Shaadi without a couple? Welcome to Delhi's fake wedding party scene

India Today

30-04-2025

Next time a relative asks about your wedding plans because they're itching to dance and dress up for the celebrations, just tell them to attend a fake wedding party. (Kidding not actually.)Delhi's hep party scene has a new entrant: fake wedding celebrations. Guests dress in their ethnic best, head to a venue decked up like a real shaadi, and dance the night away to dhol beats and wedding playlists. A couple? Not necessary. These parties are all about the vibe, not the vows.advertisementWhen Avantika Jain, a Delhi-based social media professional, came across an online ad on Instagram for a Fake Sangeet bash, she couldn't resist sharing it with her friends. 'Back in college, we always dreamed of throwing a wedding-themed party. This event felt like the perfect chance to finally make that happen — we were all instantly on board,' Jain tells India Today.
An invite for a 'fake sangeet' party in Delhi.
'We quickly signed up online and paid an entry fee of around Rs 550 per person to join the event,' she adds.On April 25, she was among almost a hundred other youngsters who rushed to Mehrauli Lane — a revered hub of premium restaurants and clubs overlooking the Qutub Minar — not for just another Friday night party, but for a Fake Sangeet bash at Zylo (a rooftop restaurant).advertisementThe dress code was strictly desi.Jain hesitantly wore a black blouse paired with a plum-hued pleated lehenga, worried it might be 'too much' for a South Delhi club on a Friday night. But she was in for a surprise — almost everyone at the bash was decked out in glittering ethnic finery, dressed as if it were a real Sangeet night. The venue was bedecked like a quintessential wedding venue. Think vibrant yellow-magenta drapes, marigold decorations and quirky photo booths. Mehndi artists were also present to laden your hands with henna for added 'wedding feels'.The best part? A playlist straight out of a wedding celebration. 'We danced our hearts out to Punjabi and Hindi bangers. Between sets, dhol wallahs took over, and the crowd was genuinely having a blast,' says Jain.
Scenes from Fake Sangeet event organised in Delhi on April 25 (Photos: Avantika Jain)
'Not just Gen Zers, but we also saw some elderly people and people in 40s at the bash. We enjoyed not just with our friends but as a whole; trust me, no one wanted to leave by the time the event got over,' Jain recalls.advertisementIn a society like India, where there's an immense craze for weddings and the festivities that come with them, wedding-themed parties are likely to become the next big trend on the party scene.You no longer have to wait for wedding season or a real invite to dance like it's your best friend's big day or dress up as if the baraat is at your doorstep. All you need is a ticket to one of these events to enjoy a full-blown shaadi-style celebration.Jumma Ki Raat, an event company, launched in December 2024 has hosted two such fake wedding bashes so far.Though not a new concept, mock weddings are organised for a variety of reasons ranging from promotional events to socialising and shooting social media concepts.In October 2024, when the Shangri-La Group launched Bandhan, its specialised wedding service, the announcement was marked by a mock wedding. A model couple arrived in wedding-ready outfits designed by Tarun Tahiliani, while guests enjoyed a live Sufi performance, gajra stalls, and an elaborate, lip-smacking buffet.
Stills from mock wedding hosted by Bandhan by Shangri-La
advertisementIt's also common for wedding dance choreography companies to stage mock weddings for content creation. Videos that look like real wedding moments are more likely to go viral than those shot in studios.There have also been several instances of students studying abroad hosting pompous mock weddings as a means to socialize and celebrate their culture while being miles away from home. These celebrations feature lots and lots of dance, elaborate food spreads, traditional outfits, an at-home feel and perhaps some event management lessons as well.But would you be willing to pay to attend a fake wedding?