In July 2024, the curtains were drawn on the wedding of the year, featuring an exhaustive lineup of luxurious celebrations that captivated audiences around the world. The grand wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant began with pre-wedding festivities in Jamnagar in December 2023, including a masquerade ball with 1,200 guests in a bespoke glass palace, a mesmerizing light show with 5,500 drones, and performances by global stars like Rihanna, Shah Rukh Khan, and Deepika Padukone. The second celebration, held in late May, was a four-day Mediterranean cruise with performances by Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, and Pitbull, and extravagant parties in London. The final six-day wedding celebration in July was an opulent affair, with an illustrious guest list of dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities, accompanied by an elaborate culinary spread that set new benchmarks for luxury weddings. According to news reports, the estimated cost of this royal wedding was between INR 25,398 Crore ($300 million) and INR 84,660 Crore ($1 billion).
India’s wedding industry is nothing short of a global powerhouse that has witnessed tremendous change in the last decade. According to a report by investment banking firm Jeffries, the country hosts nearly one crore weddings annually, generating a staggering 11 lakh crore ($130 billion) in business—double the size of the wedding industry in the US, which is valued at INR 5.9 lakh crore ($70 billion). What makes this even more remarkable is India’s wedding spend-to-GDP ratio, which stands at 5X—higher than most other countries. This massive sector is not just about the ceremony itself; it’s an intricate ecosystem that touches multiple industries, from hospitality and fashion to entertainment and luxury goods. Nearly 50% of the jewelry purchased in India is bridal-themed, with gold making up a staggering 80% of the demand.
“Indian weddings have evolved into grand spectacles that blend cultural traditions with cutting-edge innovation and luxury. Families are moving beyond conventional celebrations, opting for destination weddings that offer not only breathtaking venues but also unique cultural experiences”, says Rajat Sethi, General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur. As per a study by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the current wedding season in India expects 48 lakh weddings before 2024 ends, amounting to generate business worth INR 6 lakh crore. Last year, 35 lakh weddings during this season created business worth INR 4.25 lakh crore. This year, the increase in auspicious wedding dates is expected to give an unprecedented boost of INR 5.9 lakh crore ($US 70.43 billion) “Couples demand immersive themes, where every aspect of the wedding reflects a narrative—whether it’s through decor inspired by royal Indian palaces or carefully curated menus showcasing regional and global cuisines. Couples seek curated moments that go beyond the ceremonies, including wellness retreats, pre-wedding photo shoots and post-wedding brunches. The concept of sustainable luxury is also gaining momentum, with a focus on eco-conscious decor, locally sourced menus, and heritage crafts,” he added.
Why Hotels Are the Heart of Luxury Wedding Experiences
With top hospitality players providing a regal yet contemporary canvas for bespoke weddings, they are becoming the preferred destination for couples seeking premium experiences. “Imagine exchanging vows or dancing the night away under a canopy of stars, the gentle lapping of waves providing a serene soundtrack at the sunset deck and surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views. Or perhaps a lavish celebration under an ancient tree adorned with exquisite floral arrangements at the lower bay view of Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa in Goa. We cater to every whim for this special day to curate the food and beverage options along with itineraries that reflect the couple’s unique style,” says Gaurav Miglani, Area Director, Taj North Goa Resorts and General Manager Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa, Goa. The Taj Holiday Village Banquet is widely popular for its exclusive cocktail experiences and milestone dinners for the wedding couple. “Our mixologists have curated high-end cocktails exclusively for the bride and groom priced at INR 5,000-8,000,” Gaurav Miglani adds.
Personalisation lies at the core of such weddings. With every detail, the organisers aim to create a magical experience that reflects the couple’s unique love story. “Our grand arrival for the couple is more than a welcome; it’s a sensory experience crafted to set the tone for the rest of the celebrations. It features vintage car processions complemented by traditional Rajasthani music, floral showers and a beautifully adorned venue. For the couple’s intimate moments, we also offer luxurious hammam bath experiences, complete with detoxifying salts and aromatic oils, allowing them to relax and rejuvenate amidst the festivities. Beyond the indulgence, our culinary team collaborates closely with the couple to craft unique dining moments– from immersive thali of India’s lost recipes or a modern twist on Goan cuisine served at sit-down dinners,” says Rajat Sethi.
How Wedding Planners Perfect the Art of Luxury Weddings
In the world of luxury weddings, wedding planners play a pivotal role in weaving together every element of a couple’s dream celebration. Aligned with the latest trends, they transform ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. From seamless logistics to extravagant soirées at elite locations around the globe, wedding planners ensure that each celebration is nothing short of majestic and whimsical. “Luxury weddings are as much about storytelling as they are about aesthetics,” says Costanza Giaconi, a renowned Florence-based wedding planner with over 500 destination weddings to her name. “Every detail—from guest pickup to floral arrangements, from curated menus by Michelin-star chefs to bespoke entertainment—embodies the couple’s personality. Couples today crave exclusive, tailored experiences, be it private venues or immersive cultural touches. Planning such weddings requires not only a deep understanding of the couple’s vision but also the ability to balance creativity with flawless execution.”
