Digital Menu Pre-Selection for Indian Weddings: A Sustainable Approach to Minimizing Food Wastage and Economic Loss
Asmita Mallick
ABSTRACT
The well-known proverb “Waste not, want not” forms the very foundation of the idea behind this new concept. The “Big Fat Indian Wedding” is characterized by elaborate, multi-day feasts that currently contribute significantly to both national economic loss and environmental degradation. Approximately 10 million weddings are held annually in India, collectively generating approximately US $14 billion worth of food that ultimately goes to waste. At individual events, typically 10-20% of the banquet food served is left uneaten.
This paper proposes the implementation of a digital menu pre-selection (DMPS) system a socio-technical intervention that leverages established catering management software to replace generic guess buffers with precise, data-driven purchasing and preparation requirements. The conceptual model outlines a process workflow from mandatory e-RSVP to real-time catering data integration, which promises significant cost efficiencies for hosts and caterers, substantial reduction in methane emitted food waste, and increased ethical compliance by aligning consumption with social need.
However, the evaluation identifies giant obstacles, together with deep cultural resistance to the perceived ban, technical accessibility problems, the mission of accommodating sudden visitors, and the required want to conform with India's stringent Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA). The findings advocate phased, incentive-driven adoption, mediated with the aid of wedding ceremony planners, and suggest the integration of AI-pushed consumption forecasting to manipulate inherent logistical uncertainties, thereby positioning DMPS as a critical element of sustainable digital governance in the Indian occasion’s region.
