Girls from India have always intrigued Western men, to the point where many of those men actually married Indian women. And what’s not to like? With a unique combination of beauty, intelligence, and life views, an India mail order brides would make a perfect romantic companion to any lucky guy. Find out more about Indian brides and how to marry them from our guide.
Wedding Customs and Traditions in India
India is a culturally unique country, and attending an Indian wedding is a great way to experience that culture personally, especially if it’s your own wedding to an Indian mail order bride. Here are the key wedding traditions in India:
- Long and lavish events. Indian weddings are famously lavish and can take place over a span of 3-5 days. It’s also customary for weddings to have hundreds of guests: in India, a 200-person wedding would be considered a small and intimate one.
- Pre-wedding rituals. In India, the preparation for the wedding starts long before the big day. The most important rituals here include Haldi and Mehendi ceremonies, as well as Sangeet Night, where both families get together to celebrate with music and dancing.
- Kanyadaan ceremony. This event takes place on the wedding day and is a deeply emotional ritual where the bride’s family, particularly her father, gives her away to the groom.
- Baraat. The groom also gets his share of attention. It starts with Baraat, or the groom’s grand entrance, which is traditionally done on a horse but can be done with a car or on an elephant. He is surrounded by family and friends, drummers, and dancers.
- Community involvement. In India, weddings are seen as a chance for everyone to get together and connect. The preparation for the big day involves not just the immediate family and friends, but also the whole local community, where everyone is doing what they can.
How Do Indian Brides Feel About International Dating and Marriage?
Indian women have a lot of love and respect for their cultural heritage. For 18% of them, sharing the same cultural beliefs and customs is a dealbreaker when it comes to choosing a romantic partner, meaning that they are unlikely to consider someone from a different ethnicity or country.
At the same time, there is a growing number of Indian women who venture beyond their own country to find a soulmate. For some of them, it’s the spirit of adventure and cultural curiosity, while some want to escape the strict rules and family expectations that women in India often face. So, do Indian women like American men? Yes, for many girls from India, an American guy is exactly who they picture when thinking about their ideal partner and husband.
Key Statistics About Indian Mail Order Brides
The best way to get to know India mail order brides is to actually spend time with them and develop a romantic relationship with one of them. At the same time, facts and statistics about Indian women can give you a pretty good initial idea of who these women really are:
- K-1 visas issued per year: 497
- Average marriage age: 27.2
- Average fertility rate: 2.12
- Average divorce rate: 0.1
Legal Aspects of Marrying an Indian Bride
Getting an Indian wife is not the most complicated task in the world, but it does require you to do some research and preparation, especially when it comes to the legal side of international marriage. Here is the key paperwork you’ll need as an American intending to marry an Indian bride.
| Document | Responsible Body | Timeline | Cost |
| Notice of Intended Marriage | Marriage Registrar in India | 30 days before marriage | ₹100-₹150 (filing fee) |
| Passport & Visa (copy) | Provided by the American citizen | Valid for at least 6 months | Different visa fees apply |
| Proof of residence in India | Local municipality | Minimum 30 days in one location | Different costs form the price |
| Birth certificate | Issued in the US | Prior to arrival | Free |
| Single Status Affidavit | Notarized in the US & attested by MEA | Before traveling or in India | $20-$50 + apostille fees |
| No Objection Certificate | U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India | Same-day appointment | $50–$100 |
| Passport-sized photos | Both parties | Both parties | ₹100-₹200 |
| Witnesses (3 adults) | Must be physically present | On the day of marriage | Free |
| Registration & marriage certificate | Local Marriage Registrar | Issued after the ceremony | ₹100-₹500 |
Please note that even if you and your bride develop your relationship with an India mail order bride mostly online and then agree to get married, you cannot just go to India and expect to get married within a few days. According to Indian laws, you need to spend at least 30 days in the country prior to the wedding, so make sure to plan the whole thing well in advance.
