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Updated Oct 14, 2024Your Guide to Indian Wedding Decorations, From a Pro
Rich in tradition and dazzling in detail—these ideas have it all.
A wedding says so much about a couple, from the kind of parties they like to their personal style and heritage. If to-be-weds are looking for Indian wedding decorations, they've probably chosen to say their vows with a party that celebrates their culture and shows off their personalities. To get an expert scoop on how to decorate for an Indian wedding, we've spoken with Usha Changa, the lead planner and CEO of Laksa Events based in Aberdeen Township, New Jersey.
In addition to her expert insight, we've rounded up a variety of options, from elegant Indian wedding decor to reception table centerpieces, to inspire your wedding decoration journey. Let these ideas inspire some questions to ask a wedding decorator as you dream up what your day will look like.
In this article: Indian Wedding Decoration Ideas | How Much Does It Cost to Decorate an Indian Wedding? | 3 Indian Wedding Decorators to Know | Where to Buy Indian Wedding Decorations
FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT
Indian Wedding Decoration Ideas
When it comes to finding the best Indian wedding decorations, couples should look at the whole range of possibilities, from traditional Indian wedding decor to DIY Indian wedding decorations. To help, we've found some of the most beautiful real-wedding ideas on The Knot. As you scroll through the list, use the heart icon in the upper-right corner of each photo to favorite the image and save it to your account if you're logged into The Knot. Then, as you plan and dream, you can access your favorites at any time.
Geometric Lights and Greenery Indian Wedding Decor
Photo: Mir Anwar Studios
Deep blue linens pair with candles, low florals and an abundance of greenery-draped structures for a luscious wedding reception. Large chandeliers with a galaxy-inspired feeling tie the room together in magical style.
Drapes and Hanging Flower Indian Wedding Ceremony Decorations
Bright pink and orange drapes, which are common Indian-inspired wedding colors, cast shade over this Indian wedding ceremony, while ferns and a greenery backdrop help the carnations pop. A variety of wood chair styles adds a boho touch to the Indian wedding stage decoration.
Hanging Umbrella Indian Wedding Reception Decor
For a unique touch and a pop of color, one couple used embroidered umbrellas above tables to bring depth and texture to their reception. The bright display was an easy way to add a lot of fun without going over budget.
Bold Gold, Pink and Orange Stage Decoration for an Indian Wedding
When it comes to Indian wedding venue decorations and wedding mandaps, an abundance of small things can go a long way. Gold petals, floating votives lining the aisles, and strung florals around the mandap create a look that holds nothing back.
Towering Indian Wedding Reception Centerpieces
These newlyweds used large, gold tusks to add height to their Indian wedding table decorations. Draped with orchids, crystals and terrariums, this reception gave traditional vibes with an ornate twist.
Relaxed Indian-Inspired Reception Seating
This couple created a casual reception seating area with a few simple elements: white backdrops, colorful hanging flower garlands and a few modern benches. Together, these items provide a hip fusion of Indian and American vibes.
Red Aisle Decor for an Indian Wedding
This simple entrance decoration for an Indian wedding only took a few minutes to put together, but created quite the statement. Red flower petals in a quatrefoil pattern gave a curated touch to the outdoor ceremony.
Colorful Backdrop for Indian Wedding Reception
While this particular photo is from a Sangeet, the tiered backdrop and bright florals could easily be recreated at a wedding reception. The candles and modern gold tables add to the gorgeous display.
How Much Does It Cost to Decorate an Indian Wedding?
Changa shares that choosing an Indian wedding decoration budget is "a personal decision and depends on a couple's budget and style." A general guideline for a four-event wedding, including the Haldi, Mehendi, ceremony and reception, according to Changa, is as follows:
- A modest or off-season wedding costs $10,000–$20,000 for a few events, a simple mandap, light draping and minimal florals.
- Mid-tier (e.g., SoCal, NY suburbs) costs $30,000–$50,000 for moderate floral arrangements and decor across multiple events.
- High-end/luxury costs $50,000–$100,000 or more for lavish florals, a custom mandap and Instagram-worthy installations.
- Ultra-luxury costs more than $100,000 for multiple custom structures, full floral coverage and statement lighting.
For assistance figuring out which budget categories to prioritize, head to The Knot Budget Advisor. Couples can prioritize vendor categories and estimate budgets based on what couples nearby are spending.
