The shift from grandeur to safety is changing the look of post-lockdown weddings. The once-lavish affair has reduced to 50 guests, but so have the costs. For instance, at Rs 1.5 lakh, one can now get bridal makeup, specially designed e-invites, photography, mehendi, mandap, vegetarian food for 50 people, DJ music and a decorated car coupled with other elements to ensure safety of attendees. These include masks of different colours for the bride’s side and the groom’s, ultraviolet (UV) hand sanitisation stations, thermal screening for guests, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for bandwallahs and caterers and venue sanitisation before the event.

Planners TOI spoke to said they are able to provide packages at a fraction of the earlier cost by looking for cheaper alternatives. Cloth and thermocol decorations have replaced expensive floral arrangements and instead of a group of photographers and videographers taking candid shots, there is now just one person taking a specific number of photos. 

Cost of lighting has also reduced since weddings are taking place during the day due to travel curbs at night. “Makeup artists and mehendi artists are also willing to offer their services at half their rates since their jobs have been affected by lockdown. This is helping us provide cheaper packages,” said Jayant Joshi, a wedding planner in Dehradun, who said about a dozen people have made inquiries for weddings in June.
Founder of Delhi-based ShaadiSaga, Himanshu Kapsime, told TOI that a smaller guest list means that packages for even those looking for a luxe wedding with better quality of services are available for under Rs 5 lakh.

Venue costs are not included in packages because many couples are likely to prefer getting married at home like they did during the lockdown period, said planners. For instance, Riti, a graphic designer, got married to Amrit Kochhar at her house in Delhi’s New Friends Colony in May. “Everyone had to wear a mask and use sanitisers and they were seated far apart,” said Amrit.
A retired government official in Bengaluru’s Jayanagar recently hosted his daughter’s wedding at the family’s two-storey residence with 26 people in attendance. “As soon as the lockdown was relaxed, we decided to go ahead with a small event. I had dreamed about this day for years; it’s nothing like how I had imagined,” he said.

According to planners in Bengaluru, wedding budgets have been cut down by as much as 80%. “The biggest factor is the cap on the number of guests and helpers; the total cannot exceed 50. So, big venues are not required and the catering order is also smaller. There are no elaborate decorations as you don’t have too many guests to impress,” said Anita Makharia, founder of Shubhkamnaye, an event management company.
Most planners said safety is not an aspect they would compromise with. While Joshi’s company has purchased UV sanitisation machines and is also providing stations with shower curtains where people can hug each other, Anukriti Batra, another wedding planner, will have everyone — from bandwallahs to photographers and caterers — decked in PPE kits when she ties the knot later this month.

Isha Sharma, a Delhi-based fashion consultant, whose wedding was recently planned with the help of ShaadiWish, said she initially had safety concerns but they were allayed once she was told about precautions that would be taken.
Divyata and Tanveer Shergill, founders of ShaadiWish told TOI that from designer lehengas to decorations, everything is available at a nominal price since providers have unsold inventory and are ready to give better prices.
While planners said that lockdown relaxations mean they are getting more inquiries now for weddings, some still want to wait it out. Like Rahul Khanna, an optimistic groom-to-be, who has already postponed his wedding twice due to the ongoing pandemic. “I have now scheduled the wedding for next year since I’m hoping things will be normal by then. This is a special event and I don’t want anyone in my family to feel left out,” said the 28-year-old from Delhi’s Karol Bagh.

Simran S Kohli, founder of Occasion Alley Productions in Delhi, said it would be a while before business would pick up. “Most weddings between April and June have been postponed indefinitely.”
PR Rao, managing director of RRR and Sons in Gandhinagar, said before Covid-19, a client paid around Rs 5 lakh. The figure has now dropped to Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. “Cash in hand has become extremely important for people in these times,” he said.
Makharia also said that some of her clients had postponed destination weddings, while some had opted for court marriage. “There are no shaguns, return gifts, band baja or big baraats,” she said. “These weddings may be less lavish, but the focus is on people who matter — the bride, groom and close relatives. In a way, these moments are more special than before,” she added.