Virtual weddings are not as popular as you think, they may be just a fad

When the lockdown was announced, a lot of people believed virtual weddings (where the functions - sangeet, mehendi and even the puja - are performed at home and the pundit and guests participate via video conferencing) would become the norm, given social distancing guidelines and pandemic fears.

But, as the country moves towards easing of wedding regulations, are virtual weddings still a popular option for couples?

A recent Jeevansathi survey found that 89 per cent of Indians don’t want to stream their wedding virtually. Instead, the majority of Indians would prefer to host a small, intimate wedding with limited guests or postpone it until the pandemic recedes.


Rohan Mathur, Business Head at Jeevansathi.com, said, “Virtual weddings are still a distant reality for Indian weddings. Even prospects who are meeting virtually via video calls to decide their life partner prefer an in-person meeting before taking the final decision.”

Goodbye big, fat wedding
Even the way weddings are organised, post the unlocking, have undergone a shift with couples prioritising safety and sanitization over long guests lists, lavish food spreads, extravagant decorations, or wardrobes. 52 per cent of respondents rated proper sanitisation as a priority, followed by attendance of loved ones (18 per cent) and memorable photographs (11 per cent).

While both genders prioritized safety concerns, the survey found that women (71 per cent) were more serious about safety protocols when compared to men (51 per cent). When it came to guests, 44 per cent admitted they would avoid weddings if the couple was not someone very close.