3 Indian Wedding Decorators to Know
When it comes to Indian wedding planning, having an expert who has thrown plenty of similar events before is worth their weight in gold. From planning, providing and organizing decorations, to anticipating your every need, Indian wedding decorators go out of their way to ensure every detail is beautiful, respectful and on-theme.
Usha Changa of Laksa Events in Aberdeen Township, New Jersey
Photo: Laksa Events
With more than 15 years of experience in event management, Usha Changa of Laksa Events is known for creating unforgettable South Asian weddings and events. From professional insight into the right Indian wedding hall decorations to coordinating every event to celebrate and respect various traditions, her team offers couples priceless professional insight into a myriad of things, including Hindu wedding traditions and more. As a bonus, she is multilingual and speaks English, Hindi and Kannada.
- What Couples Love: "Usha didn't just make the bride's vision a reality— she worked closely with the bride's mother, ensuring every detail was thoughtfully coordinated. In fact, she even joined us at the food tasting, offering valuable insight that elevated every aspect of the event, as this was of primary importance to us," writes one reviewer. "Usha's attention to detail was exceptional, especially with our multicultural wedding, where she expertly balanced traditions to create something truly unique and personal."
RJ Best Events in Towson, Maryland
Photo: RJ Best Events
Prabha and Jyothe Raja lead RJ Best Events, an event decoration, design and planning company in Maryland serving the surrounding communities. With full-service decor teams and rentals, this is a one-stop shop for planning and decorating Indian weddings. Over a decade of experience gives this team first-hand knowledge to help with all aspects of a multi-day, multi-event wedding.
- What Couples Love: "From the start, Raj and Jyothe were incredibly helpful and collaborative, working closely with us to bring our vision to life. They truly listened to our ideas and added their own creative touches that made the decor even more beautiful than we had imagined," shares one reviewer. "The selection of items they provided was exceptional, enhancing the overall look and feel of our venue. The ambiance they created was stunning, and our guests couldn't stop complimenting how magical everything looked. Equally important, RJ Best was punctual and reliable, setting everything up on time and ensuring that our day was stress-free. Their attention to detail and commitment to meeting our expectations made our wedding unforgettable."
Saba Decor Rentals in Fremont, California
Photo: RJ Best Events
This woman-led, Asian-owned business boasts "luxury in every detail." Saba Decor Rentals is led by Sania, who loves to bring Indian wedding traditions to life through the company's extensive decor options, fresh florals and designs. Offering Indian wedding decoration packages and decor rental, this loved company even has a showroom to help couples dream up their perfect day.
- What Couples Love: "Sania was so personable, quick to respond to texts and emails, flexible and always ready to give suggestions, that she slowly became family to us during this process," writes one couple. "Overall, Sania and her team wowed us. Even though there are many other Indian decorators in the Bay Area, Sania really stood out because of her personality. Sania is honest, reliable, very friendly and, more than anything, flexible and understanding."
Where to Buy Indian Wedding Decorations
As a professional Indian wedding decorator, Changa shared some of her favorite spots to peruse for trays, plates, mandap, Indian wedding garlands and more.
- The Knot Vendor Marketplace: Head here to find the best decor vendors near you. Changa emphasizes that "it's almost always better to rent from a decor company, since buying big-ticket items is costly and storage is an issue." Indian wedding decorators often have showrooms to let couples walk through and get inspired for their day—or days! The Knot Vendor Marketplace lets you sort by location to help find an expert who specializes in Indian and South Asian weddings.
- Etsy: Changa emphasizes that Etsy has "tons of handmade and unique Indian decor like mandap cloths, garlands, rangoli sets and backdrop frames. It's great for smaller accent items."
- Amazon: This enormous online retailer is Changa's go-to spot for "affordable artificial flowers, LED string lights, marigold garlands, colorful umbrellas and more." Easy to search and known for its quick shipping, Amazon makes it easy to start building your decoration stash fast.
- Desi By Dil: Boasting Indian heritage with American style, this site has plenty of Indian wedding decor, such as fabrics, backdrops, garlands and more, as well as fashion. The online storefront has an entire collection dedicated to your wedding day, as well as decor options for a Mehendi and Haldi ceremony.
