The recent hike in H-1B visa fees has unexpectedly disrupted Hyderabad’s premium NRI wedding industry, leading to mass cancellations and financial losses across the sector.
Many Indian families and professionals based in the US, who were planning big weddings in Hyderabad, have abruptly called off travel due to uncertainty around the steep fee hike. Some couples have even postponed or cancelled their own weddings altogether.
NRI Weddings Hit Hard
Traditionally, NRI weddings boost the luxury economy in Hyderabad — with money flowing into venues, hotels, designers, jewelers, caterers, and décor specialists. But now, wedding planners report that NRI wedding budgets have inflated by nearly 40%, forcing families to scale down celebrations, trim guest lists, or host smaller functions in the US itself.
One Hyderabad-based planner revealed,
“We typically handle 20+ NRI weddings a year. This season alone, we had seven NRI weddings lined up worth ₹8–10 crore. But due to uncertainty around the new visa fee, several clients have put everything on hold, which is a massive blow for us and the industry.”
A ₹10,000–20,000 Crore Hit in 2025
India’s wedding industry is valued at ₹10.79 lakh crore ($130 billion) annually. NRI weddings form a premium 9% segment, especially in the ₹1 crore+ category. If cancellations continue, the market could lose ₹10,000–20,000 crore ($1.2–2.4 billion) this year, with the October–December peak season most at risk.
Shift in Marriage Preferences
The fee hike is also reshaping the matrimonial market. According to Vanaja Rao of Quick Marriages,
“Parents of brides are now showing less interest in US-based grooms. Instead, they prefer alliances from Australia, Canada, Singapore, or the Middle East.”
Jyothi Matrimony’s Jonnalagadda Jyothi added,
“Interest in foreign alliances has been declining for years, but Trump’s policies have accelerated the trend. During his second term, the demand for US-based NRIs has fallen to its lowest.”
Outlook
If the current uncertainty persists, Hyderabad’s luxury wedding market could see one of its toughest seasons yet. For now, families are exploring cost-cutting measures, alternative destinations, or even local alliances over NRIs in the US.
Source – https://www.timesnownews.com/hyderabad/h1b-visa-fee-hike-disrupting-nri-weddings-hyderabad-article-152918363
