It is also expected, the per capita income will be tripled in a couple of decades and the per capita consumption of gold during weddings or otherwise will increase. With half of India’s population being under 29 years of age, the marriage market is set to boom like never before over the next five to ten years.

If we take the above figures, it means the Indian marriage market is around Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 300,000 crore annually, if one crore marriages are solemnized in the country annually.

A person, in India, spends one fifth of the wealth accumulated in a lifetime on a wedding ceremony. That means, a tremendous opportunity for retailers to capitalise on.

Which are the prospering allied industries?

Today, everyone, from those in entertainment to décor, beauty clinics, cosmetic giants, travel, tourism and even matrimonial web sites are making money out of marriages. Even foreigners, who want to solemnize their marriage in India, contribute to the Indian wedding industry.

Online portals like Shadi.com, Bharatmatrimonials and others rack up revenues of Rs 200-250 crore from match-making annually, and believe the business can only get bigger. While the traditional tentwallas still rule the roost, creative wedding planners are also making the most of it. There are wedding planners in the country who are ready to make all arrangements required in an Indian wedding, from beginning to end, for a whopping amount. But keeping in mind the middle class of the country, which is the largest segment, there is a huge demand for planners who can arrange for a budget wedding. 

Fashion designers, florists, confectionery makers and event managers are cashing in on the flourishing wedding market. Considering the Indian wedding market, Bregeut launched its expensive watches ranging between Rs 8-15 lakh in the Indian markets.

Replicas of temples of India, palace look-alikes or Sheesh Mahals are much in demand as decor. The cuisine could be anything from Lebanese to Italian in case you want something different. Star Cruises even launched a cruise to Lakshwadeep primarily targeting honeymooners.

An average 30 to 40 grams of gold is spent in every marriage across the country, thus the total consumption of gold comes between 300 to 400 tonmes annually.

With half of India’s population being under 29 years of age, the marriage market is set to boom like never before over the next five to ten years.

The wedding card market in India for the 10 million marriages performed annually is worth Rs 8000 to Rs 10,000 crore. Delhi and Maharashtra alone have more than 500 card printers. In Delhi, these printers are based in Chawri Bazaar, Karol Bagh, and Lajpat Nagar where one can purchase wedding cards according to ones capacity. Over two dozen of highly specialized printers are based in Dadaseth Agiary Lane in Central Mumbai. The elaborate wedding invite comes with the main card and three to four add-on cards like RSVP card, the reception, engagement and the puja invite, and also an invite to attend the sangeet, cocktail and mehndi functions.

In India, people have become very style conscious and they want to give their best on their wedding. Things have changed in the past few years, it is more about brands and people are ready to spend to look their best. Apparel market is booming because of this.

The annual market of wedding dhol, bands, baggies with elephants, horses and camels, lightings, is also the important part of Indian weddings, which is estimated to be around Rs 5000 crore annual. With the increasing income and more disposable income in India, the wedding market of the country is expected to double within next 15 years, the experts feel.

One cannot think about marriages without beautiful flowers. Flowers are important in order to create a delicate atmosphere around the wedding. According to an estimate for decorating the wedding venue, bride-groom dais, showering rose petals for welcoming the guests, requires another Rs 2000 to 10,000 for a middle class marriage.

The facts and figures point towards only one thing that is Indian weddings and the associated industries are bound to prosper!

 No one’s complaining; at least not the retailers and associated players because of the tremendous business opportunity that comes along with it.