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Expense list

தமிழில் படிக்க

Tamil wedding expense list

A Tamil wedding's costs fall into 11 groups: the hall, food for every guest, decoration, photos and video, makeup, music, invitations, return gifts, the priest, cars, and everything else. For most families the food and the hall decide the total. Get a real quote for each line, then add them up in the budget calculator.

· Written by Hallnect

The expense list

  • Hall

    What it covers: The venue, and the date it holds

    How to price it: Ask each hall for its price for your date and slot: full day, morning or evening. Ask too whether GST at 18% is extra; some halls quote a final price that already includes it.

  • Catering

    What it covers: Food for every meal

    How to price it: Ask the caterer for a per-plate rate for each meal, then multiply by your guests and the number of meals. For most families this is the biggest line, so fix the guest count early.

  • Decoration

    What it covers: Stage, entrance and flowers

    How to price it: Ask for one package price with a written list of what it includes: the stage, the entrance, flowers and lighting.

  • Photo and video

    What it covers: Photographer, videographer and album

    How to price it: Ask whether the album, the edited video and any extra cameras are in the price, and when you will receive them.

  • Makeup and mehendi

    What it covers: For the bride, the groom and the family

    How to price it: Ask for a price per person or for a package, and whether a trial session and travel are extra.

  • Music

    What it covers: Nadaswaram and melam, a band or a DJ

    How to price it: Ask for the price per session and how many hours a session lasts.

  • Invitations

    What it covers: Printing, and giving them out

    How to price it: The price of one card times the number of cards, plus courier or travel to give them out.

  • Return gifts

    What it covers: Thamboolam bags and gifts for guests

    How to price it: The price of one bag times the number of families or guests you will give one to.

  • Priest and rituals

    What it covers: The priest and what the rituals need

    How to price it: Ask the priest what the rituals need, and whether those materials are included in the fee.

  • Cars and transport

    What it covers: Cars for the families and guests

    How to price it: Ask for a price per car per day, and what you pay beyond the kilometres or hours it includes.

  • Other

    What it covers: Clothes, jewellery and anything else

    How to price it: Write down each item with the amount you plan to spend, so nothing large arrives as a surprise.

Add it up

Hall rent, plus GST if the hall adds it; food, which is the per-plate rate times your guests times the meals you serve; then decoration and everything else. The budget calculator does this sum for you and shows the cost per guest. Your numbers stay in your browser.

Open the budget calculator

Keep track as you book

The function planner keeps one line for each of these groups, with what you planned to spend, what you were quoted and what you have paid, plus a checklist you can change. It needs a free sign-in, so the whole family can share one plan.

Start a plan

Questions families ask

What is the biggest cost of a Tamil wedding?
For most families it is the food: the per-plate rate times every guest, for every meal you serve. Fix the guest count early, because it decides the food bill and the size of hall you need.
Is GST charged on wedding hall rent?
Many halls add GST at 18% to the rent; others quote a final price that already includes it. Ask each hall which, so you compare like with like.
Why does this list give no prices?
Prices change with the city, the season and the hall, and we do not publish a figure we cannot back. Ask for quotes instead: on Hallnect a hall's quote shows its price, what is included and the advance it asks for.