Inside Gen Z’s newest curiosity: what are Fake Weddings, and why they might quietly become the next big scroll-stopper.
Scroll through social media these days and you’ll see everything from grand varmala reels to intimate haldi moments, all wrapped up in dreamy filters and trending music. But tucked among these real celebrations, there’s something different starting to appear: wedding photos and videos that look picture-perfect, yet aren’t real weddings at all. These are what the internet is calling, Fake Weddings.
Sounds strange? It is. But it’s also oddly fascinating. And while it’s far from mainstream yet, there’s a good chance it could be the next big storytelling experiment on social media.
Instead of actual vows and families gathered in celebration, fake weddings are carefully styled experiences with rented outfits, pretend couples and staged rituals—created purely for entertainment, experience, and content. It’s a curious idea, still new and not widely known, but it raises an interesting question: why stage an entire wedding only for just experience and content? And could this become the next big thing online?
Still, as odd as it sounds, it’s worth taking a closer look at what these so-called fake weddings really are and why they’ve started to pop up on our feeds. Cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Pune are already organising such events for Gen Z at some extent. Our team at Wedding Affair has curated this blog for you to understand everything about this new Fake Wedding wave.
What Exactly Is a Fake Wedding?
When you first look at it, it looks exactly like a real wedding, until you realise there’s no real wedding couple.
The captions sound like they’ve just had the perfect day, full of promises and forever. But in reality, there are no signed documents, no legal proceedings, but just a pair of models or influencers filming for content.
Everything is planned to perfection, from coordinated outfits and floral backdrops to rehearsed cake-cutting moments and dance entries. It’s all about capturing the vibe of a real wedding so closely that viewers might not immediately tell the difference.
Not Quite a Trend… Yet.
Now, here’s the thing: calling fake weddings a huge trend would be a stretch, at least for now. It’s not as if everyone on your feed is staging their own pretend ceremonies. But as more people and event managers experiment with it, the idea is starting to bubble up.
It’s new, slightly controversial, and definitely something people talk about once they stumble upon it. And in the world of the Internet, where new ideas often explode overnight, fake weddings do have the potential to catch on.
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Why Are Fake Weddings Blowing Up Everywhere?
So why would anyone go through the trouble of planning an entire fake wedding just for photos and videos? Turns out, there are quite a few reasons, and most of them make perfect sense in the world of the Internet:
- Visual storytelling sells: There’s the simple fact that wedding content performs beautifully online. Instagram’s built around what looks good, and let’s be honest, nothing pulls people in faster than a bride in a beautiful dress or a slow-motion spin between two people who look in love.
- Creative freedom: Then there’s the freedom that comes with staging it all. Real weddings are chaotic because of unpredictable weather, family running late, nerves, and barely any time to get that perfect golden hour shot. But when it’s a fake wedding, creators can plan every little thing: choose the best light, the most stunning location, and have as many retakes as needed. No pressure, just creativity.
- And here’s the thing: these posts almost always do better than a regular fashion selfie or a travel pic. Even if it’s staged, something about wedding shots feels big and cinematic enough to make people pause, like, save, and share.
- Business opportunity: And for photographers, planners, venues, and even jewellery designers, fake weddings double up as styled shoots—a way to test fresh ideas, build a portfolio, and show potential clients what’s possible. In that sense, it’s part content, part marketing, and part creative playground.
- It’s just…fun: No rules, no relatives, just get dressed up, pretend it’s a friend’s wedding, dance your heart out, and make unforgettable memories.
But why do people watch them?
It’s not only about pretty outfits either. Weddings, even fake ones, have this charm: the flowers, the music, and the idea that something special is happening. And funny enough, even when we know it’s just staged for content, we still keep watching.
People love stories, and fake weddings create stories you can scroll through in seconds: from “getting ready” reels to mock first looks and sparkler exits.
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Is It Authentic or Misleading?
Of course, not everyone loves the idea.
Some people do end up feeling a bit let down when they realise the wedding they double-tapped wasn’t real at all. And it makes sense. Social media already gets plenty of flak for looking too perfect, too filtered. So yeah, throwing fake weddings into the mix can feel like adding another shiny, filtered layer to the mix.
But beyond disappointment, there’s also backlash. Some critics see this trend as a disrespectful mockery of sacred traditions for turning meaningful rituals into props and hurting ancient culture. Some are also calling it attention-seeking and even shameful.
But many creators actually say it straight in captions or stories, calling it a styled shoot or just a creative idea. And when it’s out in the open like that, it doesn’t feel like lying; it feels more like storytelling, almost like turning a wedding into art.
Could This Really Become a Trend?
It’s too early to say if fake weddings will explode into a massive trend, but the ingredients are all there. These events are working because they offer something most real weddings can’t: pure, unfiltered fun without any pressure of rishtedars and padosis watching and judging.
For attendees, it’s a chance to dress up, dance, click endless photos, make videos, and experience the thrill of a wedding. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want that?
For creators, it’s a content goldmine. For planners and vendors, it’s a live demo. And for Gen Z, it’s a social event that feels new, aesthetic, and Instagrammable.
People are showing up not in spite of it being fake, but because it is. No rules, no reality, just romance, glam, and a really good reason to post.
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Real or Not, Stories Matter
Maybe fake weddings will stay small, or maybe they’ll turn into the next big thing. No one really knows yet, but they’re definitely offering people something they’re craving: connection, escape from everything, entertainment, and a good time.