Executive Summary (Repaired) C

PROJECT REPORT ON GROWING IMPORTANCE OF
WEDDING PLANNERS IN MUMBAI
BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
SEMESTER V
2016-2017
SUBMITTED BY:MANTHAN THAKKAR
ROLLNO.64
NAME OF PROJECT GUIDE: PROF. Ravi Kosgi
S.K. Somaiya College of Arts Science & Commerce

PROJECT ON
IMPORTANCE OF WEDDING PLANNERS IN MUMBAI

BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
SEMESTER V
SUBMITTED
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
MANAGEMENT STUDIES
BY
MANTHAN THAKKAR
S K SOMAIYA DEGREE COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE AND

COMMERCE
Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar(E) Mumbai, Maharashtra 400077

DECLARATION
I, MANTHAN THAKKAR student of T.YB.M.S – Semester V

(2017-2018) hereby declare that I have completed this project on
“GROWING IMPORTANCE OF WEDDING PLANNERS IN
MUMBAI”
The information submitted is True & Original to the best of

my knowledge.
______________
Signature of the Student
MANTHAN THAKKAR
ROLL NO. 64
S K SOMAIYA DEGREE COLLEGE OF ARTS

SCIENCE AND COMMERCE.
Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400077

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Mr. MANTHAN THAKKAR, ROLL NO: 64of Third
Year B.M.S., Semester V (2017-2018) has successfully completed the project
on “IMPORTANCE OF WEDDING PLANNERS IN MUMBAI” under the
guidance ofProf. RAVI KOSGI
Project Guide Principal

Prof. RAVI KOSGI Miss. Sangeeta Kohli
Course Co-coordinator
Dr.Aparna Jain
External Examiner
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To list who all have helped me is difficult because they are so numerous and the
depth is so enormous
I would like to acknowledge the following as being idealistic channels and fresh
dimensions in the completion of this project.
I take this opportunity to thank the University of Mumbai for giving me a chance
to do this project.
I would like to thank my Principal, for providing the necessary facilities required
for completion of this project.
I take this opportunity to thank our Coordinator, Dr.Aparna Jain for her moral
support and guidance.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude towards my project guide Prof
Ravi kosgi whose guidance and care made the project successful.
I would like to thank my College Library, for having provided various reference
books and magazines related to my project.
Lastly, I would like to thank each and every person who directly or indirectly
helped me in the completion of the project especially my Parents and Peers who
supported me throughout my project.
TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

Executive Summary
Weddings in India are more than the union of two souls and two families.
Indians give marriage tremendous importance, and there is often an unreal
amount of pressure associated with this one day. It must be grand, it must be
extravagant, and it must be a night to remember for both the couple and all
their guests. In addition, weddingsinfluence a family’s social and fiscal
standing. The grander the celebrations, the more affluent and popular you’re
perceived to be. This is why people save much of their money for their
children’s weddings, and it’s also why the wedding industry is as lucrative
as it is today. There is no shortage of ideas and industry experts; here are just
a few of the elements that couple may consider when planning their
special celebration.[1]
The wedding planning business in India is huge. Ceremonies take place

throughout the year, so professionals are always in demand. A wedding is to
be enjoyed especially by the bride and groom. But copious amounts of
planning and coordination can make it seem like a chore than something
beautiful. The stress that comes with doing everything yourself might
have you wishing for things to just be over already, instead of looking
forward to the big day. Whether it’s middle class or the rich cream of the
society they love to spend the maximum of their penny on marriages.
There are various other industries that are affected by this recession resistant
industry like jewellery, photography, printing, gifting, catering, hospitality
etc.
Therefore, this research project aims to recognize
“The growing importance of wedding planners in Mumbai.” This
research project will outline the various aspects of wedding planning, on
what basis people choose their wedding planners and the change in trends
of weddings.


INDEX
Sr. Topic Page No.

No.
1 About the Study
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Hypothesis
1.3 Objective of the research
1.4 Scope of the study
2 Research Methodology
2.1 Collection of data
2.2 Sampling of plan
2.3 Research Limitation
3 Wedding Planning
3.1 What is wedding planning
3.2 Role of wedding planners
3.3 Components of wedding
planner
3.4 Growing importance of
wedding planning
3.5 Scope of wedding planning
4 Major function in wedding
4.1 Pre- Wedding function
4.2 Wedding Rituals
4.3 Post wedding Rituals
5 Regional Wedding
6 Destination Wedding
6.1 Destination Wedding in GOA
6.2 Destination Wedding in
JAIPUR
UDAIPUR
KERALA

7 Major players in the industry
8 Industry Analysis
9 Current Situation
10 Analysis of Survey & Findings
11 Change in trends of wedding
12 Conclusion
Weblography

1
Chapter 1
About The Study
1.1Introduction:
Indians give marriage tremendous importance, and there is often an unreal amount of pressure
associated with this one day. It must be grand, it must be extravagant, and it must be a night to
remember for both the couple and all their guests. In addition, weddings influence a family’s
social and fiscal standing. The grander the celebrations, the more affluent and popular you’re
perceived to be. This is why people save much of their money for their children’s weddings,
and it’s also why the wedding industry is as lucrative as it is today. There is no shortage of ideas
and industry experts; here are just a few of the elements that couple may consider when
planning their special celebration.
In an Indian wedding, everyone just spends and does not think of returns. Every
manufacturer and retailer involved with marriage related goods eagerly await the season to
push business. With each passing decade the Indian weddings are getting grandeur. Three
decades ago people hardly thought about the lavish wedding function that has now become a
trend and may be a compulsion. However, no one’s complaining; at least not the
retailers and associated players because of the tremendous business opportunity that comes
along with it. Let’s penetrate deeper.
Weddings may seem fairly simple at first, but they are not. Regardless of your religion or
even if you don’t have a particular faith; there are lots of traditions and issues to take into
account. For many couples, it can get very overwhelming, very fast. Using wedding planners is
one way to handle everything with a minimum of fusswhile also making sure you meet all the
traditional expectations of a wedding.
A wedding planner is simply a person who is intimately familiar with weddings, the issues
that need to be addressed in a particular type of wedding and the best way to get everything
taken care of. They know which vendors to use and which to avoid. One of the most
important services they provide is time.While that may sound interesting now, you will find it
is a critical bit of help as the magic day approaches.[1]
1.2 Hypothesis:
People between the ages 18 - 25 living in Mumbai believes that they need wedding planners to
plan their weddings.

1.3Objectives of the Research:
•What wedding planning is all about
• To find out whether the youth of Mumbai would want to hire a wedding plannerto plan their
wedding
• The basis on which they would choose their wedding planner
• The important aspects of wedding planning
• Change in trends in weddings
1.4Scope of the study
The scope of the study is limited to understanding the basic concept of wedding planning
and the aspects of wedding planning.It also focuses on the changes in trends of weddings and
on the basis on which the youth chooses their planner. This study also highlights various
regional weddings and the growing phenomenon of destination weddings in India.

Chapter 2 3
Research Methodology
2.1 Collection of Data
Primary Data:
Primary Research refers to the original findings of a researcher. It is undertaken solely by him (or
an organization) for a specific purpose.Questionnaires was the main source of primary data
collection. The sample space included 100 people picked up on a convenience basis.
Secondary data:
Secondary research refers to the summary, presentation, collation and synthesis of existing
research undertaken by someone else.The main source of secondary data was the internet which
included different websites and online journals.
2.2 Sampling Plan:
• Population: Unmarried people between the age group of 18 - 25

• Area: Mumbai
• Age groups: 18 - 22 and 23 – 25
• Sample Size: 100 people (65 people from 18 - 22 and 35 people from 23 -25)
• Sampling: Convenience Sampling
2.3 Research Limitations:
• Sample size is limited:

The sample size is limited to 100. The research findings are limited to the preferences of
these 100 people.

• Area of Sample Collection:

Mumbai was selected as areas of sample collection due to convenience sake but this does not
represent entire India, thus cannot draw conclusions for the entire country.
• Perception of people:
The public might be biased and may not answer all the questions in the questionnaire
truthfully. They may have some misconception and answer the questions wrongly.
• Reliance on Secondary Data:

A large amount of secondary data had to be relied upon for analysis as conducting
major primary research was time consuming.

