How much shagun should I give at an Indian wedding?

The amount depends on your relationship with the couple. Close family (siblings, cousins) typically gives ₹5,000-11,000. Extended family ranges from ₹2,100-5,100. Close friends give ₹3,100-5,100, while colleagues and acquaintances give ₹1,100-2,100.

How can I afford multiple weddings in one season?

Plan ahead by creating a dedicated wedding season budget at the start of November. Prioritize which weddings to attend based on closeness to the couple. Rent outfits instead of buying, rewear with different accessories, and book travel early for better prices.

Is it rude to skip a wedding reception?

Not at all. Many guests attend only the ceremony or only the reception due to time and travel constraints. What matters is acknowledging the occasion—send a thoughtful gift or heartfelt message if you can't attend.

How do I budget for destination weddings?

Destination weddings require extra planning. As soon as you receive the invitation, estimate costs for travel, accommodation, and multiple-day outfits. If the costs are prohibitive, it's acceptable to decline gracefully or attend only the main ceremony.

What's the minimum I can spend as a wedding guest?

For a local wedding where you rewear an outfit and give a modest shagun of ₹1,100-2,100, you could attend for under ₹3,000. The key is being thoughtful rather than extravagant.

Indian Wedding Guest Survival Guide: Budgeting for Shaadi Season

This post is crafted for our wonderful users in India—though the wisdom here applies no matter where you call home.

It’s that time of year again. Your phone is buzzing with wedding invitations, your calendar is filling up with sangeet and mehendi dates, and your wallet is already crying. Welcome to shaadi season—the beautiful, exhausting, and expensive Indian wedding marathon.

Between November and February, it’s not unusual to attend 3-5 weddings. And as any seasoned wedding guest knows, each wedding can cost you anywhere from ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 or more when you add up the outfit, gift, travel, and incidentals.

But here’s the thing: you can celebrate your loved ones’ big days without sacrificing your financial future. This guide will help you navigate shaadi season with your relationships and budget intact.

The True Cost of Being a Wedding Guest

Let’s break down where the money actually goes:

Outfits (₹3,000-15,000 per wedding)

Mehendi/sangeet outfit
Wedding day outfit (the real showstopper)
Reception outfit
Accessories and jewelry
Grooming/makeup/hair

Gifts (₹2,000-10,000)

Shagun envelope (cash gift)
Wedding registry item
Additional gifts for the couple or family

Travel & Accommodation (₹0-15,000)

Depends heavily on destination
Train/flight tickets
Hotel stays (if venue accommodation isn’t provided)
Local transport

When you multiply this across 4-5 weddings in a season, you’re looking at potentially ₹50,000-1,00,000 in wedding expenses.

Outfit Strategies That Save Money

Rent, Don’t Buy (Especially for Men)

That ₹15,000 sherwani you’ll wear once? Rent it for ₹3,000 instead. Rental services have exploded in Indian metros, offering designer sherwanis, lehengas, and even jewelry sets.

Mix and Match Across Weddings

Here’s a secret: nobody remembers what you wore to the last wedding. Invest in one statement outfit, get 2-3 versatile pieces that mix and match, and change your dupatta/accessories for different looks.

Accessorize to Refresh Old Outfits

That lehenga from 2023? Pair it with a new dupatta (₹1,500) instead of buying a new outfit (₹15,000). New earrings, different hair accessories, and a fresh blouse can transform an old outfit.

Gift Giving Made Sensible

The Shagun Guidelines

Cash gifts (shagun) are the norm at Indian weddings. General guidelines based on your relationship:

Close family (siblings, cousins): ₹5,000-11,000
Extended family: ₹2,100-5,100
Close friends: ₹3,100-5,100
Colleagues/acquaintances: ₹1,100-2,100

Important: Give what you can afford, not what you think is expected.

Group Gifting Saves Everyone

If you’re attending a colleague’s wedding with other coworkers, suggest pooling money for one significant gift instead of 10 people giving ₹1,000 each randomly.

The Art of Saying No (Gracefully)

Here’s a truth nobody talks about: you don’t have to attend every wedding you’re invited to.

Some situations where declining is completely acceptable:

Financial constraints (you don’t need to explain)
Work commitments
Travel fatigue from wedding marathon
You’re not close to the person

Your financial stability matters more than attending every wedding.

Track your wedding season budget

Set a dedicated wedding season budget and track expenses as you go. One glance tells you if you can afford the next invitation.

Savings goals Daily targets Progress tracking

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BUDGT app savings mode showing goal progress and daily savings target (1 of 1)

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Track It All with BUDGT

At the start of wedding season, open BUDGT and:

List all confirmed weddings for the season
Estimate costs for each (outfit, gift, travel)
Set a total “wedding season” budget that’s realistic
Track expenses as you go

Seeing the numbers helps you make better decisions: “I’ve already spent ₹40,000 on 3 weddings. I have ₹10,000 left for the remaining 2—I need to be smart.”

Celebrate Love Without Breaking the Bank

Weddings are about celebrating love, not showcasing your spending power. The couple wants your presence and blessings—not your financial stress.

This shaadi season, be present, be joyful, and be financially responsible. Your future self will thank you when the wedding season ends and your bank account is still intact.

Now go enjoy those bidaai tears, dance floor shenanigans, and midnight butter chicken sessions—budget intact!