Quill Quest Survey Exposes the Hidden Pressures Behind Wedding Spendings in Pakistan

Every year, Pakistanis spend an estimated PKR 100–200 billion on weddings. In a country where the economy is struggling, with rising inflation and unemployment, it’s striking to see so much wedding spendings in Pakistan continue to rise, with so much money poured into lavish celebrations.

This culture didn’t appear overnight. Traditions like dowry (jahez), grand ceremonies, and large feasts have been part of society for generations. Originally, these practices were meant to honor family and community, but over time, social pressure and expectations have turned them into benchmarks of wealth and status.

Today, weddings have become multi-day events with extravagant decorations, designer outfits, and huge guest lists. Social media and celebrity weddings have only intensified the pressure to spend beyond one’s means.

Many families end up taking loans or using their savings just to keep up with expectations. This raises an important question: Is this culture sustainable, or is it time to rethink how we celebrate weddings in Pakistan?

The Financial Reality of Wedding Spendings in Pakistan

Today, Pakistani weddings involve a series of celebrations spread over several days. Each event adds to the overall cost, putting a heavy burden on families, especially those in the middle class.

The pre-wedding events, such as Dholki and Mehndi, are lively gatherings filled with music, dance, and henna application. While these nights are meant to be informal and fun, the costs for venues, catering, and entertainment can range from PKR 200,000 to 500,000, depending on the scale of the event.

The Nikkah, or the formal Islamic marriage ceremony, may seem modest, but associated expenses such as venue rental, attire, and photography often add another PKR 100,000 to 300,000.

Following this, the Baraat, which is the groom’s procession to the bride’s home, and the Rukhsat, together require significant spending on transportation, decorations, and refreshments, often totaling between PKR 500,000 to 1,000,000.

Walima is usually the most expensive part of the wedding. Costs for the reception, including the venue, catering, and guest accommodations, can easily reach PKR 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 or more.

For a typical middle-class family, the total expenses for these multi-day celebrations can range from PKR 2,000,000 to 4,000,000. Families often have to deplete their savings, take loans from banks or relatives, and sometimes even delay other important life goals such as buying a home or funding their children’s education.

Social Pressures and Cultural Expectations

One of the main reasons for these spendings is the strong social pressure to host grand celebrations. Families often feel judged by relatives, neighbors, and the community based on the scale and extravagance of their weddings.

Cultural expectations also play a big role. Traditions like dowry (jahez), multiple pre- and post-wedding events, and large guest lists are seen as essential, even if they create a financial burden.

Many families believe that cutting corners or simplifying events might reflect poorly on their honor or social standing. What was once a personal or family celebration has become a public display of wealth and status.

Social media has further amplified these pressures. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok showcase celebrity weddings and highly curated events, creating unrealistic expectations for ordinary families.

Seeing others host lavish weddings can make middle-class families feel compelled to match these standards, even if it means taking loans or dipping into savings.

It creates a cycle where appearances matter more than financial well-being, and the true meaning of a wedding often gets overshadowed by the desire to impress others.

The “Marriage Happens Only Once” Mindset

A common justification for overspending on weddings in Pakistan is the idea that “marriage happens only once.” This belief is so deeply ingrained that families feel compelled to make every detail extravagant.

The pressure is particularly strong when it comes to a daughter’s wedding. Many girls themselves support lavish spending, including high dowries and full-scale celebrations by their in-laws.

For middle-class families, hosting an extravagant wedding often becomes a matter of honor and pride. They worry that if the wedding is modest, their daughter may be perceived as marrying “beneath her status,” or that she might not feel proud of her new home.

This mindset creates a cycle: families spend beyond their means to ensure that the daughter enters her marriage with confidence and respect. They want the world to see that she comes from a family of means, even if it means depleting savings or taking loans.

Just like families hosting a daughter’s wedding, grooms often feel pressure to be seen as successful and respectable. A grand wedding becomes a way to show off wealth and social standing to relatives, friends, and the wider community.

Social circles and friends can further influence the scale of the event, as modest weddings may be seen as less impressive.

Regional and Socioeconomic Differences

In major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, weddings tend to be more extravagant, with high-end venues, designer outfits, and large guest lists.

For example, a typical metropolitan wedding in Karachi can easily exceed PKR 4–5 million, especially if hosted in luxury hotels or banquet halls with elaborate décor.

In contrast, weddings in small towns or rural areas are generally simpler and more budget-conscious. Families often use community halls, family homes, or local venues, and the celebrations may involve fewer events and guests.

A small-town wedding might cost under PKR 1–2 million, yet still maintain cultural and religious traditions.

