A Monsoon Wedding with all the glamour and gaana minus the drama? That sums up the ridonkulously fun new viral Gen-Z party trend in Mumbai- a fake wedding or fake sangeet. Oh, and there will be no bride and groom. Called the Scam Shaadi, this event is all about faking it and shaking to banger Bollywood tracks that are sangeet staples. After hosting a spectacular Big Fat Fake Wedding in Bandra on July 5, the organisers are bringing the shaam shadi fun to Navi Mumbai on August 23. Okay, I know this sounds like a big fat hoax, but it isn’t, dear reader. We have a save the date!
Fake wedding, authentic masti
The auspicious occasion takes place at Tipsy Bro in Palm Beach Galleria Mall at Vashi, Navi Mumbai. The rooftop restaurant will transform into an opulent mandap decked with flowers, lights, and every prop and decor on an Indian wedding Pinterest board. Guests must dress up in traditional fits – only lehengas, saris, sherwanis, and kurtas are allowed. We say think Dharma Productions’ fashion; over-the-top, grandeur worthy of a filmy sangeet scene.
Much like a movie set, this fake shaadi will give all attendees free makeovers from a make-up artist and hairstylist! Get your hands hennaed at mehendi counters and snap quirky pictures with your crew at elaborate photobooths and flower bouquet stalls of real blooms. Wedding-themed games and dance-offs will turn up the fun factor.
Apart from the live band, DJs, and dhol who’ll be belting out Bollywood and desi dance hits all night long, there’s also an exciting techno baarat scheduled. Because why should the music be traditional at this wildly unreal wedding? Food and drinks – we’re talking boozy cocktails, live gol gappa counters and complimentary shots – can be enjoyed at the venue.
Besides freedom from annoying relatives, other benefits of this mock sangeet include NOT spending a fortune on gifts, no learning painfully cringey choreography to perform on stage. The entire restaurant becomes an open dance floor, where every guest can groove to their own beat.
Why are fake sangeets and weddings suddenly so popular in India?
Is Gen Z delulu? Nah, they want the festive traditions of a classic desi wedding, not the pressure and baggage that comes with tying the knot. Even if your best friend or cousin is getting hitched, there’s the risk of dealing with a bridezilla or groom with cold feet. However, these events package the thrill of crashing a fancy wedding by subtracting the stress yet retaining the masti, magic and nostalgia of an Indian wedding.
It’s a sentiment millennials and Gen-Xer guests at these events also relate to, says Alisha Chowri, co-founder of Saddi Galli, the events company organising this fake sangeet. ‘One auntie in her 50s said, “I didn’t dance this much even at my wedding!”’ Alisha recounts, explaining how these events are open to all age groups.
This pretend wedding party trend has caught on faster than a runway bride or groom bolting the altar. In just two months, it has spilled over from Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore to global destinations like Dubai, Sydney and Cornell University in the US. India’s first fake sangeet happened in Zylo, New Delhi, on April 25.
In June, Alisha and her friends hosted Scam Sangeet, Mumbai’s first fake sangeet-themed party, which was a raving success. So the entrepreneurial friend group decided to up the ante with a Big Fat Fake Indian Wedding. Now the scam shaadi madness in collaboration with Nexgen Mumbai is taking over Navi Mumbai. It comes auntie-approved, guys, so you know it’s a certified bash!
🎟️: Tickets from INR 800 per person; book here