Chapter 3
Wedding Planning
3.1 What is wedding planning?[2]
Weddings are joyful affairs, but they can also be hectic. What you should take from this
introduction to wedding planners is a simple rule. The wedding planner should deal with the
details and issues that arise while you are free to enjoy your magical day.
In India, weddings are a mega-industry. The sheer volume and extravagance of it all is
staggering. While many of us don’t consider it a career path or business opportunity, weddings
are actually a huge source of revenue for many people. From this outside, we think of them as
emotional celebrations full of love and laughter, but there is so much more that goes into a
wedding. There is a lot of planning and detailing that goes into the one week of festivities. From
every last ingredient of the dishes to be served, to every move that friends and family perform at
the sangeet, decisions are seemingly never-ending.
The wedding planning business in India is huge. Ceremonies take place throughout the year, so
professionals are always in demand. Come wedding season, and all the best planners are
booked solid before you know. A wedding is to be enjoyed especiallyby the bride and groom.
But copious amounts of planning and coordination can make it seem like a chore than
something beautiful. The stress that comes with doing everything yourself might have you
wishing for things to just be over already, instead of looking forward to the big day.
3.2 Role of Wedding Planners:[5]
1. Setting the wedding date: The date is usually based on the auspicious time given by the
family pandit or religious/ spiritual guide. The wedding planner coordinates with both the
familiespandits and helps the couple set a date that doesn’t clash with any other family
function and is convenient for people to attend.
2.Budgeting: The wedding planner helps give the bride and groom the best from the resources
they have. They usually maintain a budget file to check all expenses, make a list or urgent

and optional items and assign each element an approximate amount or a percentage. Wedding
planners allocate resources effectively and efficiently.
3.Engagement: This is the first of the formal ceremonies. Traditionally, rings and gifts are
exchanged between the bride and grooms families. Ascertaining the ring sizes and buying the
rings well in advance are also aspects looked after by the wedding planner
4.Guest list: The wedding planner compiles a consolidated list of invites with their postal
address and telephone numbers. To avoid duplication of common friends, the planner discusses
the list with the other family.
5.Invitation Cards: Today people lay loads of importance on wedding cards as it is a symbol of
individualism and status. Wedding planners brainstorm and come up with various unique and
customized designs trying to add a personnel touch in every possible way, like for example
creating a logo of the family names or the bide and grooms name. Once the design is finalized,
7
the plannersplace orders with printers long in advance and always keep a few copies handy.
They also order for informal cards that serve as thank
you notes and create a good image for the families. They also help in mailing the invites
tooutstation guests and compile a list of confirmed attendees based on RSVP.
6.Coordinating with other service providers: Service providers include the caterer,
photographer, videographer, florist, DJ, printer etc. The wedding planner starts negotiating
with the various vendors and fixes on the rates and designs.
7.Venue: The wedding planner will freeze on a venue depending on the wedding theme, the
number of guests, the ceremonies to be conducted, whether a buffet or a sit-down arrangement,
indoor or outdoor arrangement, etc. The planner will check the seating capacity, music,
parking space, electricity, power backup and fire safety facilities. The planner will confirm
all bookings in writing a month before and will visit the site for inspection often.
8. Catering: The planner will inspect the cutlery and crockery, furniture, linen and napkins.
If alcohol is being served the planner will ensure appropriate glasses and bar service will be
arranged. The planner will also check for hygiene conditions and overall service. They will
re-check and sample the food menu a week before the ceremony.

9. Floral Décor: Floral decorations are done on the bridal dias, mandap, doli, suite, getaway
car, welcome gate above mentioned places and will also be in charge of and other floral areas.
The planner will select flowers for all the thevarmala, seheras, rangoli, headgear etc. The
planner will have to think of atheme, interview florist and check the variety and quality and
finally choose one who blends with the theme the best.
10.Photography: Photographs and videotapes are precious memories of joyous moments. The
planner will book experiencedphotographersthroughreferences. They will list out priorityshots
for every ceremony. The planner will also inform the video technician of any special music or
effects that you desire beforehand.
11.Accommodation: The planner will arrange suitable accommodation for the guests so that
they have a comfortable and pleasant stay. They would arrange a list of guest whose
accommodation needs to be arranged for and get the best in their budget.
12.Transportation: The wedding planner will note the arrival time of guests and assign a
person to receive them. The planners would look into the renting of cars, mini vans, and
getaway.
13.Trousseau: It is believed that a brides bridal attire should complement her personality and
style. The wedding planner will not only scan all the possible wedding magazines for
contemporary styles and trends but will also start helping with shopping well in time.
14. Jewellery: The mangalsutra is the most important piece of jewellery besides bangles, kadas,
nose rings, tikka, earrings, chokers and necklaces. The planner will make sure the arrangements
are done as per customization and are kept ready for the occasion.
15. Gifts: The wedding planner will sit with both the families and make a list of people for
whom gifts have to be bought and make the arrangements required further.
16. Organize all functions: The wedding planner will look after all the functions from the roka
to the wedding and reception and post wedding rituals like grahpravesh too.
17. Mehendiwalas: It is the duty of the wedding planner to get the best possible mehendiwala
at the right cost with the right skills for the bride and the other friends and relatives who would
want to put mehendi.

18. Honeymoon: Many planners today organize the couples honeymoon right from framing
the budget to finding the most apt place according to their interest and booking
accommodation to transportation and checking all required documents like passports, visas
and medical clearance.
19. Legal Registration: The planner will help in registering the marriage too.
3.3 Components of Wedding Planning:[4]
• Gifting
Another lucrative business aspect of wedding is the gifting culture. The money spent on a
wedding is directly proportional to its grandeur, and people love to splurge on gifts. Sending
people home with a special memento of the gala is a must and these gifts can range from glass
bangles to silver to gold jewellery.Ask anybody what their favourite part of a wedding is and
prompt comes the reply: “Definitely Gifting. Gifts are an expression of love and
thoughtfulness. The thought of receiving even a Simple gift multiples if it comes in beautiful
packaging. There is a feel good factor involved when someone reuses a gift box to store knick
knacks or just displays it on the mantelpiece. It becomes a symbol of the wedding and always
brings to mind the memories of happy evenings and beautiful brides.
Wedding planners help clients customize gifts according to their own wishes. Gifting includes
wedding trousseau packaging, wedding décor, corporate gift hampers, party give-aways and
gift boxes. The wedding décorrange includes wedding invitations, garlands, trays, jewellery
boxes, fruit and spice hampers, chocolate boxes, and gift bags of all kinds.
• Invitation
Even invitations these days have grown more extravagant. In fact, many of them include
mementos to begin with Though usually not enormous, a considerable percentage of the
wedding budget goes towards invitations and gifts.
New innovation is sending out invites:
• Pen drives
• Tablets
• Book format
Some or the other type of dry fruits or chocolates or an Indian sweet is usually given with the
invite. People nowadays even gift small idols of goddess Laxmi or Lord Ganpatti as a

memento. In the recent years a lot of importance is given to the invitation card as it is a
symbol of status and a mini trailer to the upcoming movie.
• Choreography & Sound
Bollywood has a huge influence on modern trends. The song and dance that areessential
parts of most hindi movies have rubbed off on wedding culture, and as the wedding trade
grows exponentially, so do the sangeets. These days, they are all about glitz and glamour.
Irrespective of how big or small your wedding ceremony is, a long and elaborate sangeet is
almost a must. Hiring a choreographer is vital, and sangeetsare where many professionals make
a considerable part of their income. Coming up with original steps and spending hours getting
everyone to move just right comes at a cost.Speaking of music, most people these days hire
DJ’S to play at the sangeet and reception. After all, there cant be any Naach without the
Gaana. Playing the latest bollywood numbers at the engagement and sangeet while going
all out at the reception, DJs benefit greatly from the wedding industry. Good jockeys don’t
come easy or cheap. Amateurs might charge thousands for Saturday nights and private
parties, but weddings change everything.
• Photography
As weddings are the most important and memorable day of anyone’s life, its crucial to find the
right photographer to capture all the special moments. With so much riding on him, the
wedding photographer’s job can be very tough. But wedding photography has caught on in
India, and is now an integral part of almost every ceremony. Photography gear is
expensive and the photographer and his team need to be
compensated for their time, skills, transportation and lodging. They have to be everywhere
throughout the whole celebrations, ensuring that they get stunning shots of all the guests.
Apart from candid pictures, wedding photographers are now focusing on themed shoots.
Many service providers offer the couple a shoot before or after the wedding with quirky
poses, fun props and stunning locations. Wedding photographers require loads of time to edit
their work, getting the images just right before creating classy albums and productions. An
experienced wedding planner would be able to get an experienced wedding photographer
for a wedding that would not only fit the budget but also be creative and innovative with his or
her concepts.

