Merlyn Romit, the visionary behind Desi Wed Australia, made a striking entrance in a blush pink lehenga, warmly welcoming guests to the extravagantly themed Big Fat ‘Fake’ Indian Wedding.

The event drew a diverse crowd, from engaged couples preparing for their own wedding day to community members eager to immerse themselves in the vibrant and colorful atmosphere synonymous with South Asian nuptials.

Although marriage rates have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, many vendors in the event industry are eager to recover the time and opportunities lost during the pandemic. This was a significant consideration for Romit when orchestrating her event.

One of the offerings exhibited by a vendor was a giant pavlova that newlyweds can help decorate for their wedding guests. Source: Supplied / Sidd Rishi

“I obviously don’t come from [a South Asian] background so, for me culturally, it’s so exciting to see something that’s a little bit different that I kind of haven’t been immersed in before,” Whitlock told SBS Spice.

Matrimony and money

However, a South Asian wedding can be anything but average, often spanning over five days with various ceremonies depending on the cultural roots of the betrothed couple.

Attendees also had the chance to briefly become Vogue cover models. Source: Supplied / Sidd Rishi

Earlier this year, SBS Spice spoke to Sydney-based wedding planner Poonam Gururajan about how much her clients regularly shelled out.

The evening’s celebrations included a classic game of musical chairs. Source: Supplied / Sidd Rishi

Even before the Ambani wedding, the opulence of matrimonial ceremonies in the diaspora has progressively escalated in line with the rising cost of living, social media trends, and the improved accommodation of South Asian weddings by vendors outside the community.