How much should we budget for a 200-guest Hindu wedding?

In the US, $40K-$80K covers a comfortable 200-guest Hindu wedding; modest weddings start around $20K and lavish destination weddings can exceed $200K. In India, a typical comfortable benchmark is around 15 lakhs.

What's the average venue cost in NJ/CA?

$8K-$25K for a banquet hall; ashram or temple venues run $1K-$5K and dramatically lower the venue line item.

How much should I allocate for catering?

25-35% of total budget; vegetarian Indian buffet runs $40-$120 per guest depending on city and menu complexity.

What about Mandap and decor?

Plan 8-12% of budget; Mandap rental is $1.5K-$5K typically, with floral arrangements adding another $2K-$8K.

Photography/videography typical spend?

10-15% of total; expect $3K-$10K for full-day coverage including pre-wedding (mehndi, sangeet) and reception.

Can I shrink the budget without skipping rituals?

Yes — choose a temple venue, limit the guest list, book off-peak season, rent attire instead of buying, and have family lead the prasad cooking. Each move trims 5-15%.

Hindu Wedding Budget Calculator

Plan your Hindu wedding budget by guest count, region, and tier. Use this free interactive calculator to see a realistic category-by-category breakdown so you can plan with confidence.

Estimated total budget

Category	Share	Amount

Where you can save

Where you can save: pick a temple or ashram venue (often $1K-$5K) instead of a banquet hall to cut venue spend by up to 60%.
Where you can save: trim the guest list by 25% — catering scales linearly so a 200 to 150 cut typically saves $4K-$10K in the US.
Where you can save: rent the bride and groom's wedding-day attire (mehndi, sangeet, reception) instead of buying — outfits keep $3K-$8K in pocket.
Where you can save: book off-peak (weekday or off-season Nov-Feb) and many vendors discount 15-25% across the board.
Where you can save: ask family elders to lead the haldi/mehndi cooking instead of hiring caterers — keeps the prasad authentic and shaves catering 5-10%.

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Frequently asked questions

How much should we budget for a 200-guest Hindu wedding?: In the US, $40K-$80K covers a comfortable 200-guest Hindu wedding; modest weddings start around $20K and lavish destination weddings can exceed $200K. In India, a typical comfortable benchmark is around 15 lakhs.
What's the average venue cost in NJ/CA?: $8K-$25K for a banquet hall; ashram or temple venues run $1K-$5K and dramatically lower the venue line item.
How much should I allocate for catering?: 25-35% of total budget; vegetarian Indian buffet runs $40-$120 per guest depending on city and menu complexity.
What about Mandap and decor?: Plan 8-12% of budget; Mandap rental is $1.5K-$5K typically, with floral arrangements adding another $2K-$8K.
Photography/videography typical spend?: 10-15% of total; expect $3K-$10K for full-day coverage including pre-wedding (mehndi, sangeet) and reception.
Can I shrink the budget without skipping rituals?: Yes — choose a temple venue, limit the guest list, book off-peak season, rent attire instead of buying, and have family lead the prasad cooking. Each move trims 5-15%.