From beach weddings in Thailand to small ceremonies in Europe, overseas weddings are no longer niche. The trend spans large celebrations and intimate family events, with insurance now seen as a necessary part of wedding planning.
Insurance demand rises with overseas weddings
As per the Policybazaar report, travel insurance uptake linked to destination weddings grew by 27.4% from 2023 to 2024, and by another 27.4% from 2024 to 2025 year-to-date. The growth points to both rising international travel for weddings and greater concern over medical, baggage and trip-related risks during high-cost events.
Thailand, UAE top wedding destinations
Thailand remains the most preferred destination due to proximity, easier visas and established wedding services. The UAE follows, driven by luxury venues and strong connectivity. Vietnam and Sri Lanka are emerging as lower-cost options, while Italy, Spain and Greece attract smaller, premium wedding groups. Oman and the Maldives are popular for close-family weddings.
Wedding season drives insurance spikes
Insurance purchases closely follow India’s wedding calendar. The sharpest rise is seen between November and mid-December, with a 30% jump from 2023 to 2024. Other peaks appear between January and March, and again in July and August, showing that insurance buying is tied more to wedding dates than holiday travel.
Wedding travel insurance buyers include multiple age groups. People aged 25–34 account for 40% of policies, parents aged 45–60 make up 35%, and senior travellers above 60 account for 25%. This has increased demand for medical cover and pre-existing disease protection.
Most policies are bought by the couple themselves, followed by family members and NRI relatives.
Mumbai and Bengaluru lead in wedding-related travel insurance purchases, followed by Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai. Demand is also rising in cities such as Pune, Gurugram, Noida and Jaipur, showing wider adoption beyond major metros.
Bigger groups return after pandemic
Group wedding travel has rebounded strongly. After a small dip between 2023 and 2024, group bookings rose by 28% in 2024–2025 year-to-date. This has increased demand for policies covering multiple travellers and complex itineraries.
Across destinations, travellers consistently choose a sum insured of USD 250,000. Coverage preferences focus on baggage loss, medical emergencies, pre-existing disease cover, trip cancellation and flight delays.
“Destination weddings have become a popular choice for Indian families, and our data clearly shows how travel insurance planning is evolving alongside this shift. What stands out is the sharp rise in insurance adoption around wedding seasons, driven by multi-generational travel, longer international stays, and the high financial and emotional stakes involved,” said Meet Kapadia, Head of Travel Insurance at Policybazaar.
“Today’s wedding travellers are prioritising comprehensive medical cover, protection for high-value baggage, and high sum insured – treating travel insurance as an essential part of wedding planning rather than an afterthought,” he added.
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