How to make sure the food at an Indian wedding is gorgeous—both in taste and looks

When my eldest sister got married, I was too young to process the spectacle of the Indian wedding. Now that I look back on it, I realise there were the usual characters: an aunt distressed about not being given preferential treatment, my grandparents being nostalgic about how weddings were done during their time and my brother’s battle with the decorators over some mismatched flowers. Unless you’re in the trenches of wedding planning , all you look forward to is the meal you’ll be served.

Everything else—the wardrobe, the venue, the decor, the hospitality, the music—might be perfect, but if it’s not accompanied by a decadent feast, that’s all the guests will remember and talk about. We eat with our eyes too, so modern wedding tables must also be Instagram-perfect, replete with ornamental votives, exotic flowers that complement the food on the colour wheel, a paint-splattered vase here, a theatrical centrepiece there. We invited Aditi Dugar of Masque and Sage & Saffron to design a ceremonial tablescape for Vogue India and contemporise classic wedding fare for a refined palate.



Rajasthan ’s famous pyaaz kachori was injected with Brie cheese as a surprise accompaniment to the onions; the iconic Bengali sandesh was upgraded with ras malai, jaggery and fresh gum for an additional crunch; Maharashtra’s alani rice was cooked risotto-style with asparagus. It’s the kind of spread that would have successfully distracted annoyed aunts and agitated grandparents at my sister’s wedding, although I’m sure they would have still assessed the lal maas with a fine-toothed comb. Tips to ensure your food looks as good as it tastes: 1.

Select the right caterer 2. Menu planning 3. Presentation 4.

Professional service 5. Coordination with other vendors This story appears in Vogue India’s November-December 2024 issue, now on stands. Subscribe here Also read: I’m tired of pretending that I’m at an Indian wedding for anything other than the food 4 celebrity wedding specialists tell you how to manifest the wedding of your dreams Sorry lovers, public proposals are officially cringe.