Problem for the Indian Middle Class The Resort Wedding

Описание: Problem for the Indian Middle Class The Resort Wedding

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A New Problem for the Indian Middle Class: The Resort Wedding

The "Big Fat Indian Wedding" is a well-established phenomenon, but it's evolving in a way that is creating a new kind of financial and social pressure for the Indian middle class: the resort wedding.

Fueled by celebrity weddings, social media aspirations, and the desire for "Instagram-worthy" moments, destination and resort weddings are no longer just for the super-rich. They've become a new benchmark for social status, and for many middle-class families, this trend is creating a significant and often unspoken problem.

The financial strain is immense. While traditional weddings, even large ones, can be expensive, they are often held in community halls or local banquet spaces, with guests footing their own travel and accommodation bills. The resort wedding, however, is an all-inclusive affair. Families are now expected to cover not only the venue and catering but also a significant portion of the guests' accommodation, travel, and entertainment for multi-day events.

This shift in expectation is pushing middle-class families to the brink. With wedding costs for a destination wedding easily ranging from ₹15-50 lakhs or more, many families are draining their life savings, taking out loans, or even selling assets to keep up with the trend. This financial burden often starts the couple's new life together with a significant amount of debt, leading to post-wedding stress and conflict.

The pressure isn't just financial. It's also deeply social. The fear of "log kya kahenge" (what will people say?) drives families to spend beyond their means to avoid being seen as "less than." Social media, with its curated and perfect portrayals of lavish weddings, only amplifies this pressure, creating a vicious cycle of competitive spending.

While some are embracing the trend of smaller, more intimate "micro-luxury" weddings to focus on a premium experience for a select few, the overall narrative remains one of grandeur and extravagance. For the Indian middle class, the resort wedding is becoming a new hurdle to navigate—a beautiful, but often financially devastating, dream.