New Delhi: India’s grand 45-day wedding season, beginning November 1, is set to inject a record-breaking ₹6.5 lakh crore into the economy, driven by an estimated 46 lakh weddings, according to a report released on Thursday by the CAIT Research and Trade Development Society (CRTDS) — the research arm of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
The study highlighted that Delhi will be one of the top contributors, accounting for ₹1.8 lakh crore in spending from around 4.8 lakh weddings.
Despite the number of weddings remaining nearly the same as last year, spending per wedding has substantially increased, reflecting India’s growing disposable income, the impact of inflation in precious metals, and heightened consumer confidence following a strong festive season.
Rising Expenditure and Economic Impact
CAIT Secretary General and Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal said that the upsurge in wedding expenditure underscores a mix of economic optimism and changing consumer behaviour.
“The rise reflects higher disposable incomes, inflation in precious metals, and rising consumer confidence after a record-breaking festive season,” Khandelwal noted.
Comparatively, India hosted 48 lakh weddings in 2024 generating ₹5.90 lakh crore, up from 38 lakh weddings worth ₹4.74 lakh crore in 2023. The 2025 season is thus projected to surpass previous records, making it the most lucrative wedding period in India’s history.
‘Vocal for Local’ Push Strengthens Indian Industries
A key finding of the CAIT report is the growing preference for Swadeshi (Indian-made) products, with over 70% of all wedding-related purchases now locally sourced. This includes categories such as apparel, jewellery, décor, utensils, and catering items.
The report credited CAIT’s “Vocal for Local Weddings” campaign for drastically reducing the market presence of imported products, particularly Chinese-made lighting, artificial décor, and gift accessories.
Traditional artisans, jewellers, textile producers, and handicraft makers are experiencing a strong rise in demand, underscoring the revival of India’s local manufacturing and craftsmanship.
Boost to Employment and MSME Growth
According to Khandelwal, this year’s wedding season could generate over 1 crore temporary and part-time jobs, directly benefiting decorators, caterers, florists, artists, transporters, and hospitality staff.
Small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in textiles, jewellery, handicrafts, packaging, and logistics are also expected to gain substantial momentum from the seasonal surge in orders.
The report further estimates that the wedding boom will contribute approximately ₹75,000 crore in tax revenues to the government.
Jewellery and Apparel Lead Sectoral Spending
CAIT’s sectoral analysis revealed that jewellery will be the largest contributor, accounting for 15% of total wedding-related economic activity, followed by apparel and sarees at 10%. Other major segments include venue décor, catering, transport, and event management.
With India’s wedding industry now rivaling major global markets, experts believe this season will reaffirm the country’s position as the world’s largest and most vibrant matrimonial economy