Planning a Multi-Day Indian Wedding in Dubai: The Catering Brief

A multi-day Indian wedding is the most complex catering brief in Dubai hospitality. Four functions, three days, multiple dietary segments, and a host who is in no mood for a coordinator handoff.

The four functions

Mehendi

Daytime, garden-party energy, 80–300 guests. Live chaat counter, welcome sherbets, mithai grazing.

Sangeet

Evening, dancing energy, 150–500 guests. Multi-cuisine buffet, live tandoor + Indo-Chinese counters, late-night chaat refill.

Mandap & Vidaai

Ceremonial, sit-down or thali-station service. Jain & Swaminarayan stations as required.

Reception

The centerpiece. Premium multi-station banquet, 200–2,000 guests. Kathiyawadi thali station with live tawa, 2–3 additional live counters, mithai grazing table (8+ varieties).

Why hire one caterer for all functions

The most common mistake: different caterers for different functions to "save money". You don't. You spend the saving on coordination overhead and quality inconsistency.

One caterer means:

• Menu calendar continuity
• Single ops team
• Volume pricing
• One escalation path

Budget bands for Dubai Indian weddings (2026)

• AED 145–175 per head — Single function
• AED 195–245 per head — Multi-day wedding, 2-3 functions
• AED 245–325 per head — Luxury banquet (500+ guests, multi-station, custom build)

The pre-wedding tasting

Non-negotiable. Every serious wedding caterer offers a tasting at their kitchen for the couple + 4 family members. Plan 6-8 weeks before the event.

Day-of coordination

Your caterer's event manager should have:

• Direct relationship with your wedding planner
• Complete timing schedule for each function
• Backup plans for weather, vendor delays, headcount surprises
• Single mobile number you can call at any hour

The Tattvam wedding programme

Our wedding ops lead reviews every brief personally. Pre-event tastings at our Bur Dubai kitchen. Dedicated event manager from day one to vidaai.