800 guests, Rs 17 lakh bill, and no savings: Chennai groom-to-be fears marriage means more debt

Planning a wedding is stressful, but for a 28-year-old man in Chennai, the challenge goes far beyond picking dates or venues. With no personal savings and years spent clearing family debts, he claims to faces a wedding bill that could top Rs 17 lakh. Between inviting 800 guests, buying a costly chain for his fiancée, and managing household expenses, the upcoming marriage feels like a financial tightrope walk.

So far, he and his brother have chipped away at the family’s obligations, repaying around Rs 10 lakh in debt, recovering pledged gold, and buying essential appliances. With the wedding planned for January or February, the couple’s combined income is projected at around Rs 1.1–1.2 lakh per month, leaving little room for luxury. His father has offered Rs 5 lakh, and an aunt another Rs 2 lakh without interest, but the remaining ₹10 lakh would likely require a loan.

He has mapped out his finances carefully: contributing about Rs 10,000 to the family, Rs 40,000 toward loan repayment, and using the rest for household needs. Despite planning to stay debt-free in the future, the current circumstances leave him trapped between responsibility and aspiration. With friends also strapped for cash and no immediate plans for a career switch, he is forced to delay dreams like starting an SIP, travelling, and planning a family for at least four years.

The groom-to-be’s story captures the tension many young couples face today — balancing tradition, social expectations, and financial realities, all while trying to step into married life with a sense of stability.

Internet reacts
Several users offered practical advice for managing the looming wedding expenses. Some suggested keeping things simple, like signing the marriage papers at court and making a lump-sum investment, possibly allocating a smaller amount for the ceremonial chain. Others recommended delaying the wedding by a few months to save more and carefully tracking every expense on a spreadsheet, cutting out anything unnecessary. Many emphasised that taking on debt for a wedding, which lasts only a few days, is generally unwise. They urged discussing financial decisions jointly with the fiancée and families, focusing on a simpler, meaningful celebration and prioritising household necessities or even a modest holiday instead of being trapped in long-term repayments.