• Filmography
Video is a huge part of weddings, and videographers might charge a lot for 15-20 minute
footage. But the truly talented ones capture the essence and emotions of the entire wedding in
that short film. The digitalization of weddings and everything that surrounds them is the “in”
thing. The bride and groom could send invites as a video to their guests on pendrives and the
whole wedding could be video recorded. To hire a perfect videographer people tend to decide
based on past experience and references. Filmography is an essential and growing aspect of
wedding planning.
• Clothing, Jewellery & Makeup

Most women dream about a perfect wedding, and have very specific ideas of what they want
to wear and how they want to look. This means that designers are always in demand, and why
not when bridal fashion is such a cash cow? Apart from the multiple events and functions
a bride needs to shop for, getting a wedding trousseau in order requires input from the designer
as well as plenty shopping hours.
In addition to spending lakhs on bridal wear and a wedding trousseau, jewellery is a vital part
of getting your look right. It completes the bridal look, is a status symbol and works as a solid
investment. Exclusive polki and kundan sets offer great scope in a country where precious gems
and metals are always in demand.
13
•Honeymoons
The peak wedding season brings business to hotels in many forms – accommodationfor out-
of- towers, venues for every function and destinations for honeymoons. Most hotels and resorts
make the most of this, advertising themselves as honeymoon destinations or wedding
venues. Many resorts are great honeymoon spots, providingexclusive and attractive packages
for newlyweds. Some of these double as ideal locations for a destination wedding; these
resorts usually embody natural beauty and romance. During wedding season, regardless of how
business has been for the rest of the year, bookings are usually full at banquet halls, hotels and
lawns.

• Mehendi
An Indian wedding is incomplete without mehendi, and while not as much is spent on it
compared to things like the venues and photography, mehendiwalis play a key role in getting
the bride ready. Finding the right artist is not as easy as it sounds,prospective brides go
through plenty of artists and design books before zeroing on someone. Bridal mehendi artists
spend tedious hours making intricate and special designs or the bride.
3.4 Growing Importance of Wedding Planning:[8]
The benefits of hiring a wedding planner are that it can save you time and money. This is true
for large and elaborate ceremonies. A wedding planner will negotiate the best deals from
wedding vendors and steer the couple in the right direction as they go through the planning
process. A wedding planner can also save untold time by making all of the formal arrangements,
handling the budget and ensuring that all contracts and schedules are taken care of in a
professional and timely manner. This leaves the bride and groom free to enjoy their special day
without any worries. A consultant will save your stress during the planning process and
especially on the actual day of your wedding. They’ll also serve as your creative partner
not just overseeing logistical matters but also providing a wealth of ideas, insights, opinions,
and more. Don't have time to research vendors? Consultants do all the planning and legwork.
That way, you just show up to appointments, approve designs, sample menus, and so on.
Also, consultants know the best vendors to hire, and they can score
you great rates and negotiate watertight contracts -- after all, wedding consultants work with
vendors all the time
• A wedding planner is an experienced person who knows the vendors in the area and can
give you inside information on who is the right match to what you are looking for and can
work within your budget.
• A wedding planner has great negotiation skills so even when you have found that vendor you
like there is always room for negotiation and your wedding planner can help with that and will
know how far to go with it.
• Someone to deal with your family and friends

• They will keep you on task and on budget. Whether you need to make that final decision
on your dress because you are cutting it too close to the final order date - or to stop you from
making that impulse purchase for hand-made linens - they will help guide you and keep you on
track of every detail.
• Running errands in the weeks coming up to the wedding and on the wedding day and
overseeing set up. You don’t want your bridal party or familymissing out on any of the pre-
wedding activities because items need to be picked up or worked on. They want to enjoy the
festivities as much as you do.
• Being a point of contact for your vendors; the few days before your wedding you don’t want
to hear from every vendor you have booked so they can triple check the timeline, when you
want them there and last-minute questions. They will all call your wedding planner and if
she/he has any
Questions you have one person talking to you instead of your phone ringing off the hook.
• A wedding planner is the one person who has no emotionally connection to your day.
• Convert your vision into a reality
• Guarantee that you make the most informed decision when signing a contract and hiring a
vendor
• Ensure that your special day runs smoothly ~ timeline management &troubleshooting
• Be Organized
• Manage vendors, guests & all the details
• Help you save money
• Be a resource of knowledge, a sounding board for decisions, a mediator, a therapist, and a
stress reducer.
3.5 Scope of Wedding Planning[7
 The wedding planning business has enormous scope in the today’s existing world
similarly it also plays significant role in the Indian economy. The scopes of wedding
planning business in India are as follows:
 One of the advantages of having wedding planner is, it facilitates everything that we
want for wedding.
 It organizes and plan wedding in accordance to client’s desire.

 It facilitates best deal with money because they are experienced in the searching of best
wedding deals and also easily deal with vendors. Although wedding planners are also
able to handle emergencies in the wedding.
 The main advantage of having wedding planner is it saves lot of time. They are
responsible for each planning such as contacting vendors, budget, selection of
wedding items etc.

Chapter 4
Major Functions in Weddings
4.1 Pre wedding rituals[6]
Indian weddings signify much more than decoration, finery, entertainment, wedding planners,
mehendiwalis and flowers. Traditional ceremonies can last as long four or five days. Those,
which take place prior to the wedding itself, are often as significant as the ceremony proper.
1. Roka/ Sagaai:
Things usually kick off with a roka, a formal commitment to marriage from
both families. This is the first of the procedures to be observed and is usually performed at the
brides house. The ritual signifies that the bride and groom have been officially entrusted to
each other. This is followed by Sagaai, or engagement, where the couple exchanges rings in
the presence of a priest. Some families celebrate only the latter, but it is generally after these
occasions that the wedding date is set.
2. Mehendi:
The mehendi is one of the more important pre wedding rituals. Usually held at the brides house,
it is attended primarily by close friends and family of the bride. At this colourful event,
professional mehendiwalis adorn the brideshands and feet with intricate henna patterns that
represent joy, beauty, spiritual awakening and offering. Bridal mehendi sometimes goes up to
the elbows and halfway to the knees. In addition, all the women at the function are invited to
get beautiful designs on their hands.
The occasion is further enlivened by music and dance, in the old days,
traditional songs were sung by the elders of the family while everyone else
danced. Today, professionals take on these duties. Essentially, what was Earlier an intimate
function is now a much larger and a more significant part of wedding celebrations.
During the mehendi, it is tradition for the names of the bride and groom to be hidden in the
design on the brides hands. The wedding night, they say, doesn’t commence until the groom has
found both names. After getting married, the bride is not expected to perform any housework
until her mehendi has faded completely.

3. Haldi:
During the ceremony in the bride and grooms houses, turmeric paste is applied to their hands
and feet. Family and well wishers apply a paste made from turmeric, rose water and
Sandalwood on the couple’s bodies. This paste is said to brighten and even out their skin tones,
so it is applied a few days before the wedding day. As per tradition, the bride and groom are not
allowed to see each other between the end of the haldi and the wedding day.
4. Sangeet:
Sangeetsare packed with fun, music and entertainment. Like the mehendi, this was once an
intimate family gathering that featured all-night merriment.Nowadays, the sangeet is done
on a grand scale. Friends and extended familyof the couple put on a variety of performances,
and a hotel or a large banquethall is usually the venue of choice, given the typically high
turnout. Practicestarts a few weeks in advance, with choreographers hired to teach and perfect
moves. It is here where the bride and groom are introduced to each other’s extended families,
and everyone comes together for a night of laughter and memories.
4.2 Wedding rituals[9]
Marriages are more than just the union of two individuals. It is the beginning of a lifetime of
understanding, commitment, mutual love and spiritual growth. While celebrations and fun
are definitely involved, there is so much more to the institution. The bride and groom will have
grand dreams for a day that marks the beginning of a new life together.
1. Baraat:
The procession of the grooms entourage at the wedding venue is known as the baraat, and it is
composed primarily of male family members and friends dancing around him to the beat of
the dhol. This symbolizes the pleasure and happiness of the grooms family in accepting the
bride as a part of their clan; as one of their very own. The baraat is met by the brides family at
the entrance to the wedding venue.
Before sitting astride a white horse, the groom is adorned with a saafa and
sehra tied around his forehead by his mother. On the horse, he is accompanied by a younger
brother or a young boy in the family, who acts as his sarbaala.While the groom traditionally
enter son a white horse, more innovative vehicles are gaining popularity these days. Grooms
have been seen entering riding a superbike, in a luxury car or even on the back of a truck. In
somecases, the groom has been known to arrive at the venue in a helicopter.

