Artists Ajay Jishnu Sudheyan and Chemm Parvathy, who also opted for a modest wedding, say such micro-events can also be fun-filled and memorable. “We were the first in our families to marry this way. My partner’s parents were fine with it; my parents had some concerns, but we convinced them slowly,” says Ajay.

“On the wedding day, it felt like a real celebration with the people who mattered most. Everyone sang and danced at the registrar’s office. It made the space feel warm. Even our parents were eventually in a jolly-good mood.”

While some choose a registered marriage to cut the cost and pomp, others see it as a way to keep the moment secular and intimate. Rosline C U and Anand P chose this path. “We didn’t want any religious ceremony attached to our wedding day,” says Rosline.

“Our wedding took place in a small hall with just a few people. We brought the registrar there. No decorations, nothing extravagant — we simply served food to the small gathering.”

Clifath Ismail and Karuna Unnikrishnan, an inter-religious couple who recently had an ‘arranged’ wedding under the Special Marriage Act, say “convenience” was their biggest deciding factor.

“The process was simple,” says Clifath. “We applied online, submitted a few attested documents, waited for the 30-day notice period, and brought two witnesses. About 20 people close to us attended. It was simple but wholesome.”

Karuna adds that they had a “smooth experience”. “We have heard of official hiccups and people facing trouble getting documents attested because it’s a court marriage under the Special Marriage Act. We, however, didn’t face any issues,” she says.

Noel, too, notes that the official procedures have become simpler. “Earlier, we often heard that some officers created difficulties. Now the attitude is different. Most officials are supportive, and they guide couples through the process like family,” he says.

P K Sajan Kumar, joint inspector-general of registration, has watched this shift unfold up close. “When I joined the service in 1998, our society was far more rigid,” he says.

“People did face a lot of resistance when they came for these kinds of registrations. But that has changed. Moreover, today’s youth are more confident about choosing what they want, and online procedures have made everything much easier.”

Sajan notes that while Special Marriage Act registrations usually hovered around 10,000 a year, the numbers have shot up over 13,000 in recent times. “The figure is likely to go up this year,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the big-fat celebrations — with the sangeet, haldi, parties, feasts, and photo-shoots — are all still very much in trend. And there is absolutely nothing wrong in grand celebrations as long as the couple enjoys them.  

But alongside, there clearly is a minimalist shift that is being celebrated silently. A reimagining of weddings, where the aesthetics is not about big, booming activity but about choosing what feels simply beautiful.

Special Marriage Act registrations in Kerala
2022–23: 12,467
2023–24: 13,392
2024–25: 13,892
2025–26: 9,858 (up to November 2025; fiscal ends in March 2026)