No matter how much interest there is in the wedding ceremony, everyone really looks forward to the food that will be served. Wedding food is always special since the occasion demands a lavish menu and rich, luxurious foods.

Most couples look for a wedding caterer outside of the venue. Though many venues come equipped with its own caterer, most people prefer using their own as it allows them much more variety and choice. Wedding spreads today are very grand – with several varieties of cuisine being woven in, and no two occasions serving the same type of food.

When looking for a wedding caterer, most opt for one single vendor to make all arrangements through the entire course of the wedding, including different occasions and venues such as the wedding, reception, sangeet and engagement. Working with one single caterer makes it easier to coordinate all arrangements, not to mention likely a better price. On the other hand, working with different caterers allows you the flexibility to offer guests many different types of food. This ensures that here is a different flavor profile for every meal and that the quality of the food is maintained at its highest level.

For those who are planning different menus and foods to be served at various functions, it is most important to keep in mind a few things. The first is the time of day. This will help you plan for the kind of food and the number of choices that should be made available for guests. For smaller functions that only last an hour or two or during odd times of the day, you may be able to serve appetizers and drinks, and avoid serving a meal altogether. Another option is to provide a simple spread that only contains one or two food choices.

The second consideration is to have a good balance between vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Several communities and lots of groups try and stick to vegetarian fares through all functions, or at least for the wedding. Depending on what you opt for, ensure that there is enough for all. Depending on your guests, you may want to have one station especially for jains, where the food is cooked without onions and garlic. Some even include options that are simple and suited for children.

During the course of your wedding planning, be sure to set up two to three meetings with the caterer. Spend some time deciding what is best for each occasion. Take into account seasonal foods and make them available. You may like to use them in the main course or dessert. Be attentive to the caterer and ask about their specialties. If it is possible, look to have a live counter during at least one of the celebrations, as many guests really enjoy the interactive experience.

When discussing wedding catering, dessert plays an important role. Many look forward to nothing but the dessert counter at all weddings. If you are keen on a particular caterer, but are not happy with the kind of dessert options that are available, look for a separate vendor. Ensure that you have a good mix of hot and cold desserts as well as a variety of Indian and western ones.

If your wedding is outdoors, ensure that the caterer knows well ahead of time so he can prepare his food and plan accordingly. The climate of the outdoors is very different from the dynamics of having to serve food indoors. It may also be a good idea to take the caterer to the locations beforehand, so they have a better idea of how they should go about planning as well as where they can set up their stations.

When choosing a wedding caterer, first look into their track record and reputation. Always choose someone who comes highly recommended, or someone whose food you have tasted and for whom you can vouch. The next most important thing to ensure is that the caterer and the venue provider meet at least once so they are completely in agreement with the demands of the occasion. The last thing you want is to have your caterer come to the venue with the food and then run into trouble with the venue management regarding serving. What is most important at your end is to have at least one food-tasting occasion. Especially for main events like the wedding and reception, be sure to taste every item on the menu before approving it.

Once you have everything in order, you can only hope that all goes well and the food turns out as planned. If you have a good caterer who is known for precision and high standards, you have little to worry about. When you have made certain that all the foods are good enough to serve to your guests, the wedding and its gastronomic delights are sure to overwhelm everyone in attendance.

Indian weddings are known all over the world for their elaborate customs, sacred rituals, and lavish feasts. The wide selection of cuisines, designer clothing, and glamorous jewelry are some of the most notable features in any Indian wedding. As most Indians believe weddings to be made in heaven, they make sure that the event appears divine. From designer mandaps to the entertainment of guests, no expense or reputation is spared.

Here’s a look at the 10 most lavish Indian weddings to date:

1. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia:
In June 2004 Lakshmi Mittal’s only daughter Vanisha Mittal tied the knot with London-based investment banker Amit Bhatia. This lavish wedding is estimated to cost $77 million. The 20 page hand-painted wedding invitation invited guests with hearty poems and was enclosed in a decorative silver box. Wedding festivities took place at the Palace of Versailles in France. Wines served in the celebrations were estimated to cost more than $1.5 million. The six-day event was held at the Jardin des Tuileres, Vaux Le Vicomte, George Cinq, Hotel Bristol and Hotel Cabaret. It was one fairy-tale wedding in France with fireworks shot over at Eiffel Tower.