Common Challenges of Dating and Marrying Indian Brides
Indian mail order brides have all the advantages men dream about and little to no drawbacks. Still, like any international marriage, being with an Indian bride can have its challenges:
- Family approval is crucial. It doesn’t matter if an Indian woman is independent or still living with her parents: the family’s approval of her potential husband is one of the most important deciding factors, whereas the lack of approval can ruin the relationship forever.
- Religion plays an important role. There is a growing number of Indian women who are no longer devout believers, but most of them are not ready to give up their cultural and religious roots. A good idea is to start a family where both religions are respected and observed.
- Social criticism. In rural or deeply traditional Indian regions, some people believe that an Indian woman should only be married to an Indian man. The good news is that if you move together to live in the US, this criticism won’t concern you whatsoever and you will be able to live freely without any pressure.
Success Stories of Indian Women for Marriage
1. Ryan and Priya
Ryan was a chronically single software developer for over 10+ before he met Priya, a QA engineer. They both thought it was a match made in heaven: not only were they pretty much in the same profession, but they also turned out to like the same music, movies, and TV shows, even though they grew up and lived thousands of miles away from each other. Ryan did not hesitate before proposing, but the couple ran into the problem of where to have their wedding. In the end, they decided on two ceremonies — one in India and one in the US, so that both families felt included.
2. Jake and Anjali
After some less-than-satisfying online dating experiences with local women, Jake joined an international dating site and met Anjali on his first day here. A year-long online romance felt like a fairytale: the couple instantly clicked and only continued to fall deep for each other. When it was time to tie the knot, Jake was initially taken aback by the amount of paperwork required from both and the notorious Indian bureaucracy. The couple decided to hire a local immigration lawyer, who smoothly guided them through the process. After spending 45 days in Delhi, Jake married Anjali in a beautiful 300-person wedding.
3. Daniel and Meera
Like many other happy couples in the 2020s, Daniel and Meera met online after Daniel joined an Indian dating site one of his friends recommended. Their connection wasn’t instant: as they were both rather shy, Dan and Meera decided to take their time to get to know each other instead of rushing things. Besides, both of their families were pretty religious — Christian and Hindu — respectively, so it took them a bit of effort to convince their families that they were a good match. Luckily, after a joint wedding ceremony celebrating both cultures, everyone couldn’t be happier.
Popular Wedding Locations in India
Indian women for marriage are both very traditional and highly attached to their parents and extended families. This is why, even if your Indian bride is planning to move to live with you abroad, she may still want to have the wedding ceremony in India. If that’s the case, here are 5 popular wedding venues in India to consider for your nuptials:
- Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This luxury hotel is set on the banks of Lake Pichola and is widely known in India as the symbol of opulence. With its breathtaking architecture and serene surroundings, it’s a great choice for lavish weddings.
- Neemrana Fort Palace in Alwar, Rajasthan. If you value regal ambiance with its historic architecture and panoramic views, this 15th-century fort should be right up your street. It’s perfect for romantic, fairy-tale-like weddings where the couple feels like A-list celebrities.
- Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. As one of the world’s largest private residences, this palace boasts lavish interiors and huge, opulent gardens. This venue is perfect for grand weddings with hundreds of guests, where the couple also values privacy.
- Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, Telangana. This palace offers a blend of Italian and Tudor architecture, providing a majestic setting for weddings that looks breathtaking both in photos and in person. It’s also elevated to 2,000 above sea level, providing a memorable view from above.
- Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Rambagh Palace is known as the Jewel of Jaipur, so you can easily imagine its appeal to countless Indian couples who choose to get married there. It offers outstanding hospitality, grand halls, and lush gardens to make you feel like royalty.
Final Thoughts
Indian mail order brides are all different but similarly charming, devoted, and loving. This makes marriage to an Indian woman a perfect choice for any man, regardless of what he’s looking for in a partner. With an Indian wife, you will experience what it’s like to be truly happy in a relationship, so the earlier you start your search, the better!
