Catering, Calculated: How Much Food You Actually Need for Your Shaadi

Let's get real—Indian weddings are less about "Will you marry me?" and more about "Kitna khaana banwaya hai?" In Delhi, particularly within the vibrant wedding scenes of South Delhi and Gurgaon, food isn't an accessory to the party—it is the party. And yet, one of the most common shaadi planning mistakes is over-ordering or underestimating how much grub to make.

If you’re tying the knot anytime soon, here’s a practical, no-nonsense guide to figuring out how much food your wedding truly needs—minus the guesswork and the guilt trips from mummyji.

The Golden Rule: It’s Not About Headcount, It’s About Appetite

Yes, your guest list is 300. But not all 300 guests will eat alike. Some will take dainty bits at the salad bar and some will station themselves at the kebab stand like they're at a music festival. To plan intelligently, break down guests:

Full-fledged foodies (about 60%) – They'll try everything.
Light eaters (25%) – Consider kids, seniors, or guests who had dinner at home.
Repeat offenders (15%) – The chaat counter will recognize them by name.

On average, estimate roughly 400-500 grams of food per guest (mains, sides, desserts). Multiply that by your confirmed number, and you have a reference point.

Starters: The Real Showstoppers

Let’s be honest. People remember the starters more than the shaadi vows. And in places like Gurgaon and South Delhi, where every second cousin is a self-declared food critic, your appetizers better deliver.

Plan for 4-6 pieces per person per starter type.

If you’re serving 4 kinds (say, tandoori aloo, chicken tikka, paneer tikka, and momos), that’s around 20-24 bites per person.

For 300 guests, you’re looking at roughly 6000-7200 pieces total.

And yes, always keep veg\non-veg ratio at 70:30 unless it’s a hardcore non-veg loving clan.

Main Course: Go Big, But Go Smart

This is where wastage sneaks in. The trick is not to go overboard on variety. Focus on 2-3 mains each for veg and non-veg, along with dal, rice, roti, and a couple of sabzis.

Paneer + Dal + Sabzi + Rice + Roti can cover most vegetarian guests.

Chicken/Mutton + Dal + Rice takes care of non-veg lovers.

Pro tip: Don’t serve more than 2 types of breads—naan and tandoori roti usually do the job.

You’ll need around 200-250g per guest for mains, so for 300 guests, stock up about 75 kg of total main course food.

Desserts: Sweet Enough, Not Sticky Messy

Yes, the rasmalai is Instagrammable. But over-ordering sweets results in sugar crashes and waste. Guests just take a bite or two and leave the rest behind.

Restrict yourself to 2-3 desserts: one Indian, one Western, and one frozen or interactive like kulfi or live jalebi.

Budget for 1 portion per guest per dessert.

For 300 guests, don't order more than 300 portions of each dessert.

Beverages: Hydration Without Hysteria

August marriages in Delhi NCR are a hot affair. Guests consume more fluids than they have starters.

Execute 2 glasses of welcome drinks per guest.

For dinner's mocktails and soft drinks, budget for 1.5-2 drinks per guest.

For 300 guests: 600 welcome drinks + 450-600 soft drinks.

Last Tips from a Caterer Who's Been Around the Block

Always leave 10% buffer. Unexpected guests are a shaadi tradition.
Request portion-wise breakups from your wedding caterer. Don't use "10 kg of rice" in a vacuum—ask how many people that feeds.
Get your RSVP guest list correct. A headcount confirmed saves money and food.

Shaadi Mein Khaana, But Calculated

Whether your wedding is in the midst of South Delhi or the lavish spaces of Gurgaon, smart catering is the actual flex. It makes guests happy, keeps the budget sane, and wastage at a minimum. And let's be realistic—if the food is perfect, no one will notice if varmala was 15 minutes behind time.

Now go ahead, plan like a pro. And yes, keep the extra plate of chaat handy for the cousin who comes in hungry after the bidaai.

Looking for a good caterer? Get in touch with us at (+91) 9319609444, drop us an email at sales@getyourmenu.in, or check out our website at www.getyourmenu.in.