When 29-year-old IT professional Sarika Rokade decided to have her wedding at a heritage spot nearby instead of a conventional marriage hall, replacing extravagant decorations with sustainable decor and choosing digital invitations over traditional cards, her parents were initially hesitant. “It wasn’t just about saving money,” says Rokade, adjusting her grandmother’s restored Paithani saree, “It’s about making mindful choices that reflect our values as a couple.” Her choices mirror a growing trend among Pune’s youth who are reimagining wedding celebrations and balancing tradition with practicality.
Indians spend nearly twice as much on weddings compared to education, according to a June 2024 report by Jefferies, an investment banking and capital market firm. According to the report, the Indian wedding industry is valued at $130 billion (approximately Rs 10.7 lakh crore).
Shifting wedding perspectives
“Look at the Ambani weddings – they are beautiful but create unrealistic expectations,” says Vaishnavi Patil, 22, who works with a Pune-based NGO. “I have seen families drain their savings trying to replicate such grandeur. But I think what is the purpose of these large-scale celebrations? Like Virat and Anushka’s intimate wedding with just 40 guests, I believe in celebrating with people who truly matter.”
For Mahesh Yelwande, 28, a government employee from Nighoje says, “Wedding planning comes with unique challenges. Coming from a farming background, with my parents dependent on me, taking a loan for wedding seems impractical to satisfy societal approval. My priority is building a home for my family. Isn’t it better to invest in our future than spend excessively on a one-day celebration?”
“Pre-wedding shoots at exotic locations alone cost lakhs. Social media has created new parameters of what a ‘perfect’ wedding should look like. Everyone wants that viral moment. The real challenge isn’t planning the wedding, it is managing societal expectations,” adds Patil.
Halima Sayyad, a tuition teacher, says, “Ancient traditions teach us that even simple refreshments can suffice for guests. Why waste food worth lakhs when that money could help a couple start their life together?
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Balancing traditions with practicality
“Traditional elements are important, but they need not empty my bank balance. We can have meaningful customs with an optimum guest list. My colleagues suggested court marriage, but I believe in finding a middle ground – maintaining essential traditions while being cost-conscious,” explains Yelwande.
Rokade’s digital wedding invitations saved nearly Rs 30,000. “That money went into our home’s down payment instead,” she adds. “Technology can help preserve traditions while being practical. Our digital invites had the same traditional verses but reached guests instantly.”
Civil services aspirant Akshay Killedar, 26, offers another perspective. “The real expenses begin after marriage – car or home loans, children’s education, healthcare for ageing parents. The trend of ‘Big Fat Weddings’ often leaves couples financially strained when these actual responsibilities arrive.”
“It’s about communication. When I explained to my parents how saving on unnecessary wedding expenses could help secure their medical expenses in future, they understood. It is not minimising celebrations, but optimising them,” says Killedar.
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Each of these young Puneites represents a different approach to modern wedding planning. While Patil advocates intimate celebrations, Mahesh seeks to honour traditions within means. Rokade demonstrates how technology can support cost-effective celebrations and Sayyad stresses avoiding food wastage. Killedar, meanwhile, underlines the importance of long-term financial planning.
“Our generation isn’t rejecting traditions, we are redefining them. My wedding incorporated traditional rituals but in a sustainable way. It’s about creating meaningful celebrations that do not compromise our future,” says Rokade.
This shift reflects a larger trend among Pune’s youth, balancing cultural heritage with practical considerations, choosing digital invites over expensive cards, intimate gatherings over endless guest lists and meaningful traditions over mindless splurging. As more celebrities opt for intimate weddings and sustainable celebrations, young couples will feel empowered to make similar choices. The big fat Indian wedding isn’t disappearing but it is evolving into something more mindful, practical and sustainable.
