There is no single rate, because marriage bureaus in India offer very different services under the same name. A bureau that gives you access to a list of profiles will charge less than one where an experienced matchmaker searches for you, speaks to the other family first and arranges the meetings. After that, the fee depends on how wide the search is, how senior your matchmaker is, whether anyone visits your home, how long the membership runs, and when the fee is paid, once upfront or on success. GST is added on top. At Pavitra Rishta, our four packages start at ₹1,11,000 plus 18% GST for a 12-month membership.
What are you actually paying a marriage bureau for?
The biggest difference is between database access and a personal matchmaker. With database access, the family gets profiles and does the searching, calling and judging on its own. The fee is for the list.
With a personal matchmaker, you are paying for a person’s time and judgement. That person meets you, understands your son or daughter, filters out unsuitable proposals, speaks to the other family before you do and follows up after every meeting. This takes many hours across months, which is why personal matchmaking costs more.
Before comparing two quotes, find out which of these two services each bureau is offering. Comparing a database fee with a matchmaking fee is like comparing a phone directory with a family friend who knows everyone.
Which factors push the fee up or down?
Once you know the kind of service, these are the factors that usually decide the price.
- How wide the search is. A search within one city and one community is smaller work than a search across India, or across India and abroad.
- Seniority of the matchmaker. A senior matchmaker has met more families over more years and can judge fit faster. That experience is priced higher.
- Personal visits. If a senior person travels to meet your family at home, that time and travel is part of the fee.
- Membership length. A longer membership means more months of searching and follow-up. Check whether the fee covers 6 months, 12 months or “until marriage”.
- Level of involvement. Some bureaus only share profiles. Others arrange the family meeting, follow up with both sides and stay involved until a decision.
- Extra services. Kundli matching, help with meeting arrangements or concierge support may be included or charged separately.
Is the fee a one-time membership or success-based?
Bureaus generally charge in one of two ways, and some combine them. A one-time membership fee is paid upfront for a fixed period. You know the full cost from day one, and it does not change if the rishta is fixed early or late.
A success-based fee is paid, fully or partly, when the match is fixed, often around the roka or engagement. The upfront amount may look smaller, but the total can be larger. Ask exactly when the success fee becomes due, how “success” is defined, and whether it applies if the match came from your own contacts during the membership.
Both models can be fair. What matters is that the terms are written down and that you understand them before you pay.
Do you pay GST on marriage bureau fees?
A registered business adds GST to its invoice. Some bureaus quote fees inclusive of GST and some quote them exclusive, so the same number can mean two different totals. Always ask, “Is this price before or after GST?”
Our own prices are quoted plus 18% GST. For example, ₹1,11,000 plus 18% GST comes to ₹1,30,980. Budget for the total, and ask for a proper invoice in the company’s name.
What does Pavitra Rishta charge?
Our packages are published openly on our packages page. All four are valid for 12 months, are priced plus 18% GST, and are non-refundable.
| Package | Fee (plus 18% GST) | Personal visit | Who can choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | ₹1,11,000 | No visit | Families in India |
| Premium | ₹2,21,000 | Saket Kejriwal visits the family | Families in India |
| Elite | ₹5,51,000 | Saket Kejriwal visits the family | Families in India and NRI families |
| Signature | ₹12,00,000 | Founder Sunil Kejriwal visits the family | Families in India and NRI families |
The packages are cumulative, so each one includes everything in the one before it. They differ in the reach of the search, the seniority of the matchmaker and personal visits. Signature is our highest tier, designed for India’s royal families. It adds NRI and international search, a personal matchmaker, concierge support and priority profile selection.
NRI families living outside India can choose only Elite or Signature. You can read more about how we work with families abroad on our NRI matrimony page.
What should you ask any bureau before paying?
Take these questions with you to the first meeting, and ask for the answers in writing where possible.
- Will I get a personal matchmaker, or access to a database of profiles?
- Who exactly will handle our file, and how many years have they been matchmaking?
- How do you choose which profiles to show us, and roughly how many will we see?
- Do you speak to the other family before sharing their profile with us?
- Will our details be shared with any family without our permission?
- Does anyone visit our home, and who?
- How long is the membership, and what happens when it ends?
- Is this a one-time fee, or is there a success fee at roka or engagement?
- Does the quoted price include GST?
- What is the refund policy, and where is it written?
- Will the invoice be in the company’s name, and will payment go only to the company’s bank account?
- Do you match kundli, and can we opt out if we don’t follow it?
A good bureau will answer all of these without hesitation. If the answers are vague, or you feel rushed to pay the same day, take your time.
How we handle this at Pavitra Rishta
Every package includes a dedicated Relationship Manager, and every proposal is kundli matched with the Guna Milan score and a Manglik check before it reaches you, unless your family opts out. You can read how the process runs from first meeting to decision on our how it works page. Because our fees are non-refundable, we prefer that families ask every question before they join.
If you would like to understand which package suits your son or daughter, call us on +91 93303 22220, Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm IST. You can also schedule a call, and we call back every enquiry within 24 hours.
Questions families ask
Why do marriage bureau fees vary so much in India?
Bureaus sell very different things under the same name. Some give you access to a list of profiles and leave the rest to you. Others assign an experienced matchmaker who searches for you, speaks to the other family first and arranges meetings. Personal time, the seniority of the person handling your file, the reach of the search and home visits all cost money, so the fee follows the level of service.
Is it worth paying more for a senior matchmaker?
It depends on how specific your requirements are. If the family has firm expectations about community, family business, city or kundli, a senior matchmaker usually knows more families and can judge fit faster. If your requirements are broad, a smaller package may be enough. Ask the bureau to name the person who will handle your file before you decide.
Can I get a refund if I do not find a match through a bureau?
That depends entirely on the bureau's written terms, so read them before you pay and never assume a refund is possible. At Pavitra Rishta our fees are non-refundable, which is why we explain every package clearly and encourage families to ask all their questions before they join.
Do NRI families pay a different fee at a marriage bureau?
Each bureau sets its own rules for families living abroad. At Pavitra Rishta, NRI families can choose the Elite package at ₹5,51,000 or the Signature package at ₹12,00,000, both plus 18% GST and valid for 12 months. Families living in India can choose any of our four packages.
What should I keep after paying a marriage bureau?
Keep the written agreement or terms, the invoice in the company's name, the payment receipt from the company's bank account, and the name and phone number of your matchmaker. Save the dates of the first meeting and when the membership ends. These papers make any later conversation about the service simple and clear for both sides.