Planning a destination wedding is one of the most thrilling and intricate journeys you’ll embark on. Whether in the royal palaces of Rajasthan or a sun-kissed Mediterranean villa in Italy, is as much an art as it is a financial undertaking. It is luxurious, magical… and yes, it requires a crystal-clear budget to translate dreams into reality. From venue selection to décor, to food that delights, and memories that last forever, every component has its price tag and its story. As luxury destination wedding specialists, we know how crucial it is. Budgeting shapes every minor detail of your event – from the first venue tingle to the final champagne pop.
Costs can range enormously. Luxury Indian destination weddings often fall between ₹40 lacs to crores, while international affairs may start at ₹50 lacs and can cross ₹2 crore easily for a truly opulent European or island experience. Below you will find an expert-backed roadmap to budgeting for destination weddings in India and abroad, including cost ranges and insider tips to keep you focused on celebration, not calculation.
Choosing Pune as your wedding destination means embracing a city rich in cultural legacy, scenic beauty, and amazing locations, making it the ideal setting for your dream celebration.
Your wedding locale is the most defining piece of the puzzle. It sets the tone and largely dictates your budget’s upper limit.
In India, destinations like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Goa offer a spectrum of opulence. Jaipur’s royal forts start around 10 lacs but can soar up to 90 lacs depending on exclusivity and season. Udaipur’s lakeside palaces, known for their regal aura, typically range from 20 lacs to over 1 crore for a multi-day extravaganza. Goa beckons beach lovers with boho vibes, landing between 15-70 lacs.
Internationally, the picture broadens. Italy’s Lake Como villas or Tuscany estates, with Michelin-star chefs and stunning custom events, come with price tags of ₹1.5 to ₹2 crore. The French Riviera and Provence offer sophisticated châteaux where costs hover similarly, with exquisite wine and once-in-a-lifetime experiences included. Southeast Asia’s luxury resorts in Bali and Thailand present a slightly more approachable range of 50 lacs to 1.2 crore – tropical charm at its finest.
Pro Tip: Negotiation is your greatest ally. Bundled packages often hide concierge perks such as airport pickups, in-house florists, or exclusive guest experiences. If your planner is experienced, they will handle the expert negotiations to include these all and save you lacs.
Your venue is also your guests’ home away from home. Luxury comes with exclusivity, so expect to buy out entire spaces in many cases.
In India, 5-star heritage hotels for Udaipur weddings can cost anywhere from 12 lacs to 80 lacs for a two-night buyout including rooms, halls, and basic catering for 100-150 guests. Beach resorts, especially on islands like Andaman or Goa, might run 18-60 lacs all-inclusive.
Abroad, European villas and châteaux, often locked in for 2–3 nights, start at 50 lacs and can stretch towards ₹1.5 crore. In Asia, luxury resorts often bundle in rooms and event spaces for around 20–80 lacs.
Pro Tip: Clarify minimum room blocks (a minimum number of rooms you must book), inquire about late checkout fees, and ask if the venue charges for outside vendors. These fine prints will help avoid surprise costs. Choosing the right destination wedding planner in India (or abroad) can help you get a lot of bang for your buck!
No wedding lives without exceptional food and drinks. For luxury destination weddings, this is the arena of real indulgence and, understandably, expense.
In India, gastronomic experiences span from 2.5-10 lacs for upscale multi-cuisine buffets per main event for about 100 guests. Abroad, especially in Europe, expect 12-40 lacs for refined plated dinners, bespoke cocktail hours, and open bars.
Pro Tip: Incorporate local flavors with international finesse for both wow factor and budget friendliness.
Décor transforms a space into your ceremony’s soul. Luxury weddings employ designer floral artistry, exquisite lighting, and immersive themes.
In India, expect floral décor costs from 3-15 lacs depending on scale and whether flowers are imported. Lighting and audiovisual setups can add 1.5-4 lacs. Internationally, floral costs rise to 8-25 lacs, especially in Europe, where imported blooms come at a premium. Thematic accents like decorating an European castle or Bali’s tropical garden magic can add to the cost. Local, seasonal flowers tend to be cost-effective, eco-friendly, and culturally authentic.
