A decade after Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson showed us all how it’s done, wedding crashing is now a bona fide leisure pursuit. Join My Wedding is an Australian start-up that lets soon-to-be-weds in India (and beyond) sell extra spots at their weddings to intrigued foreigners for up to $350.

Smartphone adoption in India is booming, with the market for apps in the country predicted to be worth nearly $4 billion in the next few years. For India’s women, it’s all about shopping apps, with their usage rising sharply in the past year. But what’s behind this shopping app upturn?

When it comes to splashing their cash, nothing does it for India’s Gen Y like fashion. The rise of global brands is fuelling fanaticism for labels like Zara and Forever 21. But what’s behind the spending spree – heady consumerism pure and simple, or a new brand of self-expression?

Weddings are a big business. In the US, couples spend half a year's income on their special day, while the UK industry is worth £10 billion a year. And for many women, it's all about the dress. But in response to couples tightening the purse strings, brands are appealing to brides on a budget.