The evolution from chaat counters to culinary showstoppers
BY RUPALI DEAN
Indian weddings are more than just grand celebrations—they are sensory feasts, and nowhere is this more evident than in the food. Food is a core memory-maker of the Big Fat Indian Wedding (BFIW), serving as the glue that binds rituals, raucous baraat dancing, and heart-warming family moments together.. Couples today want their wedding menu to be an extension of their personalities—fresh, unexpected, and unforgettable. With traditional staples getting bold upgrades and international cuisines moving CenterStage, the wedding plate is having its own glow-up moment. Let’s dive into the hottest trends, redefining India’s wedding banquet scene.
Customised Cocktails and Caffeine Lounges
Gone are the days of cookie-cutter mojitos and whiskey-on-the-rocks. Today, couples are curating cocktail menus inspired by ‘their’ love story. Enter creative cocktails with quirky names, ingredients inspired by their meet-cute (think hibiscus from their first vacation or elderflower from their engagement party), and bespoke presentations—from cocktails smoked theatrically to those served with edible floral garnishes. And if alcohol isn’t your thing (or if your guest list spans teetotaling family members), chai and coffee stations are an equally robust crowd-pleaser. Think spiced Darjeeling chais, frothy saffron lattes, or cold brews infused with locally sourced herbs. Tea bars with selections from Assam to Munnar, or espresso martini-style live coffee counters, make wonderful conversation starters.
Comfort Foods, Glammed Up
Nostalgia never fails, especially when served bite-sized and fancy. Imagine the humble golgappa, but played up to wedding royalty with fiery vodka-infused tamarind water; or the much-loved idli, now skewered into lollipop-sized bites accompanied by a trio of artfully crafted chutneys. High-profile weddings (like Radhika Merchant and Anand Ambani’s functions) are leaning towards comfort-food classics, just reimagined for Instagram-worthy bites. Guests enjoy grabbing these vibrant, flavour-packed mini plates as they sip their cocktails and mingle, making the food an experience in itself, not just a backdrop.
Bowls Over Buffets
The buffet line has stiff competition, with soaring requests for ‘bowl foods.’ Bowls strike the perfect balance between portion size, practicality, and flair, offering guests a savvier dining option during main courses. No fiddling with cumbersome plates or juggling (read: spilling) gravies while you work the dance floor; bowl foods fit perfectly in one hand while the other clutches your drink. Couples have embraced everything from Korean bibimbap and Thai curry bowls to Indian Kadhi chawal bowls served with a dollop of truffle butter. Bowl foods combine convenience with creativity and are especially great for events like sangeets or receptions.
Locally Sourced Luxe
Minimalism is having its moment, and wedding menus are no exception. Guests are increasingly interested in sustainability and farm-to-table dining. Seasonal, locally sourced ingredients are taking the spotlight, and live counters showcasing their freshness are a major hit. Expect live seafood grills, seasonal veggie roasts that celebrate India’s monsoon bounty, or tandoori stations featuring lesser-known regional favourites People are deliberately choosing regional specialties, be it freshly shucked oysters from the Konkan coast or Himachali trout cooked live. It’s less about extravagance and more about harnessing bold, natural flavours.
Multinational Menu Mashups
Move over, vanilla fusion food—the modern wedding menu embraces a more eclectic series of world cuisines. Sure, there’s a love affair with Italian classics and Chinese mainstays, but couples today bring in the unexpected. Think a Korean barbecue setup, a lavish mezze platter straight out of a Tel Aviv dining dream, or taco bars that bring a touch of Mexico to Indian soil.
Indian food, too, is defying traditional boundaries. A kulcha bar with black truffle and burrata kulchas? Yes, please. A chaat counter with an artisanal twist? Absolutely. There is so much you can do with panna cotta infused with Indian rasmalai flavours or mishti doi cheesecakes.
Celebrity Chefs and Culinary Statements
If weddings were rock concerts, the chefs would be the electric guitarists playing solos that sweep the crowd off their feet—only, they’re hidden backstage, crafting edible magic that turns every bite into a memory. The culinary world’s A-listers are finally stepping into the limelight, and oh, how deliciously overdue this spotlight is! If budget permits, today’s weddings are also vying for star power. Internationally celebrated chefs or India’s finest culinary masterminds are being flown in to curate show-stopping meals that lend an element of exclusivity. It’s not just about eating anymore; it’s about the story behind the plate. Whether it’s a two-star Michelin chef crafting hors d’oeuvres or showcasing India’s own heritage restaurants helming live food counters, the personalized touch speaks volumes. Think Parisian pastry chefs prepping delicate soufflés for post-vow bites or Japanese sushi masters carving out nigiri so pristine it could rival a bride’s veil.
The Rise of the Minimalist Wedding Cake
Let’s face it—wedding cakes used to have the subtlety of a fireworks display. Tier after tier was dressed up in fondant layers so thick you could mistake them for an awkwardly glamorous hat parade. French roses sprawled across frosting like dramatic actresses clamouring for attention, and the colours? Sometimes they looked like an unexpected guest crashed the pastel party and brought neon as their plus-one. Today’s wedding cakes are whispering, not shouting—and they’re far more charming for it. Rustic cakes with buttercream swirls and fresh florals are stepping forward like ethereal daydreams. Minimalist cakes have heart, and they’ve got taste to match. Suddenly, wedding desserts are taking a quieter stand with textures so light they feel like clouds, and flavours so balanced they could serenade your taste buds. They offer the perfect finale to that once-in-a-lifetime feast, a sleek, sophisticated ‘happily ever after’ in the world of wedding pastries.
2025’s wedding menu is all about personality and staying bolder, fresher, and more elevated than ever. Forget heart-shaped ice sculptures, let quirky cocktails, glam comfort food, ingredient-driven dishes, and global plate-hopping steal the show. Bon appétit… or shall we say, ‘shubh bhojan’!
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