Weddings have always been about love, family and culture, but one of the most important aspects of every wedding is its food. The landscape of wedding meals is changing as of 2025, with a focus on balancing all-time traditional flavours with current culinary innovations. Couples now want menus that not only celebrate their ancestry but also represent their personal experiences and global influences by…
Honouring Tradition with a Modern Touch: Traditional wedding menus continue to hold significant sentimental value, providing guests with a nostalgic taste of family recipes and cultural classics. Dishes like slow-cooked curries, rich gravies and heritage-based delicacies continue to be a staple in most celebrations. As Chef Siddharth Parab, Executive Chef at Arth Restaurant, Cupertino, California, points out, couples are introducing modern twists to these classics. “Traditional menus still hold a special place, with classic dishes like roast meats, rich gravies and regional specialties providing comfort and cultural connection. However, today’s couples are adding modern twists – think deconstructed desserts, globally inspired small plates and plant-based alternatives that cater to diverse dietary needs.”
This fusion of old and new is what distinguishes today’s wedding cuisine. A couple may choose a traditional butter chicken but combine it with artisanal sourdough instead of the usual naan to give guests an unexpected yet delightful experience.
Shifting Towards Personalization and Storytelling: Modern wedding menus are breaking away from the stereotype of simply tasting good. They are now a reflection of the couple’s journey. Whether it’s incorporating ingredients from their hometowns, featuring a dish from a memorable vacation or paying homage to a beloved family recipe, personalization is at the heart of contemporary wedding dining.
According to Anjali Tolani, Vice President -Weddings at Tamarind, “We often curate customized menus that represent the couple’s journey, like their favorite travel destinations or cherished family recipes. Even sustainability is taking center stage, with locally sourced ingredients and zero-waste catering gaining momentum.” This emphasis on personalization ensures that the menu isn’t just a meal but an experience in itself and allows guests to connect more intuitively with the couple’s story.
Finding a Fine Balance Between Generations: One of the challenging aspects of crafting awedding menutoday is catering to the varying tastes and preferences of not just different people but different generations! While Boomers and Gen X lean towards authenticity and tradition, Millennials value a mix of the two, a hybris of the two, combining nostalgia with new-age flavours. Gen Z, on the other hand, has an entirely different take, as they want their menus to be bold and experimental.
Anurag Huria from The Chaat Affair shares an interesting perspective: “Every family has a different taste palette and the key to curating a great Indian wedding menu is recording the minute details of every dish. It has to be a perfect blend of traditional and modern values and flavors. If Indian menus were considered as a single dish, then the backbone of every menu is traditional and authentic dishes served in creative ways keeping the essence and sanctity intact yet exciting.”
This balance guarantees that guests of all age groups find something they enjoy and relish, whether it’s a classic dal makhani or a modern rendition like truffle-infused kulchas.
Interactive and Experience-Driven Dining: Wedding meal service has also seen considerable changes over the years. Traditional plated meals are being replaced by experiential dining options. Live stations, gourmet taco bars, DIY pasta stations, and deconstructed desserts are becoming more popular. As Chef Siddharth Parab explains, “Interactive food stations, like live sushi rolls or gourmet taco bars, are replacing traditional plated courses, offering a dynamic dining experience.”
Even the beloved Indian chaat has had a makeover. Anurag Huria notes, “Chaat is the pulse of every event and how we serve it has completely changed over the last decade. Customized menus serve each event differently. A menu curated for a haldi function would be very different from a cocktail night or a grand wedding event.” This trend toward interactive and thematic food stations adds an engaging element to the wedding, resulting in an unforgettable dining experience.
Sustainability and Conscious Eating: Sustainability is now becoming a priority for couples who want their weddings to be mindful of environmental impact. Locally sourced ingredients, farm-to-table setups and waste-reduction approaches are influencing wedding catering choices today. Anjali Tolani highlights this shift: “Even sustainability is taking center stage, with locally sourced ingredients and zero-waste catering gaining momentum.”
This mindful practice reduces food waste and is minimized while encouraging seasonal and organic produce. Ethical sourcing, compostable serveware and vegan-friendly options are also some of the common requests in wedding catering.
The Future of Wedding Menus: The evolution of wedding menus in 2025 goes to show how deeply food is intertwined with personal stories, cultural heritage and emerging culinary trends. While traditional flavours continue to have a special place in our hearts, modern innovations add excitement and creativity to the table. It ensures that wedding food is more than just serving meals and it’s about curating an experience that connects with every guest.
As couples continue to seek meaningful ways to express themselves through their wedding menus, the industry welcomes this shift with open arms. From heirloom recipes to globally inspired creations, wedding dining is turning into an art form, one that perfectly showcases the past, present, and future of food.
Thumb and Embed Images Courtesy: istock
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with EID Wishes, Messages and quotes !
