What an Indian wedding menu usually includes
Food is a central part of an Indian wedding. A typical buffet or plated meal includes starters, a few vegetarian main dishes, often some non-vegetarian ones, rice or biryani, breads, accompaniments and a generous dessert table. Menus vary widely with the region, the community, the family’s dietary practices and the budget, so there is no single standard list.
This list gives the dishes most often seen, and how caterers and families tend to organise them. For the ritual side and regional Hindu customs, see our companion article on food at Hindu weddings.
Starters and snacks
- Paneer tikka: Marinated paneer grilled in a tandoor or oven.
- Hara bhara kebab: Spinach and pea patties.
- Samosas and pakoras: Fried favourites served with chutneys.
- Tandoori chicken, chicken tikka and seekh kebab: Common non-vegetarian starters.
- Fish tikka or prawn dishes: Popular in some regions, though caterers usually flag shellfish for allergies.
- Soup: Pea and mint, tomato or sweet corn soup sometimes opens a seated meal.
Chaat and live counters
Chaat stations are very popular. Typical options include papdi chaat, pani puri, dahi bhalla, aloo tikki and bhel puri. Other live counters might serve dosa, chaat, fresh jalebi, kulfi or hot tea and coffee. Cooking in front of guests keeps the food fresh and adds interest.
Vegetarian mains
- Dal makhani: Black lentils simmered slowly with butter and cream.
- Yellow dal (dal tadka): A lighter lentil dish that balances richer ones.
- Paneer dishes: Shahi paneer, paneer butter masala, kadhai paneer or palak paneer.
- A potato dish: Jeera aloo, dum aloo or aloo gobi.
- A mixed vegetable or seasonal dish: Often with peas, beans or cauliflower.
- Regional specials: Litti chokha from Bihar and Jharkhand, undhiyu in Gujarat, or gatte ki sabzi in Rajasthan.
Non-vegetarian mains
Where non-vegetarian food is served, common choices include butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, lamb curry or rogan josh, and fish or prawn curries in coastal regions. Many weddings are fully vegetarian by family preference or community custom, such as in many Jain, Vaishnav and Gujarati families. Others offer both and keep the two sections clearly separate.
Rice, biryani and breads
- Jeera rice or vegetable pulao for everyday balance.
- Biryani: Vegetable, chicken or lamb, often with raita.
- Naan, tandoori roti, butter roti and kulcha.
- Puri or paratha for breakfast and lunch events.
Sides and accompaniments
Raita, mixed salad, pickles, papad and chutneys are standard (our guide to Indian side dishes explained covers what each one does on the plate). A good accompaniment table lets guests adjust spice and freshness to their own preference.
Desserts and drinks
- Gulab jamun and jalebi, often served warm.
- Rasmalai, kheer, phirni and gajar halwa, depending on the season.
- Kulfi, ice cream and faluda.
- Paan counters and sweets boxes for guests to take home.
- Drinks: Lassi, chaas, jaljeera, masala chai, and mocktails. Whether alcohol is served depends on the family and community.
Many couples also include fusion extras such as gelato, a coconut water bar or a waffle station. The advice from experienced wedding caterers is to still include the staple Indian dishes, since guests often look for familiar flavours. For how another culture feeds wedding guests, see our guide to Jamaican wedding food.
Menus by event
Indian weddings often involve several events, and each one tends to have a different tone.
| Event | Typical food style |
|---|---|
| Mehendi | Lighter, casual: chaat, snacks, tea, small plates, lunch-style thali |
| Haldi | Simple breakfast or brunch; fruit, puri, sweets |
| Sangeet | Party food: starters, live counters, drinks and a full dinner buffet |
| Wedding ceremony lunch | Often vegetarian and traditional, sometimes served on a thali |
| Reception | The most elaborate: multi-course buffet with starters, mains and desserts |
A useful trick is to not repeat the same dal or curry at every event. Use one lentil dish at the mehendi, another at the sangeet and so on, so guests who attend all events see variety.
Regional variations
- Punjabi weddings: Rich tandoori dishes, dal makhani, butter-based gravies, lassi and lots of bread.
- Gujarati weddings: Vegetarian thali-style meals, dhokla, farsan, undhiyu and sweets like jalebi or shrikhand.
- Bengali weddings: Fish dishes, luchi, mishti doi and sweets such as rasgulla and sandesh.
- South Indian weddings: A banana-leaf sadya, with rice, sambar, rasam, curd and payasam; see more at Hindu wedding food.
- Muslim weddings: Biryani, qorma and sheer khurma or similar desserts are often central.
- Rajasthani weddings: Dal baati churma, gatte ki sabzi and ghewar are widely associated with Rajasthan.
Planning tips
- Avoid overlap. Two similar curries with the same rice will feel repetitive. Choose a variety of colours, textures and sauces.
- Ask about dietary needs. Offer clearly labelled vegetarian, vegan and allergen information. Jain guests, for example, may avoid root vegetables, onion and garlic.
- Keep non-veg and veg separate where families prefer it.
- Be careful with quantities. Caterers often suggest generous amounts, and food waste at large weddings is a recognised problem. Ask the caterer for per-person estimates and what they recommend, then compare.
- Include something for children and for guests who prefer milder food.
Common questions
What food is typically served at an Indian wedding? Starters like paneer tikka and chaat, dal and paneer dishes, sometimes chicken or lamb, rice or biryani, breads and several desserts.
What is the cheapest way to feed 100 people at a wedding? This depends on location and caterer, so I cannot give a reliable figure. In general, fewer dishes, a vegetarian menu, seasonal ingredients, lunch rather than dinner, and a buffet rather than plated service tend to lower costs. Get quotes from several caterers.
What are the top 5 Indian dishes? Opinions differ. Frequently named examples are biryani, butter chicken, dal makhani, paneer tikka and samosas.
What is customary to give at an Indian wedding? Customs vary by community. Cash gifts in envelopes, often with an amount ending in a 1, are common in many families, but it is best to ask someone close to the couple.