Delhi wedding planners warn catering costs may rise 10-20% amid LPG concerns

Representtaive image

• LPG supply issues may raise wedding catering costs in Delhi-NCR.
• Caterers predict simpler menus, fewer live stations, and price rises.
• Outdoor weddings face greater risk due to heavy LPG dependence.

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Wedding planners and caterers in New Delhi say disruptions in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders could push up catering costs for weddings across Delhi-NCR if the situation continues.

Large wedding celebrations in the region are known for elaborate menus, live cooking stations and bulk food preparation, all of which depend heavily on a steady supply of LPG cylinders. Industry professionals say irregular deliveries and rising prices of commercial cylinders have begun to cause concern among vendors preparing for upcoming wedding events.

Restaurants and commercial kitchens in several parts of the city have reported uneven LPG supplies, prompting planners and caterers to closely track the situation as the wedding season approaches.

Mohsin Khan of Vivah Luxury Weddings said large events rely heavily on commercial cylinders to manage extensive cooking requirements.

"Caterers for weddings and large events need substantial commercial cylinders for bulk cooking and live stations. Many vendors report that their stock lasts only two to four days, so we are already witnessing discussions about simpler menus, fewer live cooking options, and price hikes of around 10 to 15 per cent being passed on to clients," he explained.

Khan said planners are already advising couples to finalise vendors early to avoid potential disruptions.

"Some teams are bulk-preparing off-site or suggesting smaller guest lists. I recommend that couples lock in caterers early and have backup plans," he added.

The concerns come as the government recently revised the priority order for allocating domestically produced natural gas amid disruptions linked to the widening West Asia conflict. Under the revised order, LPG production, CNG and piped cooking gas will receive priority allocation before gas is supplied to other sectors.

Sangeeta, a wedding planner based in South Delhi, said the situation could eventually affect overall wedding budgets if fuel costs remain high.

"If the issue persists in the coming days, we could see a rise of around 10 to 20 per cent in catering costs," she said.

She added that the catering component forms a significant portion of wedding expenses.

"The catering portion is a major part of the overall wedding budget, so if catering prices increase, it will directly affect the final cost for clients," she shared.

Another planner from northwest Delhi said outdoor wedding functions could face greater challenges because caterers in such settings depend almost entirely on LPG cylinders for cooking and keeping food warm.

"If the function is in a hotel or resort, they usually have pipeline gas and may not face much difficulty. But in outdoor weddings, caterers rely heavily on LPG cylinders," he said.

He also pointed to the operational demands during large events.

"Food must be kept warm for two to three hours while guests are served, requiring continuous gas use. If the shortage continues, catering prices will inevitably increase, and clients may have to pay thousands of rupees more."

Planners say caterers may also adjust the way food is prepared and served if the situation worsens.

"Caterers may choose to reduce the number of live cooking stations to avoid significant gas consumption," Sangeeta noted.

Caterers themselves say rising LPG prices are already a concern. Rajesh, who runs the Dwarka-based catering firm Get Your Menu, said the cost of commercial cylinders has increased sharply.

"Previously, we paid about ₹1,700 to ₹1,800 for commercial cylinders, but some industry colleagues have reported prices soaring to around ₹3,000," he said.

Rajesh added that catering packages may become costlier if prices remain elevated.

He said catering charges could increase by at least 10 per cent depending on the number of dishes and the package selected by clients.

Vitnesh Gaur of Wedding Decor by Gaur in South Delhi said any rise in fuel costs could be reflected in per plate catering rates.

"If a plate currently costs around ₹2,000, it could go up to around ₹2,500 if gas prices rise because LPG and fuel costs play a major role in catering operations," he said.

He also illustrated how overall event budgets might be affected.

"If we cater for around 100 guests and currently charge between ₹1 to ₹2 lakh, the total cost could increase to around ₹2.5 to ₹3 lakh depending on the chosen package," Gaur said, adding that his team has not faced immediate supply issues yet.

Himanshu Mittal of Foxnut Catering in Chhatarpur said the impact may initially remain moderate.

"There is a possibility that plate prices could increase by around five per cent if the situation continues," he said, adding that LPG is one of several operational costs for caterers and that the company has not yet faced supply disruptions.

(With PTI inputs)