The grand season of Indian weddings has hit a surprising snag — and this time it’s not about decor or venues but Donald Trump's tough visa rules! These new H1B and F1 visa checks have Telugu NRIs quietly dropping plans for big wedding parties back home. Instead, they are choosing small, simple ceremonies right in the US. The usual loud sangeet nights and colorful baraats are becoming rare, all because the fear of visa troubles is now bigger than ever. Remember the big Hyderabad weddings with hundreds of guests and days filled with rituals and dance rehearsals? Those days seem to be slipping away! Now, guest lists mainly include just the parents who already have valid visitor visas and only a few local friends. "Hyderabad was always the plan. But my employer strongly advised me against travelling now. So we had a simple ceremony here last month," said an H1B visa holder from Hyderabad living in Virginia. Only their parents, who had US visas, could attend. "Once there's more clarity, we'll host a reception in Hyderabad for the extended family," he added. Across the US, stories like this are common. In Portland, Oregon, a Telangana techie shared, "We got married on Oct 27 because staying here felt like the safer option. Travelling back to Hyderabad meant too many uncertainties." This quiet shift is becoming a loud trend among Telugu folks in the US, especially after Trump took charge again in January 2025 and introduced fresh visa rules. Telugu associations report that now, young couples don’t call about party venues or caterers — they ask about immigration rules instead! "Couples on F1 and H1B visas are approaching us and even law firms for guidance," said Vishweshwar Reddy Kalavala, founder of the Global Telangana Association. "If there's a way to avoid travelling to India, we advise it. The first thing we check is whether parents already have visitor visas. If yes, weddings are planned on weekends. If not, couples wait months for parents to get visas." Kalavala has seen this trend up close. "Since August, I have attended four Telugu weddings here in the US. I missed several others — all held here because of Trump administration policies," he revealed. While some couples adapt to quieter weddings abroad, others are stuck waiting. "We were supposed to get married last month, but my fiancé couldn't fly to Hyderabad because of the visa chaos," shared Shafa Nadeem, a techie from Hyderabad. "He's on an H1B and was warned that if he left, there was no guarantee he'd get stamping done or even be allowed back. Even though officials have tried clarifying, we're still anxious. We've postponed the wedding twice already. It feels like everything is on hold because of immigration rules." This wedding season, under the shadow of visa uncertainties, the big fat Indian wedding might have to settle down. For now, the celebrations remain small, sweet, and safely inside US borders.