Wedding Industry Association UP discusses emerging trends, changing customer demands and the future of the wedding business
Agra, September 12, 2026: Indian weddings are no longer just ceremonies; they have evolved into complete experiences. With changing customer preferences and the growing influence of Instagram and Reels, every aspect of a wedding—from the venue and décor to photography and entertainment—is undergoing a transformation.
To discuss these emerging trends, the Wedding Industry Association UP organised a grand discussion on “The Future of Wedding Industry” at Hotel Tajview, Agra, on Saturday.
The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Prominent attendees included Wedding Industry Association President Manish Agarwal, General Secretary Sandeep Upadhyay, tourism and wedding sector expert and Hotel Tajview General Manager Shantanu Ghosh, Director Sales Shohiv Khan, Hotel Sales Manager Dev Chaudhary, Shubham Swaroop, patrons Sanjay Agarwal and Rajesh Goyal, Vice President Saurabh Singhal, and Pankaj Goyal.
Luxury Marquees Emerging as the New Wedding Standard
The first session focused on the growing demand for luxury wedding marquees. Vimal Goyal, Dileep Gupta, Vipin Gupta, Sachin Agarwal and Amrish Bhardwaj shared their views on changing customer preferences.
Speakers said customers are increasingly moving beyond conventional banquet halls and opting for luxury marquees offering a five-star experience, open-air ambience, complete air-conditioning and large-span structures.
For large Indian weddings with 800 to 1,500 guests, luxury marquees are rapidly becoming a preferred choice. The new customer expectation is clear: the wedding should not merely look like a traditional banquet or palace, but should feel like a private luxury destination.
Decorators Evolving into Wedding Designers
The second session was moderated by Saurabh Singhal, with Tarun Agarwal Johnny, Vimal Goyal of Busy Craft, Riya Sharma and Arun Saxena participating as speakers.
The discussion highlighted how décor has become one of the most important elements of the modern Indian wedding experience.
Customers are increasingly arriving with designs and concepts inspired by Pinterest and Instagram. Demand is rising for theme-based décor, cultural concepts, South Indian themes, Rajwada-style settings and Bollywood-inspired designs.
The décor is now expected to be highly photogenic and suitable for social media Reels. As a result, decorators are no longer simply decorators—they are increasingly taking on the role of wedding designers.
Instagram and Reels Changing Wedding Decisions
The session on social media witnessed extensive discussion on the growing influence of Instagram and Reels. Devesh Puri and Yash Shivhare were the key speakers.
Speakers said social media has become a major factor in wedding planning. Couples increasingly want their wedding celebrations to generate attractive and engaging Reels.
From selecting the venue and décor to choosing photographers, customers are considering how every element will appear on Instagram and other social platforms.
The message for the wedding industry is clear: businesses must now create social-media-friendly wedding experiences that are visually appealing both at the venue and on digital platforms.
Customers Want a Complete Wedding Film, Not Just an Album
The changing trends in wedding photography were discussed in another session featuring Puneet Bhojwani, Amit Jain and Simar Singh.
Speakers said that traditional photography and videography are no longer enough to meet modern customer expectations. Couples are now demanding cinematic videos, candid photography, drone shots, same-day edits and specially edited Reels.
Indian weddings are full of emotions and memorable moments, making storytelling an increasingly important part of wedding photography.
The modern photographer is therefore expected to work as a storyteller, capturing the complete journey and emotions of the wedding. As one emerging customer expectation suggests, couples now want a complete film of their wedding rather than just a traditional album.
UP Aims to Become a Leading Wedding Destination
Wedding Industry Association UP President Manish Agarwal said the organisation’s vision is clear: “Uttar Pradesh for Weddings in Uttar Pradesh.”
He said the wedding industry must keep pace with changing customer demands and the latest trends. Otherwise, a significant part of the Indian wedding market could move to other states or international destinations.
“Our objective is to develop Uttar Pradesh as a major wedding destination state,” he said.
General Secretary Sandeep Upadhyay, while summarising the various sessions, said the future belongs to collaboration.
He stressed that all wedding vendors need to work together to provide customers with a complete 360-degree wedding experience.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Administrator Anil Savita. The event arrangements were coordinated by Expert Event, with Shirish Sinha, Vineet Goyal and others contributing to the successful organisation of the programme.