No dulha or dulhan, just lot of dhamaka at fake sangeet parties

Mumbaikars are decking up in their finest lehengas and sherwanis, attending vibrant weddings with dancing baraats, dhols, and food from every corner of India — but with one quirky twist. There’s no bride. No groom. And no actual wedding. But...

Welcome to the world of fake weddings — an emerging trend where people gather to celebrate all the fun and fanfare of a shaadi, minus the rituals, emotional ties and family drama. These events, complete with mehendi stations, choreographed performances, photo booths, and late-night dancing, are all about good vibes and no responsibilities.

‘No pressure or expectations, just pure chaotic fun’Fake wedding planners are going all out to give attendees an authentic experience. From floral arrangements, mehendi corners and baraats with dhols to photo booths, and free desserts – it’s all curated with attention to detail. Alisha Chouri, co-founder of a company that organises fake sangeets says, “Our guests become characters, like the bride’s cousin, the drunk chacha and the dulha’s best friend. That roleplay brings instant emotional investment. Once the dhols start and the shots roll out, people forget it’s fake, they just start having the time of their lives. Since no one’s emotionally tied, we get to push creative boundaries without offending anyone. No pressure. No expectations. No in-laws. Just pure, chaotic fun. We take the best parts of an Indian wedding: the colours, the dancing, the drama and strip away the seriousness. It’s like a shaadi, but
reimagined for Gen Z.”

‘A fake sangeet allows me to be spontaneous’Big fat Indian weddings are incomplete without song and dance. Dancer- choreographer Aileshmaa Bharadwaj who performs at fake weddings tells us, “As performers, we approach it like a party where we’re the first ones on the dance floor. If we bring the energy, the crowd follows. People love dressing up and dancing without the stress of an actual wedding.” DJ Rahill Mehta adds, “A fake sangeet allows me to be spontaneous and perform what I enjoy. Right from the 90’s classics to 2000’s wedding hits - I take everyone on a journey through it all.”

Everyone’s looking for new, aesthetic experiences to post about on social media. Fake shaadis give people just that. These events let everyone dress up, dance, and live their filmy wedding fantasy, just for fun
– Sargun Singh, dancer

We create an engaging and entertaining experience for the audience, even if they are not as emotionally invested as they would be at a real sangeet or wedding
– Jeet Shah and Aaditya Agarwal, event company founders