2. Milni:
After the baraat arrives at the venue, the brides parents and family elders welcome the
procession and perform aarti. Members of the brides family welcome others in the
procession, and both sides are officially introduced before garlands are exchanged. This ritual,
known as milni, is followed by The bride’s family escorting the groom to the mandap, a
canopied altar where the wedding ceremony will be performed.
3. KanywaAagaman:
After the groom is escorted to the mandap, the bride enters the hall accompanied by
her father, signifying that he approves of the union. In some parts of India, the bride is escorted
by her sisters, female cousins and closefemale friends. Very often, Indian brides are carried to
the mandap on a palkiby her brothers. Palkis are usually decorated to the hilt, a real visual treat.
4.Kanyadaan:
After the priest begins to conduct the wedding, the bride’s father pours holy water into his
daughters palm and places her hand in the grooms, officially giving her away. The grooms
sister or female cousin then ties the end of the grooms scarf to the bridessaree using symbolic
betel nuts (unity), copper coins (prosperity) and rice (happiness). In this ritual, the bride
represents the goddess Laxmi, while her groom is symbolic of Vishnu; the parents are
facilitating their union.
5.Havan/ Homam:
Known in the north of India as havan and in the south as homam, this ritual begins with the
priest lighting a sacred fire. Agni, the fire deity, symbolizes divine presence as a witness to
the ceremony and the couples commitment toeach other. Crushed sandalwood, herbs, sugar,
rice and oil are offered to the sacramental fire.

6.MangalPhera:
The bride and groom walk clockwise around the fire holding each othershands, making
seven rounds while remembering the four aspirations in life: dharma, artha, karma and moksha.
The bride, representing divine energy, leads the groom during the first three rounds,
Signifying her purpose to stand first beside her husband in all happiness and sorrow. The
groom then leads the bride in the last four rounds,signifying balance and completeness.
Every phera that the couple takes signifies a sacred vow that the two make to each other.
These vows serve as an anchor to help the couple withstand the ups and downs of life, united in
asacred relationship. Though different religions and cultures have their own vows and ways to
perform them, the basic meaning remains the same.
7.Mangalsutra:
After the phera, the groom ties a mangalsutra around his brides neck. This is a symbol of the
commitment, safety and security that he offers his wife. He secures the necklace by trying
three knots, each one representing an important aspect of the brides married life; loyalty to her
husband, dedication to her new family, and adherence to the divine. In modern times, this
ritual has changed dramatically. Women wear it as a fashion accessory rather than as a
symbol of marriage. In fact, some married women don’t even wear it on a daily basis.
Traditionally, a mangalsutrais made of two strings of small black beads with a small gold or
diamondpendant; modern ones are available in various designs and styles, some with
largediamondpendantsandsomewithgoldchains. The significance remains the same.
8.Sindoor:
After trying the mangalsutra around the brides neck, the groom applies a small dot of vermilion
to the brides forehead, welcoming her as his partner for life. It is only after the sindoor is applied
that the wedding is considered complete.
9.Bidaai:
After the wedding rituals are completed, it is time for the bride to leave. As
she bids adieu to her parents and her home, this is often the most emotional
part of the ceremonies. This is a big step for every bride; no matter how happyeveryone is for the
union, the bidaai leaves them teary-eyed. The bride, accompanied by her parents and relatives,

is led to the doorstep of her house. Before crossing the threshold, she throws three handfuls of
rice backwards over her head and into the house. Thus, she symbolically repays her parents for
all that they have given her. The father of the bride then escorts her to the doli and hands her to
the groom, while her maternal uncles and brothers carry the doli out of the venue.
4.3 Post Wedding Rituals[10]
1. GruhaPravesh:
The age-old custom of the bride kicking a kalash filled with rice at the
doorstep of her in-laws house is called gruhapravesh, a housewarming. After kicking the pot,
the bride takes her first step into her new home with her right foot. This is an auspicious
moment, as it signifies the start of a new life in anew place. In some parts of India, the bride
dips her feet in a mixture of water and vermillion before leaving her footprints across the floor.
Considered to represent Laxmi, a bride is said to bring success and prosperity to her new
family this way.
2. Reception:
The reception is organized anywhere between the same day as the wedding and a few days
after. It is a more casual celebration of the newlyweds, more or less a party, and is organized by
the grooms family in honor of the couple. It allows guests to meet, greet and bless the
couple. Usually a much larger gathering than the wedding, it hosts guests and well-wishers
from all walks of life, as well as extended family and neighbors. The rituals followed on this
day, if any, vary by region and personal preference.

Chapter 5
Regional Weddings
1. Marathi Weddings:[w]
Marathi weddings have various pre-wedding rituals like kuldevta-pooja,

haldiuthpan, seemanpooja, gowriharpooja, antrapat ceremony. In Punyavachan the priest
begins the recitation of punyavachan to invoke theblessing of lord Ganesha. The priest performs
a few rituals after which the \bride and groom seek blessings from the elders. The
Kanyadaan and Akshataropanam then follow.After this, Mangalsutra, vivahhoma,lajahoma,
saptapadi and mangalaashthaknmahurat take place.
2. Kashmiri Weddings:[w]
The Kashmiri wedding festivities begin with women who sauté, mix and
knead various spices in both the houses, after which a lavish dinner is cooked by the
maternal aunt. This ritual is called badiyan. Then comes theLivun ceremony which consists of
cleaning the house at both the brides and the grooms family. Henna is applied on the brides
hand by the oldest female member of the family during the maanziraat ceremony. Usually in
Hindu weddings, the sehra is not lifted but in the Kashmiri weddings, the groomssehra is lifted
by the brides mother and she kisses the groom on the forehead. The couple is also offered nabad
in the grihapravesh ceremonyby grooms mother who kisses them on the forehead. The
grooms aunt takes the couple to the kitchen and serves them delicious food.
3. Himachali Weddings:[w]
The Himachali wedding is rife with simplicity and women play a big part
in their weddings. One of their main pre-wedding ceremonies is the drub
ritual. In this ritual, the grooms sister or aunt performs an aarti while the other lady holds a
metal plate containing drub grass, rice and vermilion. A tikka is applied on the grooms
forehead. Tikka- Tamol ceremony is performed at both the grooms and the brides house.
In this ritual the mother and grandmother apply tikka on the groom’s or the brides forehead
and gives him and her a tamol, a gift consisting of a cloth, a cap, a
handkerchief, sweets and some cash. The brides mother puts tikka on the
grooms forehead before he enters the wedding venue. This is done to ward
off any evil spirit and the ceremony is called varasatkaarah. The Himachali bride is

usually accompanied by her younger sister to her new

home during the vidaai.
4. Punjabi Wedding:[w]
Punjabi weddings are spicier and louder. A pre wedding ritual is GharaGharoli, in which a
ghara is brought by groom’s sister for the bride. Then the groom’s sister and other ladies visit
the temple and fill the ghara with holy water after which she wears the bridal attire. Rut jugga is
another pre-wedding ritual that is performed on the night before the wedding. This
ceremony is performed by maternal aunt at both the groom’s and the brides house, she
carries a decorated vessel on her head and another lady carries a long stick with bells. The
ladies then visit their neighborsand dance with them. To ward off the evil eye, the grooms
sisters, with other female cousins, feed and adorn the horse and this ritual is called
GhodiChadna. The groom then mounts on the horse and leaves for the wedding venue
accompanied by a baraat.
5. Gujarati Wedding:[w]
The groom has to bow and clutch his nose in front of his mother - in - law
in a ritual called Jaan. Jaan is one of the most significant rituals and it
symbolizes the understanding and acceptance of responsibility of his
future wife. The bride’s mother also pulls the nose of the groom to show
that he is the taker while she is the giver. It is also performed to ward off
any evil spirit. There are other pre-wedding rituals also which involve
women and one of them is OokarhiNautarvi, in which the brides paternal
uncles wife places an iron nail, betel nut and Rs 1 coin in a shallow pit.
The ritual is performed to scare the evil spirits from entering the house.
When the groom sets out on his journey, he is accompanied by his sister
who carries a small bowl, containing coins which are wrapped in cloth.
She shakes the bowl over the grooms head to ward off any evil eye. The grooms chichi puts a
garland around him and hands him a bunch of flowers. On reaching the venue, the groom is
welcomed by his mother in law who performs an aarti. The groom then exchanges that
bunch of flowers with coconut given to him by the brides mother.
6.Odisha Wedding:[w]
Weddings in Odhisha have some touching and playful ritual that is carried out by women.
In rituals such as sasidahipakhalakhia, the brides mother makes the groom sit on her lap and

