I attended a fake wedding party in Delhi, and this is how it went
Fake wedding setup at Delhi's premium Bohca club.
advertisement'You know the concept's a hit when a place like Bohca agrees to play host,' said Sahib Gujral, co-founder of Jumma Ki Raat - the group that launched the Fake Sangeet in February 2025, giving India (and now the world) a whole new way to party. Over the past few months, the concept has gained wild momentum, with cities like Goa, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Kolkata jumping on the bandwagon.
India Today, the first to report on this Indian Gen-Z party craze before it went nationwide, recently attended one to see what the buzz is all about.A pathway decked with traditional floral decorations - unmistakably reminiscent of a wedding entrance - led us to the venue, which was buzzing with full-on shaadi vibes. To my left, girls gathered around mehndi artists, getting their hands adorned with henna; on the other side stood a rickshaw covered in flowers, doubling up as a photo station.
Dance and decorations for a fake sangeet in Delhi.
The fashion quotient? So damn on point. It was as if the attendees had received the wedding invite weeks in advance and carefully curated every detail of their looks. We're not even kidding! Chalk it up to Delhi's fashion pulse, maybe - but the fake shaadi fashion was the one thing at the event that could easily pass for the real deal. Okay fine, not just fashion - add the music and decor to that list too!Glittering lehengas, anarkalis, sarees, Kareena-inspired bralettes with shararas, sherwanis styled with dupattas, heavy earrings, maang tikkas, bangles - the entire vocabulary of desi wedding fashion showed up for this fake wedding. Some even brought out their designer best - think a Masaba Gupta ensemble - for this shaadi without a couple.
Fashion picks for the fake wedding (Photo: Instagram/JummaKiRaat)
Others brought out the best of their quirky style. Imagine swapping that pair of salwars for sheer stockings to pair with an embellished kurta- would you dare wear that to a real wedding? One fashion-forward guest did just that, confidently flaunting a Y2K-inspired look with a bold twist.
A guest in her stylish best at a fake wedding event. (Photo: Author)
At the core of the hype around fake wedding parties is a blend of things that really work well for youngsters: the thrill of dressing up, Bollywood music, booze, and friends. For lovebirds, it gave them the 'feels'.Unlike real weddings - where every move is scrutinised, from what you're drinking and eating, to how much weight you've gained, who you're hanging out with, how well you're dancing, and how many people you're talking to - this crowd seemed to revel in the fun without the mask of pretence or judgmental relatives watching. Vibes were totally unhinged.Guests also love that fake wedding parties come without the burden of responsibilities. At a family wedding or a close friend's, endless duties can quickly overshadow the fun - from coordinating with decorators and handling airport pick-ups to carrying heavy mithaai boxes and dealing with the occasional bridezilla. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Medha Chawla (@medha_chawla)advertisementThe indoor hall was where the actual fun was happening. DJ blasted the best of Punjabi and Bollywood music – a playlist straight out of a grand wedding Sangeet night. Mauja Hi Mauja, Laung Da Lashkara, Nach Baliye and of course, O ho ho ho (Ishq Tera Tadpaave). Adding to the shaadi vibes was the ceiling decoration - marigold strings and Jaipuri decorative umbrellas cascading down.Not gonna lie, eventually it got so crammed that there was barely any space to breathe or move freely – unless you were too drunk to bother.Here for the 'Gram'!FOMO seemed to be the driving force behind many attendees. Phones were out at all times - capturing glimpses of the event, snapping the best angles at every possible corner, even mid-dance.Because let's be honest: did you even attend a shaadi if you didn't get those perfect clicks in ethnic finery against a dreamlike decor backdrop?But at this fake sangeet, the phones were way too present. Like the actual guests of honour! In fact, many content creators and fashion brand owners were in attendance just to shoot 'content'. A designer even came with an elaborate clan - all dressed in outfits from his label. The reason? To shoot cool content and promote his brand.advertisementA major miss? The lack of food! The fake shaadi event we attended didn't have a single food stall. Sure, three bars and upbeat music kept the crowd going, but ordering food from the kitchen was barely an option. Calling it a fake wedding - be it a sangeet - and not having a proper food spread? Unacceptable, IMO!But many organisers do it differently. Some fake weddings come with full food spreads, while others take the quirky route with sober, experience-led setups. Think wedding-themed games - dividing guests into ladkiwaalas and baraatis, playing charades, or guessing the relative based on classic stereotypes. Without these wedding-specific elements, a fake shaadi party could easily pass for a quintessential Delhi Diwali bash.Interestingly, fake shaadi parties surged during the off-season (May to August). With the real wedding season now underway, it remains to be seen whether the trend will fade into obscurity - like so many viral fads.- EndsTrending Reel
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