2. Sushanto Roy and Richa Ahuja / Seemato Roy and Chandni Toor:
In the year 2004, Subrata Roy’s (Founder and Chairman of Sahara) sons Sushanto and Seemanto married in a double wedding, that roughly cost $100 million. The entire Sahara Township in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was transformed into fairy-tale. Pre-wedding festivities were held at the Roy’s residence, Swapna Kuti (the dream house), while the sangeet was held at Hotel Clarks Awadh. With over 11,000 guests in attendance from all corners of the world, the wedding ceremony took place at Sahara Auditorium. Legendary figures such as Amitabh Bachchan, Mulayam Singh, Kapil Dev, Anil Ambani, and Aishwariya Rai among others embraced the occasion with their presence, while Raj Kumar Santoshi captured the enter wedding through his camera’s lens. More than 110 cuisines were served, and entertainers were flown in from all over the world. The highlight of the wedding was the community wedding of 101 underprivileged women belonging to different communities. Food was distributed among those less fortunate.

3. Shristi Mittal and Gulraj Behl:
Recently, Laxmi Narayan Mittal’s niece Shristi Mittal, daughter of younger brother Pramod Mittal, married investment banker Gulraj Behl in Barcelona, Spain, spanning a three-day affair across various venues in the city. Michelin Chef Sergi Arola catered the $80 million wedding, and a team of 200 butlers and cooks was flown into Spain for the wedding.

4. Abhinav Jhunjhunwala and Prerna Sarda:
In January 2012, Amitabh Jhunjhunwala’s son Abhinav married Prerna Sarda in an elaborate wedding ceremony. Amitabh Jhunjhunwala is the Vice Chairman of Reliance Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group, while Prerna Sarda’s father Ghanshyam Sarda is a jute baron from Kolkata. Like many other lavish weddings, this was a star-studded affair.

5. Alkesh Tandon and Raakhe Kapoor:
Raakhe Kapoor, daughter of Rana Kapoor (CEO and Founder of YES Bank), married Dubai-based entrepreneur Alkesh Tandon. The grand wedding was held at The Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi. The wedding was undoubtedly an elaborate affair considering the fact that Alkesh Tandon is related to the London industrialist Laxmi Narayan Mittal. The engagement ceremony was held at ITC Maurya Sheraton, while celebrities like Salman Khurshid, P Chidambaram and Vinod Khanna were also spotted at the wedding.

6. Radhika Singhal and Saurabh Dhoot:
In 2010, Sanjay Singhal’s (Chairman of Bhushan Power and Steel) daughter Radhika Singhal married Saurabh Dhoot, son of Pradeep Dhoot (Chairman of Videocon Industries). Bollywood beauties like Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Malaika Arora Khan performed at the grand wedding.

7. Tanushree Dhoot and Vivek Biyani:
In 2011, the Dhoot family (father Pradeep is Chairman of Videocon) enjoyed another wedding – this time daughter Tanushree Dhoot married Kishore Biyani’s nephew Vivek Biyani. Leading Bollywood actors, political officials, and cricket stars were all spotted at the wedding.

8. Vineeta Agarwal and Muqit Teja:
Pramod Agarwal, a United Kingdom-based billionaire gave his daughter Vineeta and her groom Muqit a grand wedding in Venice, Italy. The wedding was strictly a private affair and only 800 people were invited to the wedding at San Clemente Palace Hotel, Italy. Pop Star Shakira performed on the second day of the wedding while director, Franco Dragone put up a special show of “Cirque du Soleil” for the elite audience.

9. Mallika Reddy and Siddharth Reddy:
Recently, GV Krishna Reddy’s granddaughter Mallika married Siddharth, the son of Indukuri Syam Prasad Reddy of Indu Group. This$160 million wedding was attended by celebrities Shahrukh Khan, Pooja Bedi, Priyanka Chopra, and the prestigious Bachchan family. The designer bridal attire and mandap decorations were tweeted about for weeks after the wedding.

Expensive high profile weddings are a means of showing social status and power. After all, if one earns the big bucks, what better place than to spend them than in a “Big Fat Wedding.”