gives him curd and spiced eggplant mesh. The bhauna ritual involves singing of bhaunageet.
These songs which are sung by the elderly women of the house reveal the pain that the bride’s
mother has taken while giving birth to her, nurturing her and finally on her leaving the house.
7.Bengali Wedding:[w]
Coming towards the North Eastern part of the country, the wedding
commences with the rituals performed by women. Holud Kota is a ritual of
beautification in which around five to seven married women grind turmeric with mortar
and pestle and apply that paste to the bride. Dodhi Mongol ritual has seven married ladies
adorning the brides hand with the red and white colored traditional bangles, called shakha and
paula. Then the married ladies feed the bride a meal of curd and rice. Ululation by women
in Bengali weddings to ward of evil spirits is a characteristic custom. The ritual is
performed when groom and his baraar reach the wedding venue.
8.Assamese Wedding:[w]
The grooms mother plays an important role in the Assamese wedding. As she enters, the brides
home, the wedding festivities in Assam begin. Juran Diya, which is the very first Assamese
pre-wedding ritual, involves the grooms mother paying a visit to the brides home. On her
arrival, the mother of the bride greets her with xhorai, a brass plate covered with a cloth. In
the teldiya ritual, the grooms mother applies vermillion over the hair partition of the bride
and presents the bridal attire called mekhlachadar.
9.South Indian Wedding Rituals:[w]
In regions such as Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the wedding rituals are
almost similar. Women come into action when theysing laali, the songs that are sung to praise
thecoupil. The laali songs are sung during the Oonchal ceremony. Next is the Paalikai ritual,
which is the seed sowing ritual. This ritual symbolizes fertility. The paalikais are the
earthen pots that are prepared to sow the nine types of pre-soaked seeds which are sown in
these pots by sumangalis. After the wedding, the seeds are released in a river. In Telgu
weddings, ten sumangalis accompany the bride again to the mandap, after she has changed her
bridal attire for the second time. Six out of ten women hold plates containing a mixture of rice
and turmeric powder, the other four hold small lamps.

Chapter 6
Destination Weddings[11]
The destination wedding is often a widely extravagant proposition. The whimsy and fun of a
destination wedding is captivating, though it may work out far more expensive than a
ceremony in your hometown.
Domestically, Goa is one of the more popular destinations; overseas, Thailand is often the
location of choice. Jaipur is another hot favourite due to its regal aura and magnificent
palaces. Hotels and resorts in places like Goa and Jaipur also take on a lot of the hassle, such as
overseeing decorations and lighting.
Destination weddings generate plenty of business for hotels and airlines. Though you may not
have as many guests as you would in your hometown, you’ll be spending vast sums of money
on airfare and accommodation for those who do make the trip. And with every passing year,
the destinations seem to get grander, and so do the weddings.Through the concept is
unforgettable and gives your guest the chance to enjoy a unique getaway, the expenditure of
time and money is considerable.
From choosing the right venue to finding accommodation for everyone flying in, there’s a lot
to plan and think about. Hotels in beach destinations benefit from bulk bookings, especially
popular during wedding season. In fact, same hotels and resorts now advertise themselves
as specialist in these types of weddings, and they even provide special packages and plans.

6.1 Destination Weddings in Goa[11]
Whatever be your religion or culture, wherever you may be from, within India, or from
another country entirely, we can give you the wedding you’ve always dreamt of, in Goa.
Goa is a place where people love to get married, and over the years, Weddings N Dreams
has catered to a vast array of clientele, all with different taste, ideas and visions. Led by the
enigmatic and creative Lester Melo, the Weddings N Dreams team can see you through, from
the ideating stage to implementation, the final product not just a measure of how you are as a
couple, but also a testament to the team’s finer attention to detail.
Weddings N Dreams started off in October 2001, by Lester Melo, (Certified Wedding Planner -
UK) as Goa’s first professional, exclusive wedding planning company with an aim to make
Goa the perfect wedding destination.
Goa is undoubtedly the most popular place for destination weddings in India. People flock to
Goa's beaches to tie the knot.

6.2 Destination Weddings in Jaipur[11]
The "pink city" of Jaipur is a favourite destination for those getting married due to the sheer
range and diversity of wedding venues available. The range from authentic ornate palaces --
such as the Raj Palace, Rambagh Palace, and Jai Mahal Palace -- to old mansions. Those
looking for a less costly option for their wedding will find one of Jaipur's old mansions to be the
perfect venue. Alsisar Haveli and Mandawa Haveli are popular choices. If you'd like a wedding
in a heritage venue away from the city, Samode Palace could be the answer.
It's located around one hour from Jaipur, and is built into the AravaliRanges. Its setting and
the way it's illuminated at night make it a wonderfully romantic venue for a wedding.
Fairmont Jaipur is where “happily-ever-after” begins in grand style. From the lush central
'Charbagh' and a majestic staircase outside The Grand Ballroom, brides-to-be have a wealth of
elegant options for their special day, celebrate your momentous day at the Wedding palce in
town. Whether your style is softly romantic, trend-setting modern or show-stopping
elegance, Fairmont is the premier choice.
Our certified wedding specialists and valued partners offer the highest level of services to
create the day of your dreams.Fairmont Jaipur is where “happily-ever-after” begins in grand
style. From the lush central 'Charbagh' and a majestic staircase outside The Grand Ballroom,
brides-to-be have a wealth of elegant options for their special day, celebrate your momentous
day at the Wedding palce in town. Whether your style is softly romantic, trend-setting
modern or show-stopping elegance, Fairmont is the premier choice. Our certified wedding
specialists and valued partners offer the highest level of services to create the day of your
dreams.

6.3 Destination Weddings in Udaipur[11]
What makes Udaipur such a standout destination for a wedding in India? Foremost is the
setting. Known as the city of lakes and palaces, Udaipur really is one of the most romantic and
charming places in India. A lot of this charm comes from the city's regalpalace buildings and
the best bit, you can get married in them Contemporary wedding venues, these historical
palaces are not. However, their uniqueness and fairy tale qualities make them very sought
after. The Mewar royal family pioneered the concept of destination weddings in India and
have been organizing them for over a decade. See their regal palace wedding venues in Udaipur.
If at all one plan to have your dream like wedding like the Royalty of Rajputana what could be
better than that. The royal family of Mewar organizes and plans the event. They have
successfully managed to complete a decade of organizing such weddings in India.
Jag Mandir situated amidst the lake called Pichola is another sought after weddingdestinations
in the city. The beautiful lake and the exquisite sculptures add to the romantic mood and goes
off well for the couples.
The Romantic land Rajasthan is well known for its social customs, traditions and practices
reflecting all its royal charm. Wedding ceremony in Rajasthan is known for its colourful
atmosphere created by a well decorated marriage venue with all regal charm. The groom
dressed in traditionally sherwani, and colourful turban with a sword in his hand rides to
bride’s home on a white horse accompanied with a marriage procession called barat. The
bride on the other hand dressed with lehanga, jewellery and decorated palm awaits the groom.

