Calculate the total cost of your Hindu wedding ceremony across all traditions and events. This calculator accounts for regional variations, multiple ceremonies (Mehendi, Sangeet, Haldi, Vivah, Reception), and all major expenses including venue, catering, decorations, and attire.
Wedding Details
Basic Information
Venue & Rental Costs
Most Hindu weddings require multiple venues: one for pre-wedding ceremonies and another for the wedding reception.
Catering & Food Costs
Clothing & Jewelry
Decorations & Styling
Photography, Invitations & Other
This Hindu wedding (shaadi) cost estimator helps you build a practical, line‑item wedding budget and see where your money is going. Enter your expected guest count and the costs you already know (or want to test), and the calculator will sum a grand total plus a category breakdown (venue/rentals, food, clothing & jewelry, decor/services, and other).
What you’ll enter (and what you’ll get)
Guest count and your estimated per‑person catering cost
Venue/rental costs for ceremony, reception, and pre‑wedding functions (plus setup/decoration)
Optional line items for outfits & jewelry, decor/services, and other expenses (photo, invites, priest, gifts, misc.)
Output: category totals and a grand total. Use it as a planning estimate and a way to compare scenarios (e.g., 200 vs 300 guests, mid‑range vs premium per‑plate, one venue vs multiple venues).
Formulas the calculator uses
The estimator is a straight sum of the line items you provide. The most guest‑sensitive component is catering.
Other total = photography + invitations + priest/rituals + favors/gifts + miscellaneous
Grand total = venue total + food total + clothing & jewelry total + decor/services total + other total
Key guest-driven component in MathML:
Where C is catering cost, G is guest count, and P is per‑person cost (often called “per plate”).
How to interpret the results
If Food is the largest share: your biggest levers are headcount and per‑person menu level. Try a sensitivity check by adjusting guests ±10% or per‑plate ±₹200–₹500 to see how quickly the total moves.
If Venue/rentals dominate: date/season, day of week, city tier, and whether you need multiple venues will likely matter more than small catering tweaks.
If “Miscellaneous” is high: it’s often masking real costs (transport, hotel rooms, tips, taxes/service charges, permits, last‑minute add‑ons). Break it into separate numbers if you can.
Worked example (illustrative)
Assume a mid‑range, multi‑event shaadi with 250 guests:
Ceremony venue: 250,000
Reception venue: 350,000
Pre‑wedding venue: 150,000
Decoration/setup: 200,000
Guests: 250
Cost per person: 1,500
Sweets/mithai: 75,000
Clothing & jewelry combined: 450,000
Decor/services combined: 220,000
Other (photo, invites, priest, gifts, misc): 260,000
Grand total = 950,000 + 450,000 + 450,000 + 220,000 + 260,000 = 2,330,000
Typical planning profiles (quick comparison)
Profile
Guest count
Venue approach
Catering level
Where costs usually concentrate
Simple / minimalist
80–150
Single venue or community hall
Basic to mid
Food + essential rituals
Standard multi‑event
150–300
2–3 functions with rentals
Mid
Venue + food + photo/video
Premium / luxury
250–500+
Large venues, heavy production
Premium
Venue production + decor + hospitality
Assumptions & limitations
Ballpark only: outputs are an estimate based on the amounts you enter, not a vendor quote.
Region/city tier differences: the same wedding style can cost very different amounts depending on local market rates.
Taxes, service charges, and gratuities: many venues/caterers add these; include them in your line items if applicable.
Exclusions vary by contract: “per plate” may or may not include starters, beverages, live counters, staff, crockery, or venue charges.
Travel & accommodation: transport, hotel rooms, and guest hospitality can be major costs, especially for destination or out‑of‑town weddings—use “miscellaneous” or add separate entries in your own sheet.
Event count & timing: more functions (haldi/mehndi/sangeet/reception) usually means more venue time, decor resets, and logistics.
Currency/units: enter all amounts in the same currency (commonly INR) for consistent totals.
Your Hindu Wedding Budget Estimate
Total Estimated Wedding Cost
$0
For 400 Guests | Cost per Guest: $0
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Venue & Rentals
Ceremony Venue$0
Reception Venue$0
Pre-Wedding Events Venue$0
Decoration Setup$0
Venue Subtotal$0
Catering & Food
Catering (400 guests)$0
Sweets & Mithai$0
Food Subtotal$0
Clothing & Jewelry
Bride Clothing$0
Groom Clothing$0
Family Clothing$0
Jewelry & Accessories$0
Mangalsutra & Wedding Jewelry$0
Clothing Subtotal$0
Decorations & Services
Flower Decorations$0
Lighting & Drapes$0
Mehdi Artist$0
Music & DJ$0
Beauty & Makeup$0
Decoration Subtotal$0
Photography & Other
Photography & Videography$0
Invitations$0
Priest & Rituals$0
Favors & Gifts$0
Miscellaneous$0
Other Subtotal$0
Wedding Cost Comparison by Region
Region
Typical Budget
Typical Guest Count
Per-Guest Average
Key Characteristics
North Indian
$15,000-$50,000
300-800
$40-80
Multiple pre-wedding events, elaborate décor
South Indian
$12,000-$35,000
200-500
$50-100
Simpler ceremony, often smaller guest count
West Indian
$20,000-$60,000
400-1000
$45-70
Festive atmosphere, elaborate celebrations
East Indian
$10,000-$30,000
250-600
$35-60
Simpler traditions, family-focused
NRI/Diaspora
$30,000-$100,000+
150-400
$100-300
Destination wedding premium, international costs
Budget Insights
Understanding Hindu Wedding Costs (Shaadi)
What is a Hindu wedding (Shaadi)? A Hindu wedding is a sacred union (Vivah) that typically includes multiple ceremonies spread over several days: Mehendi (henna application), Sangeet (music and dance celebration), Haldi (turmeric paste ritual), the actual wedding ceremony (Vivah), and a reception feast. Each event has specific traditions, clothing requirements, and associated costs that vary significantly by region, family background, and personal preferences.
