Joe Differentiators
Indian weddings are a fun extravagant affair – filled with colors and lavish decor; they stretch for nearly three days with every meal a gourmet treat. Jam-packed with close relatives, the distant cousins and acquaintances you have never even met – Indian weddings are a celebration of love, joy, and family.
No wonder it has earned the nickname of "the big fat Indian wedding" – there’s no escaping the dreaded Indian wedding budget. Worry not, we are the best Wedding caterers in Gurgaon who can help you to organize a fabulous Indian wedding ceremony without emptying your life savings.
It’s NOT a Competition
With the Coronavirus induced lockdowns and recession, it’s a prudent choice to skip elaborate affairs and keep the ceremony simple, but meaningful and memorable. Wedding analysts believe that several factors have contributed to the rising wedding costs over the years. Couples opt for extras like – pre and post bridal wedding shoots, destination weddings, designer bridal wear, expensive return favors, bridal showers, stag parties, and more.
Today, it’s all about the "Wow Factor" Couples and their families compete with relatives to see who hosts the most extravagant and luxurious ceremony. As a result, families take huge loans or empty their life savings to cover the costs of the wedding.
The truth is that planning a perfect wedding is possible, even when you’re on a budget. Your special day can be perfect without draining your finances. Traditionally, Indian weddings are about the coming together of two families and blessing the couple with love and joy. This is all it should be – and not about showing off how much money you have.
The first step is to draw up the budget for your big day. Break down all the costs – events, catering, venue, apparel, jewelry, decorators, beauticians, and more. Create a spreadsheet to give you a clear picture of where the money is going into. This helps you identify areas where you can cut costs.
Wedding party catering menu on a Budget
You can be sure that what most of your guests will remember about the wedding is the food. Yes, the guests remember other details like the décor, the trousseau of the bride, but its food that is the center point of discussion.
If you serve a lip-smacking meal, then you can be sure that guests will sing your praises and reminisce about the meal for months to come. On the other hand, if the meal is terrible, then you can be sure you will be hearing of it for a long time.
Wedding caterers in Gurgaon doesn’t come cheap. But, that doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget. There is a massive misconception that the more expensive the caterer, the better is the quality of the food served. At Captain Joe, we aim to break this myth. We swear by the following three mantras when it comes to Indian wedding catering menus:
- Good food doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
- Creativity is key – it’s all about the ingredients, recipe and flavours.
- Presentation is as important as what you’re serving.
Read on to find some smart tips for planning the menu for your big day, without breaking your budget.
Wedding Food Menu Planning Tips that are Pocket-friendly
The catering bill is a significant chunk of your wedding expenses. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here, we share some smart tips on how you can cut down the catering costs for your big day without compromising on the quality of food you serve your guests.
1. Reduce the Number of Courses/Cuisines Served
You can serve multiple dishes in each course but cut back on the number of courses served. For instance, by serving guests with several wholesome appetizers instead of small bites, you can avoid spending more on the main courses. Alternatively, you can skip soups and salads and get down directly to the mains.
Instead of serving multiple cuisines – North Indian, South Indian, Gujarati, Chinese, and Continental – focus on just one cuisine. Serve a delicious menu having plenty of choices and several tasty dishes.
2. You don’t have to go overboard with the Desserts
Yes, you may have a sweet tooth, and a meal for you may feel incomplete with a sweet ending. But, that doesn’t mean you have to serve dozens of desserts from across the world. Again, remember that quality always triumphs over quantity.
Your guests will be pretty full by the time they finish their mains. So, they probably won’t have the tummy space to try out all the desserts you serve.
Just serve a couple of bite-sized desserts if you want to cut down costs as well as avoid food wastage. Alternatively, you can have a dessert counter, where guests get to choose what they want, without wasting anything.
3. Swap Expensive Ingredients with Local, Fresh Produce
We all know that serving exotic ingredients sourced from other countries and states can easily add to the overall budget. For instance, instead of serving crab, lobster, shrimp, and other exotic seafood, you can replace it with affordable local fish. So, look around, work with your Wedding caterers in Gurgaon to swap expensive ingredients with pocket-friendly alternatives.
By opting for locally available ingredients, you not only cut down on your budget but also increase the flavor and taste. Seasonal and local food can transform even a simple dish into another level bursting with flavors. Remember, you aren’t competing on Master Chef. And, even the simplest ingredients prepared well can elevate the whole menu.
4. Go in for Live Counters
One of the biggest reasons why the wedding party catering menu budgets go overboard is due to food wastage. People order for a large number of guests, but realize that only a fraction of the expected guests arrives on the big day.
Live counters can help you cut down the budget, as the food is prepared fresh for each guest, avoiding wastage. They are a great way to cut down food wastage and reduce the overall budget. You can experiment with several live counters like – a dosa corner, a pizza/pasta station, a coffee corner, and more.
5. Serve Filling Foods
Food like:
- Potatoes
- Flatbreads like naan, roti, kulcha, parotta
- Pasta
- Rice varieties
- Protein like chicken, mutton
Can satiate the hunger of your guests, while helping you stay within your budget. This brings us to the next point.
6. Say No to the Fancy Stuff
You may have spent hours drooling over pretty food on Pinterest. Fancy cheese boards, petit fours, lobster grills, mocktails served in fancy glasses, and more. If you’re sticking to a budget, then you need to say a firm NO to the fancy stuff.
Remember that neither you nor your guests need fancy and opulent dishes to enjoy the day. Instead of spending a fortune on fancy dishes, serve wholesome and satisfying dishes that your guests will relish and enjoy.
7. Go for a Simple Wedding Cake
Did you know that wedding cakes can cost a bomb? Unless you have always dreamt of a massive 10-tier wedding cake, you can cut down costs here. We suggest that you work with a wedding cake decorator in your town or locality and get them to serve a cake large enough for all guests to have a slice of. It can be a simple 2 or 3-tier design. For instance, if you’re looking to serve 200 guests, then a 3-5 kg cake will be sufficient. Alternatively, you can also serve cupcakes as they are easy to serve and budget-friendly.
8. Limit the Booze
Most of your guests (especially the younger crowd) look forward to the wedding bar. But, that doesn’t mean you have to serve a full bar. Instead, limit it to just the favorites, and you can keep most of your guests happy.
What to serve: One type of wine or any other hard liquor. One or two varieties of beers, along with a couple of soft drinks. Make sure to include some non-alcoholic juices or beverages for kids and teetotallers.
Decide your Budget and Share it with your Caterers
Today, most caterers are flexible and accommodating. So, start by deciding your catering budget. For this, you need to have a clear idea of the number of guests who will be attending the event, the events you are hosting, and the meals you plan to serve. Once you have a number in mind, work with your caterer to create a menu that fits the costs.
At Captain Joe, we pride ourselves on being the most flexible and budget-conscious wedding caterers in Gurgaon. We believe that our menu should fit your budget, theme, and preference and not the other way around. This is why we don’t offer pre-fixed menus to our clients. Instead, we give our clients a menu suggestion list. Everything on the list is customizable, and you can pick and choose whatever you need.
Desire something that is not on our list? No probs, just let us know, and our team will ensure that your big day is just like what you have dreamed. Give us a ring, and allow us to begin discussing budget-friendly menu options for your wedding in 2020.
