The wedding is changing, but what about the marriage?

Matches are made in heaven. But, what about the wedding, and may we say, the aftermath of it? While personalised weddings continue to reign supreme in the ambit of desi weddings, one thing remains crystal clear: discernment is key for Generation Z. Recent stats have indicated nearly 75% reportedly preferred avoiding loans or using loans only for a small portion of wedding expenses. More than 40% nevertheless supported some borrowing, suggesting that Gen Z isn't completely anti-credit but is more cautious about wedding debt.

“Financial planning is of utmost importance for middle-class people or even the upper middle class because everyone’s aspirations and dreams have gotten bigger, even though it may be living on an island or a remote mountain villa,” shares Viraj Kapadia, an architect at Localground, who’s all set to get hitched this year.

He further enthuses that a sizeable percent of young people are growingly become aware that people should celebrate themselves the way they'd like without having to stress about anything: guestlist, lavish weddings, or loans if any, to be taken. “This is a generation that has started to become sensitive not only towards spending recklessly, but is also considering the planet while making important decisions. “I think we are living in times where not only normal human beings but celebs are opting for garden weddings, terrace weddings, and other innovative concepts, which may not be clichéd.”

Era of intentional spending

India has always celebrated weddings on a large scale, and industry insiders staunchly believe the appetite for celebration or investment hasn’t declined, albeit enhanced levels of discernment are on the rise. Thoughtfulness and personalised décor are taking precedence over arbitrary rituals. “We’re seeing couples invest in bespoke styling elements that reflect their story, while being more selective about traditional floral-heavy setups,” opines Sravani Gadde, a wedding planner and founder of her eponymous label Design Stories by Sravani Gadde. She further avers that today’s bride and groom are also “questioning spends that don’t add value and reallocating budgets” towards elements guests will actually experience like food, entertainment, and personalised details.

This doesn’t necessarily mean smaller budgets; it’s more about intentional spending. Couples are increasingly balancing the wedding they envision with the lifestyle and financial priorities they have for their life after marriage. Echoing a similar stance is Manasvi Bhatia, a 32-year-old creative entrepreneur and founder of Lonavala Local, and The Local Lab, who plans on wearing a heirloom saree on her big day. She says, “I really want to restyle my mum’s saree's and wear it on my wedding day. Perhaps I'll get myself a nice outfit for the wedding party, but have no wishes of getting designer wear. It’s not merely a financially smart decision, but one that’s thoughtful and steeped in nostalgia.”

Personalisation, please! 

When it comes to Gen Z couples, the memo is loud and clear: the focus has shifted from appeasing the crowd to being truly present in the moment and creating meaningful memories with the people closest to them. “They tend to come in with stricter, more considered budgets, especially with a greater awareness of post-wedding lifestyle expenses. However, they are willing to stretch those budgets when it comes to creating an immersive, experiential celebration that feels personal, memorable, and leaves a lasting impact,” concurs Anujna Ravikumar, founder of Levitate Productions.

Sure, love is what makes the world go round. But, there’s something else that’s imperative for young folks who’re entering into a wedlock: doing what the heart desires, without necessarily losing sight of the time beyond a fairytale wedding.

Lead image: Aditi Rao Hydari/Instagram, Inside images: Getty Images 

Also read: This Bengaluru wedding was a celebration of a love story 12 years in the making

Also read: They met at another wedding. Years later, they got married in Thailand