Indian Weddings Are so Fun, People Are Paying to Crash Them
Indian weddings are renowned around the world for their splendor. A traditional multi-day extravaganza includes many different events, but food, dancing, and a colorful feast for the eyes are always guaranteed.
A wedding is often seen as a gateway to understanding Indian culture. But scoring an invite to one in impossible unless you know someone — or don’t mind paying your way in.
Join My Wedding is a new Indian start-up selling admission to traditional Indian weddings around the country for tourists on vacation.
Indian couples who are looking for a bit of cash (and/or some new friends) list their event on the Join My Wedding website. Travelers can then purchase tickets for the ceremonies and receptions they wish to attend.
"Experiencing all the cultural elements at once, meaningfully connecting with the locals in India, that's a huge motivating factor for the travelers," Orsi Parkanyi, CEO of Join My Wedding, told CNBC. "It's a safe experience. You attend an event with hundreds of people, you're a distinguished guest, people look after you."
The service links hosts and guests before the wedding so travelers aren’t just complete strangers dropping in on the day.
The weddings vary in size, but travelers will likely be among hundreds of people in the crowd cheering on the newlyweds. Tickets prices also vary, depending on what you’re attending. If you’ll be a guest for just one day of the ceremony, it will cost around $150. For a two or three-day ticket, you’ll pay around $250.
So far, the start-up has sold tickets to more than 100 different weddings across India.
