Bengaluru has caught on to the rising craze for ‘fake shaadi’ parties — elaborate, ticketed events that recreate the grandeur of a traditional Indian wedding without an actual bride, groom, or ceremonies.
These gatherings feature ethnic dress codes, ornate stages, floral decor, DJs spinning Bollywood hits, dhol players, henna stalls, and lavish food and drinks. Most attendees are young professionals in their 20s seeking novel ways to socialise beyond cafes and apps.
On June 1, ‘10s Only Szn: Big Fat Fake Wedding’ drew 1,300 guests to a luxury hotel on Vittal Mallya Road. The venue was transformed into a festive wonderland with poolside photo booths, bangle counters, and an empty ‘wedding’ seating area where people posed for fun “Just Married” snapshots. Many showed up in lehengas, saris, and kurtas — one even wore a sherwani.
Madhur Rao, cofounder of 8Club, which organised the event, described it as a “cultural reimagining of how people meet.”
That same day, Koramangala hosted ‘One Love: Shaadi Mubaarak Edition,’ a wedding-themed celebration curated for the queer community and allies to kick off Pride Month. Guests were greeted with tilaks and enjoyed drag shows, sangeet-inspired performances, and a baraat dance floor under a floral canopy.
Vaibhav Kumar Modi of Dark Vibe Society said the event aimed to give queer individuals a taste of a wedding environment, free from judgement. Interest in hosting more such parties in Bengaluru is already growing.