How much does an Asian Wedding cost?

Here at Yorkshire Event Centre, we cater for a number of Asian weddings throughout the year. Here’s some useful advice!

We live in an age of extravagant and lavish weddings. So, how much does an Asian wedding cost? Whilst the average British wedding costs around £23,000 and requires a fair amount of planning, an Asian wedding cost can be upwards of £50,000. Such an event is a date in the diary definitely not to be missed!

Sikh, Hindu or Muslim weddings comprise a number of big days that take place before the wedding. These include dinner parties, henna nights and religious events. The wedding day will then follow plus a huge reception party to wrap things up.

The typical guest list at an Asian wedding is eye-popping: at many Asian weddings, there can be upwards of 500 guests. For that, you need large event space, and a grand venue, too. If you’re in London, that can be incredibly expensive.

While Caucasians tend to stick to family and close friends, Asian weddings are bound by tradition where inviting friends of friends and business colleagues is commonplace. Typically, on a guest list of 400, there may be nearly 100 whom the bride and groom have not been acquainted with.

Traditionally it’s the bride’s father who would pay for the lavish wedding. It’s a custom that has its roots in the dowry. Back when women weren’t financially self-sufficient, parents gifted cash to their daughters against her future security when she went to live with the in-laws.

Of course, more and more businesses catering specifically for Asian weddings are on the rise. The cost of a wedding dress from a specialist bridal supplier can be over £3000.

Such weddings and the culture of trying to do the best for your daughter is heavily influenced by a number of factors – Britain’s obsession with celebrity culture, Bollywood and TV programmes that showcase grand weddings and make people aware of what’s available.

In fact, a recent poll found that nearly a quarter of British Asians spend between £20,000 and £30,000 on their wedding, but that nearly as many were happy to stump up between £50,000 and £75,000. A mere 6% would spend under £20,000.