The hidden costs of Indian weddings

KUDOS to reporter Yoshini Perumal for daring to shine a light on a truth most prefer to keep buried.

The recent POST article, “Are Indian weddings driving families into debt for social status?”, is not just a headline which we can no longer ignore. 

Let us be honest: Indian weddings are spectacular.

Days of celebration, hundreds or even thousands of guests, lavish decor, endless feasts, and designer outfits that could rival a royal gala. But beneath the glitter and glamour lie a much darker story, one of silent sacrifice, crushing loans, and families drowning in debt just to keep up appearances.

This is not just about two people tying the knot, any more. It has become a battlefield for prestige, a pressure cooker of societal expectation.

And the cost? Devastating. Extravagant venues – many of which shamelessly exploit our own communities with exorbitant prices – catering, entertainment, photography and videography.

We are talking hundreds of thousands of rand, often funded by loans, second mortgages, or selling off hard-earned assets. All for a few days. Sometimes just one. Yes, awareness is slowly growing. But slowly isn’t good enough when families are being pushed to the brink. Intimate, meaningful, financially sane.

Some couples are already leading the way, ditching the traditional circus for quiet elopements or tasteful destination weddings.

But we need more than a trend. We need a cultural shift. For the sake of our children, we must lead by example.

Let us normalise financial health over flashy displays. Let us teach the next generation that love isn’t measured by the price of a hall or the number of cameras rolling. Let us show them the power of saving, of responsible spending, of choosing peace over pressure.

Because here is the truth: weddings should be about commitment, not creditors. About joy, not judgement. And our kids deserve a future built on security, not debt disguised as celebration.

DHAYALAN MOODLEY

Mobeni Heights