Real brides share their wedding budget confessions—and the receipts don’t lie
From ₹3K bangles to ₹3L mandaps—real Indian brides get brutally honest about what was and wasn’t worth splurging on for their wedding day.
Let’s be real, Indian weddings are a full-blown spectacle. Drama? Check. Sparkle? Absolutely. Bank account panic? Most definitely.
But somewhere between the choreographed entries and the drone-shot pheras, every bride has that moment of reckoning: “Wait, did I really need a 12-foot orchid wall for my mehendi?”
So, I did what any mildly nosy wedding writer would do. I asked real brides what they actually spent, what was totally worth the splurge, and what they’d happily undo if given a second shot.
Here’s the no-fluff breakdown regrets, wins, and everything in between.
“The mandap was stunning, but it cost more than a Europe trip.”
Spent: ₹3.2 lakhs
Regret level: High
“It looked magical, don’t get me wrong. But I was under it for maybe ten minutes,” says Himanshi, 30, who got married at a palace in Jaipur. “And now every time I look at the invoice, I just think, we could’ve been in Greece, drinking wine on a beach.”
Real talk: Stunning doesn’t have to mean insane. Good lighting, a smart layout, and a few standout elements go a long way. Also: your guests will remember the vibe, not the lily count.
“The best money we spent? Photos. Hands down.”
Spent: ₹2.5 lakhs
Regret level: Zero
“Everything else faded, flowers wilted, food vanished, but the photos? We’ve looked at them a hundred times,” says Madhav, 25. “Our wedding video still makes me cry. Even the outtakes are gold.”
Pro tip: Ask for candids, the full footage, and moments in between the "moments." You’ll care less about the staged shots and more about that blink-and-you'll-miss-it smile your partner gave you mid-ceremony.
“I had a different lehenga for every function. Why?”
Spent: ₹3.8 lakh (wedding) + ₹1.5 lakh (sangeet) + more
Regret level: Medium
“The wedding lehenga was worth every paisa. The rest? Not so much,” says Prachi, 24. “My sangeet outfit was beautiful, but I wore it for, like, two hours. Now it just lives under my bed in a silk cover.”
Reality check: You really don’t need five looks that scream “main character.” One or two killer outfits and the rest can be chill and re-wearable!
“I fell for the jewellery trap. Hard.”
Spent: ₹6.5 lakhs
Regret level: Mixed
“I bought this massive choker for the mehendi because I thought it looked ‘bridal’,” says Kashish, 32. “Never wore it again. Meanwhile, I borrowed my nani’s jhumkas, and people still ask about them.”
Hot take: Go vintage. Go sentimental. Or rent. Heavy jewellery is fun for the gram, but if you won’t touch it again, maybe it doesn’t need its own locker key.
“We didn’t go all out on décor, but we did on food.”
Spent: ₹9 lakhs
Regret level: Zero
“We skipped the giant floral arches and put our money into food,” says Garv. “Butter chicken baos, live kulfi counter, chaat in test tubes, people still message us about it.”
What stuck: Your guests won’t remember the ceiling drapes, but they’ll 100% remember the chaat. Priorities.
“Return gifts? Just… don’t.”
Spent: ₹1.2 lakhs
Regret level: High
“We did these fancy candles with our initials on them. Half were left behind, and the rest probably got re-gifted. I still have an unopened box at home,” says Aryan, 31. “Should’ve just done mithai or donated that money.”
Better idea: Give people something they’ll actually use, or eat. Even better? Do a donation on their behalf and pop a sweet note on the table.
So, what’s the real takeaway?
Indian weddings can be pure magic, but only if they don’t leave you financially and emotionally wrecked. Spend where you want to, not where you think you should. Not every moment needs to be Pinterest-worthy. Some of the best ones won’t even make it to your feed. You’re allowed to have regrets. You’re also allowed to laugh at them later. And if it brought you joy in the moment, even if it’s now gathering dust in a silk box under your bed, that’s still something. But if you're planning your wedding now? Save yourself the storage issues. And trust your gut, not the Pinterest board.
Lead Image: Netflix.
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