Way to cut marriage costs drastically: "Rent a wedding" to give weddings a luxury makeover on low budget

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: No need to take a loan or borrow lakhs of rupees to enter the Kathirmandapam wearing the jewellery and attire of your dreams. The Malayali youth is approaching the 'rent a wedding' trend, where everything in designs that suit the mind is available for rent. This is a change from the practice of demanding so much gold as dowry. Owning gold according to capacity. The rest is rented jewellery.

Antique jewellery is in high demand. Necklaces and chokers can be rented starting from Rs 500. Bangles can be purchased starting from Rs 50. There are also many buyers of gold-plated jewellery.

Jewellery can also be purchased for functions like haldi, sangeet, reception, and save the date. You can advance book your favourites by looking at the design three months before the function. Most bookings are done through Instagram and online websites.

Outlets offering rental items including lehengas, sherwanis, bags, and branded watches are active in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Thrissur. Heavy-work wedding lehengas costing Rs. 30,000 are available for rent for Rs. 7,000. Most companies require that the items be returned within a week of use. Damage will be charged. An advance is taken at the time of booking. The remaining amount is paid when the item is returned. The companies will clean the clothes after use. If there is a difference in size, they will do alterations.

Love for gold as savings

The younger generation likes to keep gold as savings. "They rent jewellery to mix it with gold to make it look like they are wearing a lot of jewellery," said an employee at a rental jewellery showroom in Thiruvananthapuram. Most of the companies also source their items from Mumbai and Tamil Nadu.

'I used rental jewelry for my wedding too. Today's girls want to avoid unnecessary expenses. My family also supported me."

Jesna,

M.Sc. Mathematics student,

Malappuram