Looking at a big long list of dishes can be mind-boggling but there are a few factors you can consider to help narrow it down.

Guests

If your event has 400 guests, it will be almost impossible to please every one of them with your menu! However, having a balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes is a good starting point. You can also ask your caterer what their most popular dishes are, as these are sure to go down well. If you know some of your guests have specific needs e.g. nut allergies, be sure to let your caterer know in advance so they come well prepared.

Budget

Some meals will simply be more expensive than others due to the ingredients used. Your caterer will be able to provide you with guidance on this, and can help you choose a menu that is within your budget. Ensure that if you are going for a more straightforward menu, the quality of food is not being compromised.

Meal options

It is up to you to determine how many courses you want in your meal. Once this has been decided, you can break it down to number of dishes e.g. two canapés, three starters, four main courses or four canapés, four starters and four main courses etc. The number of dishes you choose will of course affect the price, so ensure you’re realistic and stay within your budget.

Themes

In the event that you are having a themed Indian wedding, you may want to base your meal choices around this theme, which will help narrow things down. You may also want to have a look through the menus that are available from your caterer to see if they fit your theme.