Traditional folk dance and music are organised by the bride’s family to welcome the brideand
bararti. Also traditional music instruments like drums are used for this auspicious occasion.
Mouth-wateringtraditional cuisines are specially cooked for a royal wedding dinner.Palaces in
Udaipur
Rajasthan give an image that Rajasthan is famous for. Built over thehilltops, in the middle of
enormous deserts, and inside the wild world, these palaces also showcase close association
between the men and their close Possessions. Many of these palaces while look rugged and
rough from their exteriors; the interiors take you to an altogether different world. Surprises
are the second name of these architectural marvels spread throughout the land of Rajasthan.
6.4 Destination Weddings in Kerala[12]

35
The attraction of Kerala as wedding destination is just being discovered. It holds much
appeal for those who want a quiet and picturesque wedding in a tropical setting, along the banks
of a lake or palm fringed canal, with food served on banana leaves. There are a number of
resorts that cater to such weddings. The luxurious ZuriKumarakom, near Alleppey, is one
of the most popular. After the wedding, head off on a honeymoon along the Kerala backwaters
in a traditional style houseboat. It's also possible to have a beach wedding in Kerala. Resorts
such as The Leela in Kovalam arrange beach weddings. Kerala is known for elephant themed
weddings, where the groom rides on elephant back, too.Known as God's own country, Kerala
needs no other description. The unspoiled beauty of Kerala can only be perceived truly by
beholding it. The backwaters and the hills of Kerala embody in themselves a quality of
divinity and serenity. The exquisiteness of Kerala will blow anyone away and tying the
knot there will only make your bond even more profound. A beach wedding, a houseboat
wedding or a wedding by the hills, Kerala provides you with many options. Taking a boat-ride
in the calm waters amidst the lushness of the forest is one of the many ways in which you can
spend a romantic evening with your loved one. Kerala is just waiting to be explored by you.
One of the biggest draws to this state and also a great place to have a destination wedding is
the Backwaters of Kerala. The Kerala Backwaters consists of a huge interlinked network of
sea inlets, around forty rivers, canals, lakes etc. The coastal towns on these backwaters are
serene, beautiful and perfect for weddings. Many big resorts, spas, inns and hotels have found
their homes here in areas like VembanadLake backwaters atKumarakom and/or like
Thiruvallam near the city Thiruvanthapuram offer plenty of venue options. The area home to
beautiful wildlife, flora and greenery is decorated with majestic palm trees and provides a great
settingfor romance. You can even have your wedding on a luxurious houseboat, while
calmly floating on the backwaters
36

Chapter 7
Major Players in the Industry
1. VarVadhu:[13]
VarVadhu’s feet are firmly entrenched in the event management industry thanks to
Seventy-seven Entertainment, their associates, they provide bespoke wedding solutions to
our clients with effortless ease. Be it that perfect venue, the most delectable menu, the
awe-inspiring trousseau or the oh-so-exotic theme, VarVadhu's systematic
approach, expertise and dedication make your D-day truly unforgettable.
2. Dreamweaver Wedding Planners:[14]
As wedding venue dressers in Cheshire, Dreamweaver’s are here to help you transform
your chosen venue into your dream setting for your special occasion. They pride us on
our personal and friendly service and attention to detail. Their aim is to produce equally
stylish results whether you require a bold dramatic and contemporary theme or
something more traditional and romantic. Creating the right look, feel and atmosphere
in any location is paramount to us.
They work closely with you to design and plan your wedding theme so the results are
not only visually stunning but unique and individual.
They cover every aspect of venue dressing from the chair covers to floral design, prop
hire and lighting effects.They are happy to meet you at your chosen venue for a relaxed,
free consultation to discuss all your ideas in more detail and for you to view our
portfolio. Please contact us to arrange.
3. Marry Me wedding planners:[15]
The Wedding Planners are Mumbai based wedding planners that provide a one stop
solution for weddings and related events in India.They bring equal style and detail to
every event consulting, designing &coordinating everything from the venue to the
theme; the first dance to the last goodbye. Marry Me work closely with you and your
families to develop a wedding that is uniquely yours, reflecting your personality and
individual taste. Whether you wish for a small and intimate affair, a large scale royal
production, or an exotic destination wedding, we will make your event special and
memorable and most importantly one of a kind.

We take pride in our ability to create the perfect experience, blending Indian
traditions with current international trends. Our wedding planning services cater to all
cultures, budgets, styles and sizes.Wedding planning and logistics issues can be very
challenging for those who try to organize weddings themselves - Marry Me will handle
it all You can choose to be involved in the planning process as much or as little as you
want. With our experience in Indian wedding planning and our extensive network of
wedding vendors, we ensure your wedding day is stress free and enjoyable for you and
your family.
4. Dreamz Events and Ideas[16]
Dreamz helps you to celebrate weddings in a special and unique way while taking the
load off your shoulders. They ensure that everything happens exactly the way u want it.
Whether u want the entire Weddingto be planned and arranged or a specific event
managed, you will find our services truly affordable and well worth.In a very short span
of time, we have become India’s leading wedding services portal in the domestic as well
as the International market. Supported by a strong network and execution facilities,
Sound Spirit (Event Management Services in Mumbai) today has successfully executed
weddings in most of the major towns of India.

Chapter 8
Industry Analysis
Wedding planners belong to event management industry that is growing at fast and steady rate.
While this industry is still evolving, Indian event managers and wedding planners have clearly
demonstrated their capabilities in successfully managing several big fat weddings and mega
national and international events over the past few years. In fact, event managers and wedding
planners are also developing properties around events. With the rising incomes, people are also
developing properties around events. With rising incomes, people are also spending more on
wedding, parties and other personal functions. However, issues like high entertainment taxes
in certain states, lack of world-class in fracture and the unorganized nature of most event
management companies, continue to somewhat check the potential growth in this segment of
the industry.
Currently, the Indian wedding industry is over Rs 100,000 crore and is growing at 25 to 30 per
cent annually. The estimated cost of a wedding with no expenses spared could be between Rs
5 lakh to Rs 5 crore, in India.
Marriages in India are considered a sacred occasion and date of marriage is usually decided on
the advice of pundits, whose identifies the auspicious day from Hindu calendar. So, the
wedding industry is a seasonal in nature, blooming only during the auspicious months, which
normally fall during the period of October to May. As the event takes place once in a life
time of individual, it is regarded as one of the important day in individual’s life. Thereby, it
encourages people to make it grand and spend to their heart-content for marriage.
With increasing spending on such occasion and demand to make the event a unique and a
memorable one, the demand for wedding planner has risen. Also, the importance of
wedding planner has scaled up, as spending on wedding is normally associated with social
status.
The wedding planner provides wide range of services, some of them includes venue selection
and decoration, guest accommodation and gifting, dress and jewellery planning, make-up
services, food, flower arrangement and photography and video making. The wedding planner
services are further extended to include planning honeymoon for newly wedded couples.The
average Indian spends around Rs. 1.5 - 15 million for their wedding, which makes the
estimated total size of Indian wedding industry of Rs. 1.9 trillion. It is expected that the
industry will continue to grow at rate of 25% per annum.

8.1 Main Drivers
The major factors driving wedding industry thereby proving boon to wedding planner are:
• Demographic Profile:
In 2011, India had a population of 1.21 billion, and with average family size of five members,
there are around 242 million families in India. Considering one marriage per family every 20
years, on average India has around 10 million marriages per year. Also, the estimated median
age in India as of 2011 is 26.2 years, signifying a large proportion of population in marriage
age group.
• Rising middle class:

Higher proportion of young population and more women entering the workforce has given rise
to higher disposal income and growing middle class segment. In 2011, 160million people
belonged to middle class category, and are expected to increase to 267 million by 2015-16.
High proportion of disposal income will encourage population to spend generous for the
specials occasion.
• Time Constraint and Convenience:

To make a wedding grant affair, it required detailed planning and execution. With fast paced and
competitive professional life, people are busy with their work schedule and it becomes difficult
for them to devote quality time in planning the event. This has encouraged the growth of
wedding planner. Also, outsourcing the work to planner relives bride’s parents of minute
arrangement and allows them to enjoy the occasion.
• Availability of Wedding loan and wedding Insurance:

Many banks and financial institution have started lending marriage loan to ensure hassle free
wedding experience. Also, increase in disposable income has encouraged newlywed to opt for
wedding loan and make wedding a grand event. This attitude to make the wedding event
grand increases the total wedding cost. With high financial stakes, the couples or their
families, opt to buy marriage insurance that take care of contingencies during marriage like
cancellation / postponement due to fire or natural disaster, accident of bride/groom or burglary.
• Social Status

As the amount spent on wedding is related to individual’s social status, elite class consider
this wedding occasion as an opportunity to showcase their wealth. Moreover, the middle class
people save portion of their earning throughout their life for their children’s wedding. This
enables them to spend extravagantly for the celebration. With savings ear-marked for
wedding, the spend-out on wedding day is not affected by economic downturn, making the
wedding industry recession - proof.
8.2 Main Challenges
The wedding Industry also faces some challenges:
• Fewer auspicious days:

As marriages are arranged only on auspicious days, as Hindus place a lot of emphasis on
astrology, the industry faces seasonal revenue. In case of unfavourable planetary combination
as per astrology, marriages are postponed. This acts as a barrier for the growth of wedding
planner. Furthermore, as large number of marriages across country takes place on few selected
dates, this give rise to the possibility that wedding planner may not be able to capture additional
market share.
• Wedding planning online software:

Many web based software are available to plan wedding. The software provides assistance
to manage guest lists, send invites, create event checklists, and manage vendors and expenses.
Some of the software also provide 3D graphic to provide more clarity and give real feel of the
event. In addition, some of the online services also cater wedding planning need by
providing list of wedding hall, caterers, florists, decorators, make-up artists, and musicians.
• GST:
The GST tax is applicable on services rendered by wedding planner. It is also applicable on
other related activities like catering, decoration, flowers. This additional burden in nature of GST
tax may act as a setback for the planner.

