the society start doubting your status. For many people, weddings are just meant to show off their wealth. I personally think wedding celebrations should go on for at least three to four days. Indian weddings are known for having many ceremonies and functions. I know of a person who is about to get married in a few days and has redone his whole house. He has spent close to Rs1.5 lakh just on curtains.
— Zaid Bagasrawala, 24
Weddings generate employment for many
It’s great that big fat Indian weddings can help boost the Indian economy. We are generating employment from a small flower vendor to a waiter to the lighting guy to the woman applying mehendi on the bride’s hands. If someone can afford a great wedding and if others are benefiting from it, I don’t see anything wrong in it. The disparity between the elite and lower class continues to exist. Those who can afford will continue to splurge. I don’t think weddings are a waste of money. It is a celebration involving many people. I know many couples who have gotten married at different locations. I think it is a matter of individual choice.
— Akhil Ghag, 27
Comments