Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based chartered accountant has sparked a debate on social media after advising families to avoid spending ₹20 lakh on weddings merely to impress relatives, arguing that financial security should take precedence over lavish celebrations.

Meenal Goel, a chartered accountant and former professional at KPMG and Deloitte, shared an Instagram post explaining how a typical ₹20 lakh wedding budget is spent and why couples should focus on building their future instead.

Wedding costs vanish in days, impact lasts longer

In her post, Goel estimated that a ₹20 lakh wedding budget could include around ₹6 lakh for catering, ₹5 lakh for the venue, ₹3 lakh for decorations, and about ₹2 lakh each for photography, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses.

She pointed out that while the celebrations last only a couple of days, the financial consequences can remain for years.

“Within 48 hours, the venue is returned, the food is gone, the decorations are removed, and guests move on to the next wedding. But one thing stays with you – the financial impact,” she wrote.

Invest in your future, says expert

Goel suggested that instead of exhausting savings on a single event, families could use a portion of the money for long-term financial goals such as a home down payment, emergency fund, investments, children’s education, or retirement planning.

She emphasised that while vendors receive their payments immediately, the burden of financing an extravagant wedding often falls on the family’s savings and future aspirations.

“Celebrate within your means, create memories, and start your married life with financial peace, not financial pressure. Build a marriage, not just a wedding,” she said.

Social media offers mixed reactions

The post attracted a wide range of responses online. Many users agreed that couples should avoid beginning married life with debt or financial stress, praising Goel’s practical advice.

Others, however, argued that weddings are once-in-a-lifetime occasions and hold deep emotional significance for families. Some maintained that spending generously on a child’s wedding is a personal choice and an expression of love rather than merely an attempt to impress others.

The discussion has reignited conversations around balancing cultural traditions with responsible financial planning in modern India.