Planning the food and drinks for your wedding is about timing, logistics, and knowing your crowd. From destination menus that adapt to local weather to cocktail bars that double as entertainment, chefs and mixologists share what really works. The most important pro tip: don’t forget to eat your own dinner.
Advice for your wedding menu, as per India’s top chefs
Sage & Saffron
Sage & Saffron
Chef Manu Chandra, Founder, Single Thread Catering
- Avoid live counters that generate smoke.
- Oyster and champagne bars sound glamorous, but understand we’re not a country with a high-quality supply chain for the same.
- Focus on higher quality and lesser variety. Chances are the food will be more memorable than any of the optics.
Chef Ritu Dalmia, Founder & Partner, Riga Foods LLP
- Don’t forget your guests span generations, not everyone is experimental. Keep simpler options too.
- Avoid food that’s hard to eat while standing or needs heavy plates and cutlery.
- Don’t assume chafing dish-style buffets are your only option, there are better ways to serve.
Chef Shilarna Vaze, Chef & Co-founder, Gaia Gourmet
- Don’t place food too far from where people are partying, they may not even know it’s there.
- Always plan afterparty bites as guests will get hungry again.
- Eat at your own wedding!
What to serve at a destination wedding
DIVA Catering
DIVA Catering
Menus to match the mood, weather, and setting
Great wedding food isn’t just about flavour, it’s about timing, terrain, and how guests experience it. Destination wedding menus must adapt to the setting. “Lunches should be easy and fun. Dinners need to respect local produce,” says chef Ritu Dalmia of DIVA. Akshat Agarwal, business head at Sage & Saffron, echoes this, adding that local ingredients “cook and present better because they’re in sync with the region’s climate”.
The rise of flexible formats
Couples are looking for dining formats that showcase their personalities and tell a story. For Dalmia, the magic lies in immersive experiences. “If I can’t do it live and interactive, I’m not interested,” she says, recalling weddings where menus were inspired by Austro-Hungarian palaces in Budapest or train journeys in Florence. Meanwhile, Agarwal believes small plates and grazing tables strike the perfect balance, allowing guests to sample more without feeling overwhelmed, while live counters add flair.
Smart planning equals better food
Behind every memorable bite is months of thoughtful logistics—especially when it comes to destination weddings. “We set up full kitchens at venues even in Mumbai. A detailed recce is essential. We check for electricity, prep areas, water access, even plating zones,” says Agarwal. Dalmia, too, prioritises local synergy. “We always try to highlight what’s great locally.” And when it comes to the unpredictability of outdoor settings, chef Shilarna Vaze of Gaia Gourmet is clear. “Always have a solid Plan B.”
How to turn your wedding bar into a showstopper
Sachin Gowda, founder, Flairology
Monika Grabkowska/Unsplash
Put on a show
Live cocktail counters with flair bartending, fire shows, and interactive mixology stations turn bartenders into entertainers and a simple drink into a spectacle.
Make it personal
Craft “His & Her” cocktails or drinks inspired by shared memories like “The First Date Fizz” or “Proposal Sour.” Display the backstory on cocktail menus or table tents to make each pour feel intentional.
Keep it local
Let your location shine through the bar. Use ingredients that reflect the season or setting. Think mango-infused cocktails for summer or a tulsi-lavender cooler for a heritage hilltop affair.
Design with drama
Match the bar to your wedding’s vibe. Whether it’s boho beach, jungle glam, or royal palace, let it dazzle with floral installations, vintage carts, or LED-lit counters. A striking setup adds serious flair.
Go all-day, all-inclusive
Serve guests from sunrise to sundown. Think cold brews, fresh juices, and infused waters by day, followed by cocktails and artisanal mocktails at night, ensuring everyone finds their perfect pour, all day long.
English