8.3 Influences on other Industry
As many rituals and events are organised to make wedding a grand event, Wedding industry
also influences growth in other industry:
• Printing Industry:
There is increasing demand for elegantly designed wedding cards. Moreover, theelaborate
wedding invite usually has three to four add-on cards along with the main card. A wide variety
of options are available with respect to card paper type and quality, shapes and size, and
decoration theme. This makes the wedding card market worth in range of Rs. 80-100 billion,
for 10 million annual marriages. On an average, an Indian family spends close to Rs 20,000-
Rs 30,000 on invitation cards for a wedding that costs Rs 1.5 million.
• Gems and jewellery:

An average middle -class Indian will save for their child’s marriage right from the time of
child’s birth, and spent an average of 30-40 grams of gold in marriage, thereby increasing
the total consumption of gold to about 400 tonnes annually. Thus, the Indian gold jewellery
sector, which accounts for 61% of total domestic gold demand in 2011, is mainly led by
wedding -related demand.
• Tourism Industry:
Tourism industry has gained lot of momentum with emergence of concept of destination
wedding. The demand for destination wedding is driven by individual’s urge to have
something unique for its wedding.
This is supported by favourable packages offered by resorts and hotels to attract crowd to
organise wedding at distant location. In addition, increasing disposable income have
encouraged newlywed to plan their honeymoon to exotic places, thereby favouring tourism
industry.

8.4 Overview of Industry

As wedding planner industry caters to all variety of customer’s requirements, they have
opportunity to serve large and growing population both elite and middle class. Also, the
increasing insistence among Indians for flourishing marriage, the demand for wedding planner
is expected to increase. The huge and every increasing population of India and majority
of them opting to be married, will continuously create demand for wedding planner and
other industry associated with wedding occasion. The attitude of Indians to save for future
and rising disposal income will keep wedding planning industry flourishing.
8.5 SWOT Analysis of the Industry
A SWOT analysis, which examines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, is a

critical exercise for any business. For a wedding planner, this approach can help analyze
current operations, identify areas of opportunity and compete effectively against other local
wedding planners. A SWOT analysis helps to organize advertising objectives and tactics to
build a strategy that has a high level of impact.
• Strengths
A wedding planner must first identify the strengths of the business before being ableto
translate these advantages into business growth. These strengths could be years of experience
in the wedding industry, a background in interior design that translates into wedding decor set-
up, or even a vast network of vendors for clients can choose from. By discerning what

comparative advantage your business has in the marketplace, you can begin to develop a
strategy that highlights these strengths and conveys them to your target market.
• Weaknesses
Every business has weaknesses. By identifying them before your consumers do, you can work
to minimize their impact. For a wedding planner, you may determine that you have a smaller
staff than other local wedding planners, or you may have a higher price point. These are not
necessarily things you need to change in your business model, but being aware of them can
help you to craft advertising materials that downplay these potential weaknesses. For
example, you could spin "small staff" into "personal attention," which gives the possible
weakness a positive connotation for the consumer.
• Opportunities
Identify areas that your wedding planning business can grow, or the opportunities in the
marketplace. For example, if outdoor weddings are becoming more popular in your area, and
you have vast experience in planning these events, an array of outdoor wedding venues you
work with, or numerous wedding props suitable for an outdoor event, this could be an
opportunity for your business to grow. By identifying an opportunity in the marketplace,
you can exploit that opening by gearing your messages towards that target market.
• Threats
Threats differ from weaknesses in that a weakness is generally internal and a threat is external.
For example, if there is proprietary wedding planning software that your competition has
developed that could help them take away some of your potential clients, that could be
viewed as a threat. A do-it-yourself wedding magazine, or a website that helps consumers and
potential clients plan their wedding themselves, can also be viewed as a threat to your business.
Any outside force that could potentially minimize your flow of business is considered a threat
in your SWOT analysis and must be identified. Awareness of potential threats can help you to
plan for them in your strategy and marketing tactics.

Chapter 9
Current Situation
• Market size
Indian weddings are getting bigger and better. The expanding wedding market in India is
pegged at Rs. 50,000 core by industry sources and is growing annually by 25- 30 %.
• History
The grandeur and charisma of Indian weddings has enticed and enraptured many. The
portrayal of the warmth, fun and frolic of the Indian wedding owes a lot to Bollywood.
• Market Stage
It’s is a new market. It is a latest trend to hire wedding party coordinators to take care of the
entire wedding event.
• Market Needs
The market needs for wedding planning services are strongly shaped by the customers'
desire to have a perfectly planned and executed wedding ceremony. Although major
customer segments, brides and grooms and family members, plan and budget for the wedding
ceremony as far as a year or more in advance, they often realize that they cannot make all the
necessary preparations by themselves in a cost effective manner. Strongly affected by the
established social values, such customersseek professional advice to ensure that all the
important aspects of the wedding ceremony meet or exceed perceived expectations.
• Market potential
The wedding scenario in India is more than just getting married. The exoticdestinations,
like palaces in Rajasthan and the successful usage of these palces in the form of Imaginative

theme weddings by Laxmi Mittal and RaveenaTandon have set up a world stage for Indian
Weddings.
• Some facts about wedding market in India
1. Total estimated worth of Indian wedding market is Rs 100,000 to Rs 110,000crore
2. Gold or any kind of jewellery is essential from small to big fat wedding in India. This
makes gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 60,000 crore.
3. Wedding dresses for bride and groom, designer wear for the entire family comes the
next and impossible to be ignored for a marriage. Thus worth of wedding apparel market is
Rs 10,000 crore. One gets bridal designer saree/lenhga at a cost between Rs 10,000 to
50,000 and designer shervani cost between Rs 15,000 to Rs 40,000
4. Cost of wedding in metropolitan cities is between Rs 25 lakh to 70 lakh
5. Families send invitation cards with sweets to their friends and relativesmaking both
invites and sweets a part of ever burgeoning wedding market in India. Annual worth
ofwedding invitation card market is Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 500 to Rs 1500 per card.

Chapter 10
Analysis of Survey and Findings
1.Age Group
• Out of a Sample size of 100, 65 responses were from the age group of ’18
&22’ and 35 responses were from the age group of ‘23 - 25’.
• The basis of choosing these age groups was to know what the youth of
Mumbai thinks about hiring wedding planners for their weddings.
• Convenience sampling was used to get these responses.
.Previous experience with wedding planning companies

• This question was asked to know whether the respondents or their families have ever hired
an event management company to organize any event.
• 69% of the respondents had not hired an event management company before.
•31% of the respondents had hired an event management company before. Theevents for which
these respondents hired a company were: Birthday parties, Ganpati function, Anniversary and
corporate conferences.
3.Time willing to invest in planning their wedding
• This question was asked to get an understanding into how much time the respondents
were willing to spend in planning their wedding. According to how much time the
respondents were willing to spend in planning their weddings would have an inverse
relationship with having the need for a wedding planner.
• The less time the respondents were willing to spend in planning their wedding the higher the
need of a planner. Vice versa.
• 31% of the respondents were willing to spend less than 6 months in planningtheir weddings.
• 63% of the respondents were willing to spend between 6 months to 1 year inplanning their
weddings.
• 6% of the respondents were willing to spend between 1 year and 1.5 years inplanning their
weddings.