Income class also plays a major role. Wealthy families are able to host multi-day, lavish events with high-end catering, and entertainment.

Meanwhile, middle-class families frequently face the dilemma of wanting to honor tradition and maintain social respect while managing limited resources.

Wedding Survey Analysis

A recent survey conducted by the Quill Quest Magazine will help you better understand wedding practices and perceptions in Pakistan. The findings reveal insights into demographics, spending patterns, and cultural attitudes around weddings.

1. Respondent Profile

The majority of respondents were young adults, with 40% aged 18–25 and 35% aged 26–35. Middle-aged adults (36–45) represented 15%, while 10% were over 46.

Geographically, the survey covered major cities: Karachi (30%), Lahore (25%), and Islamabad (20%), with the remaining 25% from other areas.

Regarding marital status, 45% were single, 40% married, 10% divorced, and 5% widowed, reflecting a mix of perspectives on marriage and wedding planning.

2. Wedding Finances and Planning

Budgeting: Wedding expenses varied widely. 20% of respondents spent less than PKR 5 lakh, while 30% spent between 5–10 lakh. Approximately 25% spent 10–20 lakh, and another 25% exceeded 20 lakh, highlighting the prevalence of high-cost weddings even among middle-class families.

Guest Counts: Weddings hosting 100–300 guests were the most common (40%), followed by 300–500 guests (25%) and 500+ guests (20%), showing that large-scale celebrations remain a social norm. Smaller weddings with fewer than 100 guests accounted for 15%.

Venue Preferences and Satisfaction: The most preferred venues were banquet halls (35%), followed by farmhouses (25%), hotels (20%), and other options (20%). 75% of respondents reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their venue choice, indicating that location quality plays a key role in wedding planning satisfaction.

Financing Methods: Half of the respondents (50%) relied on personal savings, while 30% received family support. Only 10% used loans, and another 10% used other methods. To reduce costs, respondents employed strategies such as smaller guest lists (30%), simpler menus (25%), and DIY décor (20%).

3. Cultural and Social Perspectives

When asked about the importance of expensive weddings, 50% considered them not important, while 20% viewed them as very important and 30% as somewhat important. 40% of respondents felt social and cultural expectations were too pressuring, whereas 35% considered them reasonable, and 25% saw them as positive.

4. Views on Polygamy

60% opposed polygamy, 20% supported it, and 20% were neutral. Key reasons for opposition included perceived unfairness to women (40%) and financial strain (20%), while religious justification accounted for 30% of support.

Most respondents considered polygamy somewhat or very common (70%), with 60% indicating it negatively impacts women’s rights.

Psychological and Social Effects

For middle-class families, the financial strain of borrowing money or depleting savings adds another layer of stress. Parents may feel responsible for maintaining their family’s social image, while couples may struggle with the pressure to appear successful and generous. 

This stress can sometimes lead to conflict between family members, disagreements over wedding plans, and even long-term anxiety related to debt repayment.

Couples, particularly brides and grooms, often face emotional fatigue from planning elaborate events, coordinating hundreds of guests, and managing expectations from multiple relatives. What should be a celebration of love and unity can quickly become a source of worry and mental strain.

Tradition vs. Modern Necessities

Ceremonies like the Nikkah and Walima hold deep religious and social meaning, while some pre-wedding events and designer outfits are more optional and often driven by social expectations.

There are many examples of families who have successfully minimized wedding expenses without compromising tradition. Some limit the celebrations to a few key events, reduce the guest list to close family and friends, or choose modest venues instead of luxury hotels. 

Others focus on meaningful experiences like memorable music, heartfelt speeches, or quality time with loved ones.

Many families also opt for modest venues, such as community halls or local banquet spaces, rather than expensive hotels, which can cost several million PKR for a single day.

According to some wedding planners in Pakistan, families spend up to 30–40% of the total wedding budget on non-essential events and décor alone, which could be redirected to more meaningful uses or saved for the future.

While ceremonies like the Nikkah and Walima carry genuine religious and social importance, many pre-wedding events, designer outfits, and lavish décor have evolved more as symbols of status than necessity.

Survey data from QuillQuest Magazine confirms that a significant portion of families feel these cultural expectations are overly pressuring, yet many still spend beyond their means to maintain honor and social standing.

The consequences are multifaceted: families often deplete savings, take loans, and delay important life milestones, while couples face stress, emotional fatigue, and long-term anxiety. 

However, it is possible to balance tradition with financial prudence. Celebrating only important events, inviting fewer guests, and focusing on meaningful moments can keep cultural values strong while reducing costs and stress.

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