How to Plan a Big Fat Asian Wedding Without Losing Your Mind….
Let’s face it — planning a wedding is no joke. But planning a Big Fat Asian Wedding? That’s a full-blown production!!! Think Bollywood/Bhangra meets Broadway, with a dash of family drama, a sprinkle of ancient traditions, and an army of aunties giving unsolicited opinions.
If you're knee-deep in wedding spreadsheets and drowning in sequins, take a breath. Here’s your ultimate guide to surviving (and even enjoying) the chaos.
1. Accept That It’s Not Just Your Wedding
This is rule #1 in the Big Fat Asian Wedding Survival Handbook. You may have the ring, but your entire extended family has the guest list, the menu preferences, and opinions on your outfit.
💡Pro Tip: Choose your battles wisely. If your mom wants to invite her cousin’s neighbour’s dog walker, let it go. Save your energy for things that matter to you (like the DJ not playing "Sheila Ki Jawani" for the 9th time).
2. Build a Rockstar Planning Squad
You cannot do this alone. Assemble your team – we recommend:
A level-headed best friend
A sibling who knows how to handle your parents
A cousin who’s obsessed with Pinterest
A spreadsheet wizard – usually a Chacha!
Bonus: Consider hiring a wedding planner who specialises in Asian weddings. They’ll speak fluent drama and decor.
3. Budget Like Your Life Depends on It (Because It Kinda Does)
You need a budget. Then you need a backup budget! Then you need to accept that the aunties will still show up with 40 uninvited guests and ruin both budgets.
💸 Budget Categories to Include:
Outfits (plural – for each event, obviously!)
Food (the most important part)
Decor (flowers, drapes, and enough uplights to rival the Milky Way)
Entertainment (live dhol? fire dancers? flash mob?)
Random extras (tip: there will always be extras)
4. Event Map: Plan the Chaos Logically
Most Big Fat Asian Weddings span multiple days. Here’s a typical layout:
Mehndi Night: Mehendi, music, and lots of gossip
Sangeet: Basically a talent show where your cousin’s choreography shines and the aunties rap battle
Wedding Ceremony: Sacred, emotional, and... probably delayed
Reception: Glamour, cake, and awkward dance moves from your dad – we can’t help you with that!
💡 Pro Tip: Create a shared Google Calendar or itinerary for guests so they don’t call you every 10 minutes asking, “What time is the sangeet again beta?”
5. Outfit Planning: Start Early, Stay Sane
Bridal shopping for an Asian wedding is a full-time job. You’ll need:
One outfit per event (plus backups – and don’t forget safety pins)
Coordinating jewelry, shoes, bangles, and accessories
Makeup trials
And an emergency tailor on speed dial
👗 Tip: Start shopping 6+ months in advance if you're importing anything. Customs delays are real and your lehenga deserves better.
6. Food is Everything. Period.
You could have the most lavish venue and the best band, but if the chicken tikka is cold, that’s what people will remember.
✨ Prioritize:
Tasting sessions (yes, that means free food — rejoice!)
A mix of traditional and crowd-friendly options
Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-friendly options
Midnight snacks if your party goes late — trust me
7. Manage Family Expectations Early
Uncles want whiskey. Aunties want decor from a Karan Johar movie. Your parents want to outdo the Gill wedding from last year.
🌶 Your Strategy:
Have honest chats with family
Set realistic expectations (financially and emotionally)
Include them in decisions, but draw boundaries
8. Don’t Forget Why You’re Doing This
In the madness of guest lists, lehenga fittings, and choreographing your cousins’ group dance, it’s easy to forget what this is all about — you and your partner.
💞 Take time together outside of wedding planning. A date night, a spa day, or even just a phone call where you don’t discuss centerpieces.
9. Have a Plan B (and C)
Rain on your outdoor wedding ceremony? Photobooth running late? Uncle forgot the buttonholes? Stuff WILL go wrong.
Laugh. Adapt. Have backup vendors and a sense of humor.
10. Enjoy the Madness — It’s YOUR Big Fat Moment
This chaos? It only happens once. (Hopefully.)
Dance like nobody's watching, eat like the calories don’t count, and soak in the joy of being surrounded by family, friends, and enough glitter to blind someone.
Final Thoughts: You’ve Got This
Yes, it's overwhelming. Yes, you'll cry at least once. But also — it's beautiful, vibrant, and uniquely you. Planning a Big Fat Asian Wedding might test your patience, but it’ll also fill your heart like nothing else.
So grab that chai, open that spreadsheet, and remember: you're not alone, and you're doing great. One day, you will look back and miss all of this!