Costanza’s wedding planning firm, Resh&Co, co-founded with US partner Reshma Ramaiah and Asia partner Sushma Venkatesh, is a leader in crafting immersive weddings that transcend fleeting trends. They are the masterminds behind the iconic fairytale wedding of Ed Westwick and Amy Jackson. Specializing in destination weddings, their expertise lies in blending local cultural immersion with global sophistication. “With teams across India, Italy, and the US, we bridge geographic gaps effortlessly. While our team in India liaises with families, our team in Italy oversees local logistics like vendor coordination and quality checks. This ensures seamless execution, whether it’s a Tuscan vineyard wedding or a heritage-themed ceremony in Jaipur,” explain Reshma and Sushma.
Reflecting on the Ed-Amy wedding, Costanza says, “From our initial discussions, they expressed a vision that blended fairytale elegance with familial warmth. The tight six-month timeline was a challenge, but their clarity of purpose made the process seamless.”
The three-day affair with 200 international guests began with a glamorous welcome party on a private motorboat along the Amalfi Coast, offering stunning sunset views over the Faraglioni. Guests were treated to champagne, a sit-down dinner curated by Michelin-star chefs, and performances by Krystal Entertainment singers. The magical wedding and reception at the historic Rocca Cilento Castle were followed by a parade around the castle walls featuring local flag bearers, and a dinner interspersed with performances by musicians and dancers, with the wedding cake crafted by renowned chef Damiano Carrara. The third day was dedicated to relaxation at the Giardini del Fuenti in Vietri sul Mare, where a beach club was recreated in the gardens. The couple bid farewell to their guests in authentic Italian spirit, serving fried pizza and pasta, followed by a family-style lunch at imperial tables.
While the Amy-Ed wedding was a standout, they have orchestrated several other high-profile weddings of similar grandeur. “One of our grandest events was a multi-day wedding in Jaipur, where we transformed a heritage palace into a dreamscape with bespoke décor, renowned international performers, and immersive cultural activities like puppet shows and local artisanal fairs. We even assisted international guests with visas, booking flights, and arranging shopping trips for lehengas and kurtas, ensuring they fully immersed themselves in the ‘Indian wedding experience.’ The level of detail required to organize this kind of personalized wedding took a year to plan, but we pulled it off seamlessly!” Costanza adds.
How Wedding Films Have Become a Key Element of Luxury Weddings
Great photography and videography are non-negotiable elements in today’s weddings. With the rise of influential photography icons renowned for capturing breathtaking moments, timeless Indian weddings are being immortalized in stunning imagery. According to market insights from Fortune Business Insights, the global wedding photography market was valued at INR 1.8 lakh crore (USD 21.83 billion) in 2023 and is projected to grow from INR 1.9 lakh crore (USD 23.36 billion) in 2024 to INR 3.6 lakh crore (USD 43.59 billion) by 2032, showcasing a CAGR of 8.11% over the forecast period.
“Wedding filming has transformed from a purely documentary effort into an art form. When I started, weddings were mostly captured in a mechanical, checklist style—safe, conventional, and far from memorable. Wedding filming needed storytelling, a heart, and a cinematic touch, and that’s what I brought. Our evolution is driven by the belief that every wedding deserves something new. Reinvention isn’t optional; it’s what keeps the magic alive in every frame,” says Vishal Punjabi, Founder of The Wedding Filmer, who has captured over 400 weddings on camera, including celebrity weddings like Anushka Sharma-Virat Kohli, Deepika Padukone-Ranveer Singh, Kiara Advani-Sidharth Malhotra, and Rajkumar Rao-Patralekha. He adds, “Weddings, for me, aren’t just events. My years of experience in music, editing, film, and technology merge seamlessly to craft a symphony of visuals and sound that tells an intimate, unique story. Our goal is to make every couple feel like their love story is as magical as a dream, yet undeniably real.”
Of late, AI and technological advancements have revolutionized the wedding industry in ways we never imagined. “For weddings of grandeur and complexity, AI gives the edge, delivering magic faster, sharper, and more beautifully than ever before. It helps us pinpoint the perfect focus with subject detection, cleans up audio imperfections, syncs sound effortlessly, and even aids in editing and color correction. Graphics, lyrics, and music have seen a remarkable transformation, as AI streamlines processes that once took hours,” he concludes.
The future of wedding culture in India shines bright, destined to grow bigger, better, and bolder. The true intrigue lies in how these celebrations will continue to innovate, seamlessly blending timeless rituals with unforgettable experiences.
Discover more stories on luxury, business, culture, and innovation here at Candle Magazine