In Indian culture, weddings have long been a spectacle of food, fashion, music and rituals. But now, a new trend is emerging across urban India: the fake wedding. These are full-scale celebrations with baraats, sangeets, choreographed dances and even staged varmala ceremonies, except there’s no bride and groom at the centre of it all.
The concept, which has already taken off in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune, is particularly popular with Gen Z and young millennials. Guests purchase tickets that can cost anywhere from 500/- to 15,000/-, depending on the scale of the event. In return, they get to experience the energy of a wedding party without any of the baggage that typically comes with no family obligations, no gifts, and no uncomfortable questions about their own marital plans.
Attendees describe fake weddings as a way to enjoy the parts of Indian weddings they love most – dancing, dressing up, eating and drinking without the stress. “It’s like being at the best wedding of the season, but without the pressure of relatives or the need to explain your life choices,” said one guest who attended a recent fake wedding in Delhi.
Event planners and hospitality brands are quickly tapping into the demand. For them, these parties are a creative way to fill venues during the off-season and attract a younger, experience-driven audience. India’s $130-billion wedding industry is vast, and fake weddings are emerging as a lucrative spin-off—part nightlife, part cultural theatre.
The appeal lies not only in escapism but also in nostalgia. Weddings are one of India’s strongest cultural touch points, and the fake wedding reimagines them as pure entertainment. The rituals are recreated for spectacle, the décor is Instagram-ready, and the music is designed to keep people on the dance floor. For many guests, the highlight is simply the freedom to participate in the joy of a wedding without being bound to its traditions.
While some critics see it as a frivolous fad, organisers and participants argue that fake weddings are not a mockery but an evolution. They keep the glamour and community spirit intact while stripping away the formality. Guests still turn up in couture-worthy outfits, DJs play the same playlists heard at real receptions, and choreographed dances unfold under chandeliers. The only thing missing is the actual marriage.
What these events reveal is a shift in the way younger Indians view celebration. Marriage may no longer be the milestone it once was, but the desire to gather, dance and celebrate remains as strong as ever. In that sense, fake weddings reflect both continuity and change—they preserve the festive spirit of Indian weddings while adapting them to the priorities of a generation that values experience over expectation.