Why Hindu Wedding Costs Vary So Much
Hindu weddings are the most expensive celebrations in Indian culture because they involve:
Multiple events spread over 3-7 days (not a single-day celebration)
Regional traditions with distinct requirements and ceremonies
Large guest counts (often 300-1000+ people)
Elaborate decorations, clothing, and jewelry requirements
Multiple separate venues for different events
Significant investment in personal attire and accessories
The Five Main Wedding Events
1. Mehendi Ceremony
The Mehendi is an evening celebration typically held 3-5 days before the wedding. Female family members and friends gather to apply henna (mehdi) to the bride's hands and feet while celebrating with music, dancing, and food.
Typical Mehendi costs: $1,500-$5,000
2. Sangeet Ceremony
The Sangeet is a musical celebration held 1-2 days before the wedding where family members and friends sing, dance, and perform traditional songs. It's highly festive and celebratory, requiring significant venue space and entertainment.
Typical Sangeet costs: $2,000-$7,000
3. Haldi Ceremony
The Haldi is typically held the morning of the wedding (or day before). A paste of turmeric, oil, and other ingredients is applied to the bride's face and body as a beautification ritual. It's usually held at home or a small venue.
Typical Haldi costs: $500-$1,500
4. Vivah (Wedding Ceremony)
The actual wedding ceremony occurs in the evening, typically lasting 1-2 hours. It involves specific rituals: circumambulation of fire (Pheras), exchange of vows, and blessing ceremonies. Requires a priest (Pandit), music, and decorated wedding venue.
Typical Vivah ceremony costs: $2,000-$6,000
5. Reception/Celebration
The reception is a feast celebrating the union, usually held immediately after or the next day. It's the most expensive event due to catering for hundreds of guests.
Typical Reception costs: $5,000-$25,000+ (depends heavily on guest count and catering quality)
Regional Cost Variations
Hindu wedding traditions and costs vary dramatically by region:
Region
Key Traditions
Typical Duration
Budget Range
Guest Count Norm
North Indian (Hindi Belt)
Mehendi, Sangeet, Haldi, Vivah, Reception all separate; fire rituals central
5-7 days
$20,000-$80,000
500-1000
South Indian
Simpler ceremonies; often Brahmin traditions with Vedic chanting
Simple, family-focused; less elaborate pre-wedding events
2-4 days
$10,000-$30,000
200-600
NRI/Diaspora Weddings
Blend of traditions; often destination weddings (USA, Dubai, etc)
4-10 days
$50,000-$200,000+
100-500
Major Expense Categories
1. Catering (20-40% of budget)
Catering is typically the single largest expense:
Budget catering: $8-12 per person (simple vegetarian/non-vegetarian)
Moderate catering: $15-25 per person (good quality, multiple dishes)
Premium catering: $30-50 per person (gourmet, multi-course)
Luxury catering: $60-100+ per person (high-end restaurants, exotic cuisines)
Many Hindu families serve primarily vegetarian food due to dietary restrictions. For a 400-person wedding with moderate catering ($20/person), catering costs $8,000. Sweets and mithai (traditional Indian sweets like laddoos, barfis) add $500-$2,000 more.
2. Clothing & Jewelry (15-25% of budget)
Personal attire is a major investment in Indian weddings:
Bride's main wedding attire (Lehenga or Saree): $1,000-$5,000+
Bride's other outfits (Mehendi, Sangeet, Reception): 2-3 additional outfits at $800-$2,000 each
Floral arrangements and centerpieces: $1,000-$3,000
Lighting, drapes, and backdrops: $1,000-$3,000
DJ or live band: $800-$2,000
Photography and videography: $1,500-$5,000
Worked Example: The Sharma Family Wedding
Scenario: Rajesh and Priya Sharma, a North Indian family from Delhi, are planning their daughter's wedding in 2025. They have a large extended family and plan to invite 600 guests. They want a comfortable but not extravagant wedding with all traditional ceremonies.
Bride's clothing & jewelry: $4,000 (multiple outfits and wedding jewelry)
Groom's clothing: $1,200
Family members' clothing: $2,000
Photography & videography: $2,500
Invitations & favors: $1,000
Miscellaneous: $2,000
Total: $62,300 (approximately $104 per guest)
This represents a middle-to-upper-middle-class North Indian wedding. By reducing catering quality ($18/person instead of $25) and guest count (400 instead of 600), they could reduce to $40,000-$45,000.
Important Considerations & Limitations
Regional Variations: This calculator provides estimates; actual costs vary significantly by specific community, caste traditions, and family preferences.
Jewelry Value: Jewelry costs can be highly variable; some families give gold jewelry (much higher value) while others buy costume jewelry.
Dowry Considerations: While illegal in India, some families still exchange gifts/money; this calculator doesn't account for such exchanges.
Multiple Weddings: Some grooms' families host separate wedding receptions; this can double reception costs.
Destination Weddings: NRI weddings at resorts can cost 50-100% more than home-country equivalents.
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