India's fake weddings

Imagine an event with all the fun of a wedding but none of the commitment, stress or family drama: you've just imagined the latest entry onto the Indian party scene.

At a "fake wedding", people gather "to enjoy a wedding party minus the actual marriage”, said the BBC, and the trend is spreading beyond India's shores.

'There for the energy'

There are "dazzling lights, glittering outfits, Bollywood hits, a lavish spread of food and an atmosphere soaked in celebration". It all feels "extravagant, emotional and larger than life" but there's no bride and groom, "just the party".

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

These "judgement-free" ceremonies offer the wedding experience "without drama", said Curly Tales. You can have the enjoyment of a Desi wedding "without the emotional baggage" or "financial headache". There's "no awkward gift-giving, no planning leave from work for a multi-day affair" and "fake smiles" aren't required for "distant relatives" you hardly know.

Fake weddings chime with young people's desire to find reasons to celebrate. And the trend's "low-commitment nature" works well for the younger generation because "you're not attending out of obligation"; you're there "because you want to be – for the music, for the energy, and for the people".

Dubai dance-offs

The trend is already evolving. At some fake weddings, the organisers divide attendees into "groom's team" or "bride's team"; at others, there's "no alcohol, just a themed celebration", said the BBC. Fake Indian weddings are also "taking over Dubai", said Curly Tales, where ticketed parties are "decked out with dhols, DJs, dance-offs and full-blown wedding decor".

In India's big cities – Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru – ticket prices for fake weddings start at around 1,500 rupees (£13) but they can be as high as 15,000 rupees or more. This is great news for India's $130 billion (£97 billion) wedding industry. Most "proper" weddings take place during the cooler months, typically between November and March, and venues are often empty between June and August. Fake weddings can step in to fill that gap.

It's already clear there's real appeal in faking it. And why not, said Curly Tales, when you can swerve the "social minefield" of relatives asking "questions about your career, relationships or why you're not next in line"? The "only thing expected of you" is to "show up, dress well and have fun".