Organisers said destination weddings can drain attendees, since ceremonies demand participation from morning until night — hence the need for IV lounges at weddings.
Published Nov 28, 2025 | 12:29 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 28, 2025 | 12:29 PM
IV drip in wedding.
Synopsis: Recently, a video of an IV station at an Indian destination wedding went viral. The organisers said guests were given liquids through IV drips to eliminate hangovers. Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad neurologist, questioned the medical justification. His analysis questioned whether healthy wedding guests require any intervention at all.
Women in silk lehengas recline on orange lounge chairs. Sunlight streams across the venue. Cannulas pierce their arms, connecting them to fluid bags suspended from portable stands. The setup resembles a cocktail station, except the drinks flow directly into veins.
The above video went viral across social media platforms, showcasing wedding guests receiving liquids through IV drips to eliminate hangovers. Text on the screen reads: “POV: You’re at an Indian destination wedding and they had an IV drip bar for hangovers,” with branding stamped at the bottom: “Powered by Skulpted.”
The women appear relaxed, seated under natural daylight amid wedding décor. Their traditional outfits pop with colour against the clinical equipment. What once required a hospital visit now happens at a wedding venue, wedged between the sangeet and the reception.
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Indian weddings stretch across days. Bodies drain through dance, drink and celebration that begins at dusk and bleeds into dawn. Now, medical equipment arrives alongside the open bar, needles positioned where guests once found only coconut water and lime juice.
After the video went viral, the internet erupted. Comments questioned why anyone would accept injections at a party. Critics demanded answers. Delhi-based Skin, Hair & Aesthetic Clinic Skulpted by Kan released a second video.
“So our wedding IV drip reel went viral, and apparently, the internet had a lot to say. And wait, my personal favourite was, you get a hangover, don’t drink at all. But bro, listen, Indian weddings are sober, half the Barathis would resign, and honestly, we are not here to comment on alcohol habits,” the video stated.
The explanation followed a standard medical logic. “Alcohol dehydrates. Electrolytes vanish. Blood vessels expand, delivering headaches, nausea and fatigue. The drips, they claimed, rehydrated people through electrolytes plus vitamin C. Glutathione entered the protocol “just for those people who had not consumed alcohol in the last 8 hours.”
Safety claims anchored their defence. “And for us, safety comes first, fun comes after, and yes, it is all medically supervised. We are a fully registered clinic with a health trade license. It was a fully doctor-led team with fresh, sterile, single-use needles,” the clinic stated in their response video.
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Kanika Durga co-founded Skulpted by Kan with Dr Reetu Durga. Their West Delhi clinic operates a multidisciplinary model, bringing dermatology, plastic surgery and cosmetology under one roof. Three senior doctors hold qualifications across MBBS, MD in Dermatology, MCh in Plastic Surgery and BDS with aesthetic training.
“IV therapy is already commonplace in clinics and at-home medical services across India (hydration, recovery, antioxidants under medical supervision). We saw a gap in the wedding ecosystem, where multi-day events, travel and late nights often leave guests exhausted,” Kanika told South First.
The concept emerged from observation. Destination weddings drain attendees. Travel disrupts sleep. Ceremonies demand participation from morning through night. The clinic introduced IV lounges for weddings last year.
“The idea was simple: Offer a small, optional, medically supervised IV lounge so people who wanted faster recovery could rehydrate and return to the ceremonies feeling better — without touching the rituals themselves,” Kanika explained to South First.
Eight events have received their services so far. The viral video triggered a surge. “Following the recent viral attention, we’ve been in conversations with more than 10 wedding planners/agencies in the past week; confirmations are in progress,” she added.
The base hangover drip contains electrolytes and vitamin C. Glutathione, an antioxidant, is offered selectively. “Glutathione (an antioxidant) is offered selectively after a doctor’s consultation and only when alcohol-free for 8–12 hours, because alcohol blunts its effectiveness. All dosing and rates are individualised by the attending doctor based on vitals and body weight,” said Kanika.
Protocol shapes every interaction. “Attendance is optional, and eligibility is screened (vitals, brief history, allergies/meds). A senior doctor is on-site at all times, while licensed nurses perform cannulation and monitoring. We obtain informed consent, use single-use sterile disposables, individualise dosing/rates by vitals and body weight, and operate the lounge away from rituals under clinical supervision,” said Kanika.
Pricing starts around ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 per person and adjusts according to volume. “Indian weddings have always blended tradition with thoughtful hospitality. Our role is clinical: help guests feel well enough to fully participate in the very traditions they came to celebrate. We welcome informed questions and are happy to share further clinical details with your readers,” said Kanika.
Dr Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad neurologist, questioned the medical justification. His analysis questioned whether healthy wedding guests require any intervention at all.
“First of all, these IV drips are being given to healthy people who are simply attending weddings or parties. They claim that a team will give you an isotonic electrolyte solution with vitamin C through an IV to reduce exhaustion and hangover. That is their marketing,” Dr Kumar told South First.
He identified what flows through the tubes. “What they are essentially giving is isotonic saline or Ringer’s lactate, which contains sodium, some electrolytes and water, along with added vitamin C. All the people receiving these drips appeared healthy, without any known diseases or medical indications,” Dr Kumar explained.
Medical guidelines offer no support for this practice. “There is no guideline anywhere in the world that recommends IV fluids for dehydration unless the person actually shows signs of dehydration. Dehydration has clear clinical signs. We examine the tongue — if it is dry, that suggests dehydration. We check blood pressure — if it has fallen, that is another sign. We check urine output and urine colour — very dark yellow urine suggests dehydration,” Dr Kumar stated.
Medical supervision does not eliminate danger. “Even if hygiene is maintained, inserting a needle can cause phlebitis — vein inflammation. There is also a risk of infection in crowded public settings. Even healthy people can get fluid overload if the amount is inappropriate. Not everyone knows whether their heart or kidneys are normal — many people have not had recent check-ups,” Dr Kumar explained.
Vitamin C, marketed as beneficial, delivers nothing to people without a deficiency. “There is no proven benefit of giving IV vitamin C to healthy people who do not have a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C does not boost immunity. Adding it to an IV drip does not add any benefit,” Dr Kumar stated clearly.
He noted additional concerns. “Vitamin C can worsen kidney stones and cause allergic reactions in some people,” Dr Kumar added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
