Indian Wedding Catering: Planning Menus for Every Event
From a relaxed mehndi at home to a reception for hundreds, every event needs its own menu. How to plan them, and what to ask your caterer.
By Sharonelle, Founder & Events Director
· 3 min read
A menu for each event
Every family's celebration is different, but many follow a similar shape. Here's how menus typically differ between events:
| Event | Typical feel | Menu ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Mehndi | Relaxed, at home or a small venue | Chaat, street-food favourites, finger food guests can eat with henna drying, chai and sweets |
| Sangeet | A party, often with performances | Live stations, tandoori grills, fusion canapés, late-night bites |
| Ceremony day | Religious timings come first | A lighter meal around the ceremony, often vegetarian, served efficiently between rituals |
| Reception | The biggest event, often 200 to 400+ guests | Full feast: starters, curries, biryani, breads, desserts and mithai, or a plated fusion menu |
Planning several events at once? Our guide to planning a multi-day Indian wedding covers venues, suppliers and timings across the whole celebration.
Regional cuisines and family favourites
"Indian food" covers dozens of regional cuisines. Punjabi, Gujarati, South Indian, Goan and Bengali wedding menus look and taste completely different, and families often have dishes that simply must be there. Tell your caterer:
- Which regional cuisine, or cuisines, each family expects
- Any must-have dishes, and how your family makes them
- Whether the reception should be fully traditional, fusion, or a mix for guests from different backgrounds
- Who in the family should taste and approve the menu
Vegetarian, vegan, Jain and halal menus
Dietary needs at Indian weddings are often central to the menu, not an afterthought. Agree them early, because they shape everything else:
- Fully vegetarian menus are common, especially for ceremony days
- Jain menus usually exclude onion, garlic and root vegetables, and some guests may need them prepared separately
- Vegan guests need dairy-free versions of dishes that usually use ghee, paneer or cream
- Halal meat should come from certified suppliers; ask your caterer how they source it
- Allergies, especially nuts, which are common in sauces and sweets
Live stations
Live counters, such as chaat stations, dosa counters and tandoori grills, have become a highlight of many Indian weddings. Guests watch their food being made, choose what they like, and queues move quickly because every station serves at once.
They need space, power, ventilation and a chef at every station, so check what your venue allows and what your caterer needs. A fully staffed multi-station setup is a premium option. See wedding catering styles compared.
Guest numbers and quantities
- Confirm numbers separately for each event, because they often differ a lot
- Plan for generosity: running out of food at an Indian wedding is remembered for years
- Include family members helping behind the scenes, and suppliers working all day
- Agree when final numbers are due for each event, and how late changes are handled
Our food per guest guide has rules of thumb for canapés, meals and evening food.
Choosing an Indian wedding caterer
As well as the usual questions to ask any wedding caterer, ask Indian wedding caterers about:
- Their experience with your regional cuisine and with large guest lists
- Whether they can cater every event, including at home
- How they work around religious timings on the ceremony day
- Whether your venue allows them, and whether they've worked there
- Tastings: who can attend, and whether they're free, paid or deducted from the bill
We cater Indian weddings across London and the Home Counties, including in London, West London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
Questions answered
Should each Indian wedding event have a different menu?
Usually, yes. Mehndis suit relaxed street food, sangeets suit live stations and party food, and receptions need a full feast or plated menu, so separate menus keep each event feeling different.
What is a Jain menu?
Jain menus are vegetarian and usually exclude onion, garlic and root vegetables. Some guests also need their food prepared separately, so tell your caterer early.
How far ahead should we book an Indian wedding caterer?
Twelve months or more for popular summer dates, because experienced caterers who can handle large multi-day weddings book up early.