Sahil Kathuria Reveals the Hidden Costs Families Discover Too Late

Before the guest list takes shape or the wedding hashtag is even given a thought, there’s one decision that sets the tone for everything else: the wedding budget. A budget they’re confident about, one they’ve triple-checked, shown to relatives, maybe even been a little proud of. Then the wedding happens, the invoices come in and that number no longer looks familiar.

This isn’t bad luck. It’s a pattern Sahil Kathuria, founder of Vivahnam, has watched play out for years, almost never as one big mistake, but as a string of small, invisible ones. “Families rarely get taken advantage of,” he says. “They just aren't shown the full picture early enough.” The hidden costs of destination weddings in India usually surface too late to matter, often on the wedding day itself. This blog unpacks where they hide, and how to spot them well before that happens.

Why Do Families Miss the Hidden Costs of Destination Weddings in India?

Wedding budgets include the following costs: 

1. Hotel: Accommodation, meals and wedding venues at the property.
2. Light and Sound: Stage production, lighting, sound, DJ setups and special effects.
3. Photography and Films: Photography, videography, pre-wedding shoots and wedding films.
4. Entertainment: Anchors, performers, musicians, DJs and other entertainment for the wedding.
5. Hospitality and Guest Experience: Guest welcomes, room hampers, transport coordination and other guest-related requirements.
6. Planning and Other Services: Wedding planning, vendor coordination and additional services that may vary by package and celebration.

The smaller charges often get overlooked because each one seems manageable on its own. But once they start adding up, they can push the final bill up by 15-20% from your initial estimate.

Here are some of the costs families often overlook:

• Families may not check the hotel contract closely enough for terms around extra plates, additional bedding, alcohol discounts, beverage packages and after-party hours.
• Early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades and extra bedding can add to the accommodation bill if they aren’t discussed upfront.
• Menu costs can change depending on the number of dishes, courses and vegetarian or non-vegetarian options included.
• Photography packages can vary widely depending on whether they include stills, candid photography, video, drone shots or pre-wedding shoots, as well as the size of the photography team.

• A vendor TBL may be included in the package or charged separately, which can be easy to miss when comparing vendor deliverables.

   

Where Do Wedding Venue Hidden Charges Usually Show Up?

The headline venue price is rarely the whole story. In Sahil’s experience, wedding venue hidden charges often sit outside the main rental figure, making them easy to overlook unless you know what to ask for:

Get a complete cost breakdown from the venue and your vendors before signing, rather than relying on the quoted price alone. It can help you catch the hidden costs of destination weddings in India while there’s still time to plan for them.

What Are the Most Common Destination Wedding Budget Mistakes?

Sahil has seen the same destination wedding budget mistakes come up repeatedly among families planning their first destination wedding. The good news is that most are easy to avoid once you know what to look out for:

• Not getting the full hotel cost breakdown or agreed terms in writing before signing the contract.
• Not budgeting separately for guest travel, transfers and rooming logistics.
• Underestimating décor costs for multiple ceremonies.
• Skipping a contingency buffer, ideally 10 per cent of your total budget.
• Trusting a single vendor’s estimate without a second opinion.

How Do Wedding Planners Charge for Vendor Services in India?

When a planner recommends and coordinates vendors for your wedding, it’s worth understanding how their fees are structured. Some planners charge a flat planning or coordination fee, while others may charge a percentage based on the services they manage. Vendor costs can include décor, photography, entertainment, makeup, mehendi, sound and lighting and other services outside the hotel.

Before confirming a planner, ask what their fee covers and whether vendor coordination is included. It’s also useful to understand whether you’ll be paying vendors directly or through the planner, so you have a clear view of the total cost from the start.

Also Read: Sahil Kathuria on Why He Built Vivahnam to Fix India’s Wedding Venue Booking Problem

How Sahil Kathuria and Vivahnam Help Families Avoid Extra Wedding Costs

A hotel quote can look simple on the first read. Then you start adding beverages, alcohol, extra bedding or changes to the menu, such as five starters instead of three or separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, and the final number can look very different.

Here’s how our team helps couples avoid extra wedding costs:

• We identify the costs that can creep up later, such as beverages, alcohol, extra bedding and room upgrades, and get them discussed and added to the contract upfront.
• We negotiate these inclusions with the hotel so you’re not paying more than necessary for things you already know you’ll need.
• Some costs, such as extra plates when the guest count increases or bedding beyond the agreed room allocation, can only be confirmed closer to the wedding. We help you account for these with a realistic buffer.
• For vendors, we compare options based on their deliverables, so you can see what you’re getting before choosing one.

Our aim is simple: families should know exactly what they’re paying for before they enter into a formal contract, when making changes later can be difficult.

If you’re beginning to plan a destination wedding and want a clearer view of your actual costs, share your wedding details with our team below. We’ll help you understand the hidden costs of destination weddings in India and give you a transparent budget picture from the start.