Capturing your day is a crucial investment. In India, celebrity-level photographers and cinematographers charge 1.5-5 lacs for full packages including pre-wedding shoots. International shoots, especially when you bring top-tier teams or hire multiple crews, run 5-15 lacs. But if you are paying for it, best to also invest in a highlight film that condenses your story into a cinematic gem, something you will revisit for decades.
Your look is your personal statement, and style gurus come at a price. Designers, couture wear, and professional hair and makeup in India generally cost 2-10 lacs per person. Abroad, couture and personalized tailoring for weddings expand budgets to 4-20 lacs easily. Hence, it is wise to select outfits and accessories that are timeless to wear again, i.e., a style that stands the test of time is budget-smart.
From local folk ensembles to international DJs, entertainment sets your event’s tempo. Local artists typically charge ₹50,000 to 3 lacs per event. Celebrity performances for marquee moments like the sangeet can command anywhere between 10 lacs to 1 crore as well!
Group airport transfers, welcome kits, excursions, stationeries, planner costs are some other miscellaneous costs that can vary with your guest list and how much you are willing to splurge. Also, there are some hidden costs you should watch for. Always set aside 3-5% of your total wedding budget for unexpected expenses like overtime charges, extra décor, late-night snacks, or emergency transport. Clarify taxes, service charges, and currency conversion fees early with international vendors to avoid last-minute surprises.
The major reasons for high costs of venues and vendors include peak season, importing vendors or materials from another place, use of exotic flowers/ingredients, prime weekends/festivals at your chosen destination, etc. Legal paperwork for weddings aimed at foreign nationals needs close coordination with local authorities and often requires multiple translations and approvals. Sometimes, if you are planning for fireworks or drone usage for videos, you have to check the local municipality regulations and venue restrictions to avoid fines. You might even need permits well in advance which are best left to an experienced destination wedding planner in India.
The best way to splurge while being on budget is by either going for local flowers for decor, local produce for menu, flying in your Indian chefs (into Italy for example) as hiring a local chef in Italy who also has expertise in Indian cuisines will definitely be costly.
For example, in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) and Oman, weddings here command high service charges and VAT (5% in UAE). Negotiate transparent cost breakdowns and double-check contracts for hidden fees. Desert weddings require staging tents and cooling solutions – a must in hot months. Luxury tented resorts like Al Maha Dubai include such amenities, but costs vary widely.
On the other hand, in Bali, sunset ceremony slots are highly coveted and should be reserved a year in advance. Many venues include Balinese dance performances and coconut-based décor as standard, so allow these inclusions to reduce additional entertainment and décor spends.
Be mindful of Indonesia’s evolving wedding tax laws. Duties and licenses can add unexpected costs. An Indian wedding planner experienced in Bali will know about these legal fees and documentation and guide you better.
Spain imposes a matrimony tax (Impuesto de Actos Jurídicos Documentados), varying by region, so budget in the legal fees and notarization. Many venues also require contracts signed months in advance, with deposits held in escrow for security.
Similarly, Italian municipalities may charge wedding tax fees and require specific paperwork for foreign nationals wishing to wed legally. Booking in shoulder seasons (April-May, September – October) offers dramatic cost benefits and less crowded venues. Many luxury estates have noise restrictions after 11 PM—plan entertainment and receptions accordingly.
You should, thus, choose an Indian destination wedding planner experienced in Italy to navigate these legalities. Choosing an Indian planner with experience is always better than an Italian planner to bypass language and compatibility issues with someone who does not know your culture first-hand. This is also true because the entire planning period (spanning months) will need both of you to meet multiple times in-person for better coordination.
UK weddings involve marriage license fees, and some venues have additional local council charges. Weather uncertainty means always budget for elegant marquees or indoor back-ups. English gardens and stately homes often come with strict décor and vendor rules. So, liaise well in advance to align expectations!
In this blog, we covered A to Z of what you need to consider to budget effectively for your destination wedding in India and abroad. Budgeting smartly does not mean cutting corners. It means making empowered choices that maximize joy and minimize stress. Early planning, knowing your priorities, and working with expert wedding planners will turn every rupee or euro spent into memories you and your guests will cherish forever. As experts in luxury destination weddings, we have navigated this terrain dozens of times. Budgeting is not just about numbers, you need both artistry and pragmatism.
