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Financial Planning
How to have your dream wedding in 3 years?
A step-by-step guide to saving for your dream wedding in just three years—without debt or stress.
Key takeaways
- Start early to avoid stress and debt.
- Break down your savings goal into small monthly amounts.
- Automate your savings for consistency.
- Track progress to stay motivated.
- Discuss finances with your partner early.
- Plan for post-wedding expenses too.
If you're a young adult in your early twenties and considering marriage, you might be asking yourself:
"Is it even worth beginning a wedding fund now?"
Especially when the wedding is only 3 years down the road.
Here's the quick answer: No, it's never too late.
Much can change in 36 months. 3 years is sufficient to save for your wedding. You don't have to have a six-figure income, and you don't have to begin with lakhs in your bank account. What you do need is a plan, discipline, and a bit of patience.
But how do you start?
Where do you invest?
And how much exactly do you have to save?
Let's get into it
Why 3 years is good enough time?
Three years provides you with something that most wedding planners lack: breathing room.
Here's why that's important:
- You can avoid debt: Saving slowly means you don’t have to take a loan for your wedding.
- You have time to adjust: If you lose a job, change cities, or have extra expenses, you can still recover.
- You can make a habit: Saving a small amount each month adds up.
A lot of people start saving just 6 months before the wedding and feel stressed. Starting early gives you more options and less pressure.
The cost of a wedding in India can vary a lot. Some people spend ₹5–7 lakhs on a simple wedding, while others go up to ₹25–30 lakhs or more.
But here’s the truth: You don’t need a huge budget to have a beautiful wedding.
| Wedding Type | Approximate Budget | Monthly Saving (for 3 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Small, simple (close friends & family) | ₹6,00,000 | ₹16,700 |
| Mid-range (standard banquet, 150 guests) | ₹12,00,000 | ₹33,400 |
| Premium (decor, venue, catering, photography) | ₹18,00,000 | ₹50,000 |
You can modify this according to your location. A wedding in a metro city like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore may be more expensive than one in a smaller town.
Begin with a simple goal
Rather than talking about, "I need 15 lakhs," start saying, "I will save ₹10,000 this month." That doesn't sound as hard, right?
Once you start, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accumulate over time. You don't need all the money in hand today — you just need to begin.
Let’s say you need ₹15,00,000 for your wedding in three years (36 months). Here’s how much you should save every month to reach that goal:
| Total Goal | Monthly Savings |
|---|---|
| ₹10,00,000 | ₹27,777 |
| ₹15,00,000 | ₹41,667 |
| ₹20,00,000 | ₹55,555 |
As you can see, breaking down your savings goal into smaller monthly amounts makes it feel more manageable.
Tip: Automate Your Savings
One simple way to ensure you're always saving is to create automatic transfers from your Savings Account to different investment products. That way, you won't have to worry about it, and the money will just accumulate automatically.
Where to keep your wedding fund?
1. Fixed Deposits (FDs): If you're certain you won't require the money until your wedding, a Fixed Deposit may work. FDs give you a higher rate of interest, but you'll have to tie up your money for a period of time.
2. Recurring Deposit (RD): An RD is also a good idea if you want to save monthly. It lets you deposit a fixed amount of money every month for a specified time and earn interest.
3. Mutual Funds: If you can handle a bit of risk and have three years to invest, you can put some of your savings in Hybrid or Equity Funds. These may give you higher returns than savings accounts or FDs, but they involve more risk.
Track your progress It's important to regularly check how close you’re getting to your goal. One way to stay motivated is by creating a simple graphic or table to track your savings.
Wedding Fund Tracker (Example):
| Month | Savings Target | Amount Saved | Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | ₹41,667 | ₹41,667 | ₹14,58,333 |
| Month 2 | ₹41,667 | ₹83,334 | ₹14,16,666 |
| Month 3 | ₹41,667 | ₹1,25,001 | ₹13,75,000 |
Seeing your progress over time can be a big motivator to keep going.
And if you're looking to invest the same in Hybrid Funds, you might not need to set aside as much each month. A slightly lower Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) could still get you to your goal.
For example:
| Target | Assumed Rate of Return* | Time Horizon (Years) | Monthly SIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹10,00,000 | 10% | 3 | ₹24,000 |
| ₹15,00,000 | 10% | 3 | ₹36,000 |
| ₹20,00,000 | 10% | 3 | ₹48000 |
*The table above is for illustrative purposes only and is based on an assumed annual return of 10% from Hybrid Funds. Actual returns may vary and are subject to market risks. Mutual Fund investments are not guaranteed and past performance is not indicative of future results.
Cut one expense
Think of one thing you regularly spend on that you can reduce. It could be:
- Eating out every weekend (save ₹2,000–₹3,000/month)
- Online shopping for clothes or gadgets (limited to once every 3 months)
- App subscriptions or digital services you barely use
Involve your partner early
Saving for your wedding doesn’t have to be a one-person job. If you're engaged or in a serious relationship, talk about money openly.
Decide:
- How much each person will contribute
- What kind of wedding do you both want
- What matters more: a big venue or a close family vibe?
Having this conversation early avoids stress later.
Think beyond the wedding
Many couples spend lakhs on one day and forget to save for what comes after — rent, home setup, travel, or family planning. But if you start saving early, you can manage all of it better.
Bonus Tip: Create two funds — one for the wedding and one for your post-wedding needs. Even ₹1,000/month in the second fund will help.
Starting today is one of the best steps you can take towards the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Happy saving!
Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for
informational purposes. The views expressed in this article are personal. Axis
Bank and/or the author shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or
liability incurred by the reader arising from reliance on the content herein.
Readers are advised to consult a qualified financial advisor before making any
financial decisions. Axis Bank does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of
any third-party content or links included in this article.
Mutual Fund investments are subject to market
risk. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. Axis Bank Ltd. is
acting as an AMFI registered MF Distributor (ARN code: ARN-0019). Any purchase
of Mutual Funds by Axis Bank’s customer(s) is purely voluntary and not linked
to availment of any other facility from the Bank. This content is for
informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past
performance is not indicative of future returns. Readers are advised to consult
a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Terms and
Conditions apply.
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