Brands
Big fat weddings go global as travel insurance demand jumps sharply
INDIA: Indian weddings are packing their bags and their insurance policies as destination ceremonies abroad move firmly into the mainstream, driving a sharp rise in international travel insurance uptake.
Data from Policybazaar shows wedding-linked travel insurance purchases climbing steadily over the past three years, rising 27.4 per cent from 2023 to 2024 and a further 27.4 per cent from 2024 to 2025 year to date. The trend reflects both growing volumes of overseas wedding travel and heightened awareness of the financial risks tied to multi-day, high-cost celebrations.
From beachfront vows in Thailand to vineyard ceremonies in Italy, couples are increasingly opting for destinations that balance aspiration with accessibility. Thailand has emerged as the most popular choice, buoyed by visa ease and established Indian wedding infrastructure, followed by the UAE for its luxury venues and connectivity.
Vietnam and Sri Lanka are gaining traction as cost-efficient scenic alternatives, while Italy, Spain and Greece are drawing smaller, high-spend wedding groups. Oman and the Maldives continue to attract intimate family-only ceremonies.
Insurance demand closely tracks India’s wedding calendar rather than holiday seasons. The winter wedding window from 1 November to 15 December saw the sharpest surge, with purchases jumping 30 per cent between 2023 and 2024, followed by a further 8 per cent rise in 2025. Summer and early-year wedding periods also recorded consistent double-digit growth.
Weddings abroad are proving to be a multi-generational affair. Buyers aged 25 to 34, typically the bride and groom, accounted for 40 per cent of policies, while parents aged 45 to 60 made up 35 per cent. Senior travellers over 60 represented a substantial 25 per cent share, driving higher demand for medical and pre-existing disease cover.
In most cases, couples themselves purchased the insurance, accounting for 60 per cent of policies, while family members contributed 30 per cent and overseas relatives 10 per cent.
Urban India continues to lead the trend. Mumbai topped the list with 16 per cent of wedding-linked travel insurance demand, followed by Bengaluru at 13 per cent, Delhi at 8 per cent, Hyderabad at 5 per cent and Chennai at 4 per cent. At the same time, rising participation from cities such as Pune, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, Jaipur and Ludhiana points to a widening base beyond major metros.
After a brief post-pandemic dip, group and family travel has staged a strong comeback. While group bookings slipped around 2 per cent between 2023 and 2024, they surged nearly 28 per cent in 2025 year to date, signalling renewed confidence in large international celebrations.
Across destinations, travellers showed a clear preference for robust coverage, consistently opting for a $250,000 sum insured whether travelling to Southeast Asia, the Middle East or Europe. European weddings typically attracted higher premiums, reflecting longer stays and steeper medical costs.
Baggage loss, often involving expensive outfits and jewellery, topped coverage preferences at 28 per cent, followed by medical emergencies at 25 per cent, pre-existing disease cover at 22 per cent, trip cancellation at 15 per cent, and flight delays or missed connections at 10 per cent.
Policybazaar head of travel insurance Meet Kapadia, said insurance planning was now becoming an integral part of wedding preparations.
“Destination weddings have become a popular choice for Indian families, and our data clearly shows how insurance adoption is rising alongside this shift,” he said. “Multi-generational travel, longer international stays and the high emotional and financial stakes are pushing travellers towards comprehensive medical cover, protection for high-value baggage and higher sums insured.”
Brands
Aman Gupta’s OFF/BEAT secures Rs 100 crore seed funding round
Bessemer backs new venture betting on AI and India’s digital shift
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta has raised Rs 100 crore in seed funding for his new venture OFF/BEAT, with Bessemer Venture Partners leading the round as it bets on a new wave of AI-led, consumer-first businesses in India.
The funding marks an early but significant push for OFF/BEAT, which is positioned to tap into a rapidly evolving market shaped by a digitally native generation and advances in artificial intelligence. The venture aims to build at the intersection of culture and technology, where brand identity and innovation increasingly go hand in hand.
Gupta, best known for co-founding boAt and scaling it into a Rs 3,000 crore-plus business, is now looking to apply those learnings to a new playbook. His focus this time is not just on building a consumer brand, but on leveraging AI and global networks to accelerate growth.
OFF/BEAT founder Aman Gupta said, “Having built from scratch before, I know what capital can do and what it cannot. This time, I was looking for partners with a global perspective who can help me leverage technology and AI, because that is where the future lies. Bessemer’s track record with companies like Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn says it all.”
The choice of investor reflects that ambition. Bessemer Venture Partners has backed global technology players such as Anthropic, Shopify, Canva and LinkedIn, bringing not just capital but strategic support and global reach.
Bessemer Venture Partners partner Anant Vidur Puri said, “We back founders who see around corners. Aman saw how a new India would come to think about aspiration, identity and quality, and built boAt as proof. He is now applying that same instinct to a market being reshaped by AI and by a generation with entirely new expectations.”
The investment comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem is being reshaped by both consumer behaviour and technological disruption. Founders are increasingly expected to understand not just products, but the cultural shifts that drive adoption.
For OFF/BEAT, the journey is just beginning, but the signal is clear. In a market where attention is fleeting and expectations are rising, building something truly distinctive may be the only way to stay on beat.
