No designer outfits, no wedding planner: Gurgaon couple reveals how they saved Rs 10 lakhs on their wedding by making 5 smart choices

Indian weddings are all about grandeur. From top-class venues to elaborate decorations and designer nuptial outfits to expensive jewellery — everything about an Indian wedding screams opulence. But seems like times are changing. More and more couples are slowly cancelling the concept of big, fat marriage ceremonies. Instead, they are becoming more eager to tie the knot with minimalism and simplicity. Earlier this year, a Gurgaon-based brand manager, Gagan Saini, dropped a video on Instagram sharing how he saved nearly Rs 10 lakhs on his wedding.

Booked vendors early

Gagan said one of the biggest savings came from making arrangements well in advance. He booked the wedding venue, decorators and dholwalas nearly a year before the celebrations. The early bookings gave the couple enough room to negotiate prices and helped them save around Rs 3 lakh.

Skipped expensive brands

Rather than spending heavily on designer labels and branded wedding services, the couple chose more practical alternatives. Gagan had his wedding outfits stitched from scratch instead of purchasing pre-made designer ensembles, with all his wedding clothes costing around Rs 55,000. He also avoided paying a premium for brand names, including while choosing a makeup artist for his wife.

Planned the wedding themselves

The couple also decided not to hire a wedding planner. Instead, they handled the arrangements themselves, taking care of everything from the venue and decor to the menu and return gifts. While managing the preparations was hectic at times, Gagan felt his professional experience as a brand manager helped him coordinate the different aspects of the wedding.

Backed local talent

The couple also looked beyond established names when selecting their wedding vendors. Instead of hiring well-known photographers, they opted for local and upcoming freelancers. This helped them reduce additional expenses such as travel costs while also allowing emerging talent to showcase their work. Gagan estimated that this choice alone helped them save around Rs 1.5 lakh, without compromising on the final output.

Chose practical over flashy

For their wedding rings, Gagan and his partner opted for lab-grown diamonds instead of spending significantly more on traditional diamond options. The choice allowed them to retain the look and durability they wanted while keeping the cost considerably lower. According to Gagan, this decision helped the couple save roughly Rs 2 lakh.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gagan Saini (@03gagan)

In conclusion, Gagan shared that his priority was to keep the wedding centred on people, memories and meaningful moments rather than financial pressure. By making deliberate choices and avoiding unnecessary expenses, the couple managed to save nearly Rs 10 lakh. Despite spending less, he felt the celebrations remained equally joyful, memorable and full of energy.