04 October 2026

Category : Wedding Planning

Indian Wedding in India from Australia: A Guide for Australian Indian Families

Many of the families we plan for live in Australia and hold the wedding in India, where the grandparents, the wider family and the traditions are. This guide sets out what an Australia-based family needs to decide first: the dates, the city, the budget in Australian dollars, the visas and how to plan it from home.

Choose the date first

Most families fix the date from the Hindu muhurat calendar. In 2027 there are no muhurat dates in August, September or October (Chaturmas); the last date before the break is 12 July 2027 and the first after it is 10 November 2027, so the winter months fill early. Our 2027 Hindu wedding dates list every date month by month, with 2028 dates for later weddings; Tamil families can use the Tamil muhurtham dates for 2027.

Best months for Australian guests

• November to February: mild weather in Rajasthan and Goa and the most muhurat dates. December and January weddings let Australian guests use the Christmas and New Year holidays.
• March: warmer days; plan outdoor functions for the evening.
• April to June: hot in Rajasthan, so we move the main functions indoors or to the hills.

Where Australian families marry in India

• Rajasthan palaces and forts: Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer.
• Beach weddings: Goa.
• Near the Taj Mahal: Agra, easy to add to a Delhi–Jaipur trip.
• Hills and wildlife: Mussoorie and Ranthambore.

Guests on an e-Visa must enter India through one of the designated airports. Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and both Goa airports are on that list; Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer are not, so guests for those cities land in Delhi, Mumbai or Jaipur and take a domestic flight or a car onwards. More detail: our Jaipur and Udaipur destination wedding guides.

What it costs, in Australian dollars

Figures cover venue, rooms, food, décor and planning for a multi-day wedding. Our budgets are set in rupees; the Australian dollar figures use A$1 = ₹66.84, the European Central Bank reference rates for 2 October 2026, rounded to the nearest A$5,000. Exchange rates move, so we confirm the rupee budget and the Australian dollar equivalent on the day you sign.

Visas for guests from Australia

• OCI card holders do not need a visa: entry is on a valid passport with the OCI card.
• Australian passport holders are eligible for the Indian e-Visa. The e-Tourist Visa is issued for 30 days, one year or five years. Apply online at least four days before arrival, and no more than 120 days ahead; the passport needs at least six months' validity when you apply.
• e-Visa holders can enter only through the designated airports (or designated seaports). Biometrics are taken at immigration on arrival.
• Foreign nationals and OCI card holders also complete the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before landing. It is arrival information, not a visa.

Source: Government of India e-Visa portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, checked 4 October 2026. Our guest desk sends every family the right steps for their passports and checks applications before they are submitted.

Planning from Australia

• One senior planner for the whole wedding, with calls set to Australian time. India is on UTC+5:30 all year. Sydney and Melbourne are 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of India on AEST and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead on daylight time (AEDT); Brisbane stays on AEST all year; Perth (AWST) is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead. A 10am call in Jaipur is 2.30pm in Sydney in winter, 3.30pm in summer, and 12.30pm in Perth. In NSW, daylight time runs from 4 October 2026 to 4 April 2027.
• Video walk-throughs of every shortlisted venue before you fly.
• A single guest-travel plan: international arrivals into Delhi, Mumbai or Jaipur, domestic flights or cars to the venue, airport welcome desks.
• Indian ceremonies run as your family does them: pandit, mandap, mehendi, sangeet and baraat, with a civil or church ceremony added for mixed families.

A 12-month timeline

12 months out: fix the date and city; hold the venue. 9 months: room block and guest list; save-the-dates to Australian guests. 6 months: décor, menus, artists; flights for the main family group. 4 months: guests apply for e-Visas (the portal opens 120 days before arrival). 3 months: itinerary and travel desk. Wedding week: guests file the e-Arrival card 72 hours before landing; our team runs every function.

Indian wedding from Australia: FAQs

How much does an Indian destination wedding cost for a family from Australia?

IWP's all-inclusive bands start at about A$150,000 (₹1 crore) for 50–100 guests; 150–250 guests is A$450,000–750,000 (₹3–5 crore), at the ECB reference rate of 2 October 2026.

Do Australian guests need a visa for a wedding in India?

Yes, unless they hold an OCI card. Australian passport holders can apply online for an Indian e-Tourist Visa between 120 and four days before arrival, with a passport valid for at least six months.

When is the best time for an Indian wedding in India?

November to February, when the weather is mild and muhurat dates are plentiful. In 2027 there are no Hindu muhurat dates from August to October; the first date after the break is 10 November 2027.

Can we plan the whole wedding from Sydney, Melbourne or Perth without travelling to India first?

Yes. Most of our families abroad visit once, if at all, before the wedding week; venue walk-throughs and planning calls are done by video in Australian working hours.

Which city is best for a destination wedding in India?

Udaipur and Jaipur for palaces, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer for forts and desert, Goa for the beach. Jaipur and Goa take e-Visa arrivals directly; for the other cities guests connect through Delhi or Mumbai.

Next step: share your date and guest count and we reply within 24 hours with a venue shortlist and a budget in Australian dollars and rupees.