Weddings in India are nothing short of grand spectacles. There’s drama, glitter, and tons of money. ₹12 lakh, to be precise. Yes, an average Indian wedding costs ₹12 lakh. But have you ever wondered what else you could do with the money that will go into feeding 500 distant relatives whose names you barely remember?

What if you could use this money for something that offers lasting joy and doesn’t put you in panic mode for the next few months? Here’s what ₹12 lakh could get you if you don’t spend it on a grand wedding.

1. World-class vacations

Who doesn’t want to go on a luxury vacation to Europe? With ₹3-4 lakh, you can do so quite smoothly. You can fly in business class, eat at the finest restaurants, and stay in a good hotel in the city centre. An average lavish trip to Paris costs approximately ₹3 lakh per person for a week. But if you book in advance, everything will be a little cheaper. However, you can also choose not to be lavish, travel economy, and visit many places. The choice is yours. When you have money, the choice is always yours.

2. Therapy sessions

If we are going against the norm, let’s not forget therapy because weddings will come and go but mental health is for life. With ₹1.5 lakh, you could transform your life more than any wedding ritual. For ₹1 lakh, you can book regular therapy sessions for an entire year with a skilled therapist. Use the remaining ₹50,000 to attend a wellness retreat or for regular full-body massages. Both are great.

3. Invest in yourself

Buy that guitar you’ve been eyeing, enrol in those dance classes you’ve always wanted, or sign up for that creative writing course you keep thinking about. With just ₹2 lakh, you could level up in your career and fuel your passions. Because, honestly, what’s better than investing in yourself?

4. Build a future fund

Now, let’s talk about investment because, in the long run, this is what really matters. Let’s put ₹4 lakh into securing your future. Earmark ₹2 lakh for mutual funds through SIPs. If we assume a return rate of 15% (you can get more), this could grow to over ₹8 lakh in 10 years. Sounds great, right? Gold is another excellent way to safeguard wealth, it’s also desi parents approved. So, invest ₹1 lakh in gold and keep ₹1 lakh as an emergency fund. Unlike wedding lehengas, these investments actually appreciate over time.

Related: Ladies, If You’re Under 25, This Financial Advice Is For You

5. Curate a dream wardrobe

Let’s not forget the little things that make life fabulous, like your wardrobe. With ₹1 lakh in your hands, you have two ways to go – all brands or an extensive and affordable wardrobe that’ll give you hundreds of outfits. Or you can mix and match – a few designer pieces and other inexpensive but chic pieces. So, instead of one overpriced wedding lehenga, you could build a capsule collection that actually sees the light of day more than once.

6. Give back

With great money should also come a great responsibility. Sponsor the education of five girls through an NGO, contribute to animal welfare, or take part in the fight against period poverty. Whatever cause you stand for, contribute the remaining ₹50,000 to that. It will make someone’s life better.

If you spend the average cost of an Indian wedding on yourself, the experiences, investments, and lives you can create are endless.

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Related: How To Plan Wedding Budget: Tips To Save Money While Planning Your Big Day