4. Money willing to spend
•This question was to get an insight in the mind of the respondents to get an
idea as to how much they are willing to spend on their wedding. The amount
they are ready to spend would have a direct relationship with hiring a wedding
planner.
•The more they are willing to spend the greater are the chances of hiring a
planner. Vice versa.
• 29% of the respondents were willing to spend less than Rs 25 lakhs on theirwedding.
• 27% of the respondents were willing to spend between Rs 25 - Rs 50 lakhs ontheir

wedding.
• 26% of the respondents were willing to spend between Rs 50 lakhs - Rs 1crore on

their wedding.
• 14% of the respondents were willing to spend between Rs 1 crore - Rs 5 croreon their
wedding.
• 4% of the respondents were willing to spend above Rs 5 Crore on theirwedding.
5.Hiring a Wedding Planner

• This question was asked to find out whether the respondents would want tohire a wedding
planner.
•75% of the respondents would want a wedding planner.

•25% of the respondents didn’t want a wedding planner.
6.Hometown or Destination wedding
• This question was asked to find out whether the upcoming trend of destinationweddings is
something that attracts the youth of Mumbai.
• 56% of the sample wanted to have a destination wedding.
• 44% of the sample wanted to have a hometown wedding.
7.Functions Wanted in their wedding

• This question was asked to find out the trend of the various functions the
respondents would want in their wedding.
•99% of the sample wanted to have a Wedding or marriage function.
•90% of the sample wanted to have a Reception function.
•86% of the sample wanted to have a Sangeet function.
•79% of the sample wanted to have a Cocktail function.
•77% of the sample wanted to have a Mehendi function.
•75% of the sample wanted to have an Engagement function.
•51% of the sample wanted to have a youngster party function.
•37% of the sample wanted to have a Roka and a mini commitment function.
•35% of the sample wanted to have a Religious function.
•21% of the sample wanted to have a GrahPraveshfunction.

Chapter 11
Change in Trends of Weddings
• Destination Weddings:
In the earlier days weddings would happen in the hometown and mostly in the bride or grooms
houses, now in the 21st century most people want destination weddings. Destination weddings
are becoming more and more popular and it’s a growing phenomenon. Goa, Jaipur, Udaipur
and Kerala are the usual destinations in India. Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Phuket are
major destinations for weddings abroad.
• Mandaps:
The traditional madaps looked very different from the mandaps we see now days. A lot of
importance is given to decorating the madap. The entire look is based on the wedding theme.
• Theme for the Wedding:

Earlier weddings didn’t have a theme. Now days, most weddings have themes. They may
be based on Bollywood movies, white weddings, tiffany weddings etc.
• New functions:
Earlier there were no functions like Beach Carnivals, Youngsters Parties, pool parties etc. Now
days, these functions have become very common. Weddings would usually last for 3-4 days
now they last for over a week and half.
• Need for Wedding Planners:

Earlier there was no need for wedding planners now day’s people want wedding planners.
Wedding planning has become a profession. There are wedding planning companies who plan
weddings.
• Changes in Invitation cards:

Invitation cards have become all the more important now. Now days, invitation cards
come on pen-drives, tablets etc. There are companies who specialize in printing invitation
cards or designing them. Invitation cards have become an important aspect of wedding planning.
• Entry of the Groom:

Earlier the grooms would enter riding the horse, now days, grooms are knowto enter in fancy
cars, trucks, helicopters, jets and boats. The entry of the groom has becoming an important
aspect and something that the guests look up to.

• Entry of the Bride:

Earlier the bride would enter with their fathers walking, now days, they have palki’s and other
fancy carts in which the bride sits and is lifted by her brothers etc.
• Bachelor or Bachelorette Parties pre wedding:

Earlier people didn’t have bachelor and bachelorette parties now days most of the people getting
married have bachelor parties and bachelorette parties. In fact they go for a holiday with their
friends and close relatives or cousins for a before getting married getaway.

CHAPTER 12
CONCLUSION
Wedding planning is a fast growing industry in India. It is the only industry that is recession
resistant and is growing at an exponential rate. The number of wedding planning companies
and exiting event management companies has escalated in the previous 5 years. There are
many courses coming up in business and management schools which focus on wedding
planning.
There has a major shift in how weddings were conducted earlier and how weddings are
conducted now. Destination weddings are growing phenomena. And people now
invest a lot of time in planning their weddings and give great importance to detailing.
The future is likely to be even brighter and shinier with the per capita income in India
expected to grow 3 times in the next 20 years. And with 70 per cent of its population
under the age of 30 and raring to get married, the Indian wedding industry with only
get bigger and fatter. Therefore, the wedding industry is likely to grow rapidly.
The hypotheses were proved right as 75% of the respondents wanted a wedding planner to
plan their wedding.

WEBLOGRAPHY
1. http://www.indianweddingplanners.com/
2. http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/indian-wedding-business/1/21744.html
3. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/the-changing-face-
of-the-wedding-business/article5541899.ece
4. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/The-wedding-
planner/articleshow/790546.cms
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M80yrzBu_VM
6. http://www.indianretailer.com/article/whats-hot/trends/The-Flourishing-Indian-
Wedding-Industry-247/#.U75Wbo2SxCc
7. http://www.businessoffashion.com/2013/08/inside-indias-big-fat-38-billion-
wedding-market-part-1-rohit-bal-sabyasachi-mukherjee-alex-kuruvilla-vijay-
singh-india-bridal-fashion-week.html
8. http://www.slideshare.net/ResearchOnIndia/wedding-planning-industry-in-india-
2011-sample
9. http://businesswireindia.com/news/news-details/indian-corporate-agencies-
wedding-planners-stress-importance-mice-outb/36157
10. http://iims-markathon.blogspot.in/2009/04/indian-wedding-opportunity-for.html
11. http://www.marrymeweddings.in/wedding-management-in-india.html
12. https://www.profiletree.com/blogs/indian-wedding-planning-at-its-best
13. http://www.varwadhu.html
14. http://www.dreamweaver.com
51

15. http://www.marrymeweddingplanner.com
16. http://www.dreamzevents.com
17. http://www.indianweddingplanners.com/faq.html
18. http://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/india/recession-resistant-wedding-
industry-in-india
19. http://finance-nams.blogspot.in/2012/08/wedding-industry-in-india.html
20. http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/brunch-stories/the-indian-wedding-gets-
fatter/article1-901951.aspx
21. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/the-changing-face-
of-the-wedding-business/article5541899.ece
22. http://www.scribd.com/doc/30243038/India-Wedding-Industry
23. http://www.slideshare.net/ResearchOnIndia/wedding-planning-industry-in-india-
2011-sample
24. http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20130728/100890.shtml

Executive Summary (Repaired) C

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Executive Summary (Repaired) C

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PROJECT REPORT ON GROWING IMPORTANCE OF

WEDDING PLANNERS IN MUMBAI

BACHELOR OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES

SUBMITTED BY:MANTHAN THAKKAR

NAME OF PROJECT GUIDE: PROF. Ravi Kosgi

S.K. Somaiya College of Arts Science & Commerce

IMPORTANCE OF WEDDING PLANNERS IN MUMBAI

S K SOMAIYA DEGREE COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE AND

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar(E) Mumbai, Maharashtra 400077

I, MANTHAN THAKKAR student of T.YB.M.S – Semester V

The information submitted is True & Original to the best of

S K SOMAIYA DEGREE COLLEGE OF ARTS

Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar (E), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400077

Project Guide Principal

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

The wedding planning business in India is huge. Ceremonies take place

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

Sr. Topic Page No.

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

About The Study

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

1.3Objectives of the Research:

•What wedding planning is all about

• The basis on which they would choose their wedding planner

• The important aspects of wedding planning

• Change in trends in weddings

1.4Scope of the study

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

2.1 Collection of Data

2.2 Sampling Plan:

• Population: Unmarried people between the age group of 18 - 25

2.3 Research Limitations:

• Sample size is limited:

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

• Area of Sample Collection:

• Reliance on Secondary Data:

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

3.1 What is wedding planning?[2]

3.2 Role of Wedding Planners:[5]

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

3.3 Components of Wedding Planning:[4]

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

• Choreography & Sound

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

• Clothing, Jewellery & Makeup

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

3.4 Growing Importance of Wedding Planning:[8]

• Someone to deal with your family and friends

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

3.5 Scope of Wedding Planning[7

 It organizes and plan wedding in accordance to client’s desire.

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

Major Functions in Weddings

4.1 Pre wedding rituals[6]

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

4.2 Wedding rituals[9]

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE

TYBMS S.K. SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE & COMMERCE