LPG crisis: Delhi wedding planners warn catering costs may rise 10-20 per cent

Delhi-NCR’s renowned wedding feasts, characterised by giant cauldrons of biryani and endless live cooking stations, depend heavily on a consistent supply of LPG cylinders. However, supply disruptions have raised concerns among wedding planners and caterers.

Planners and caterers warn that ongoing supply disruptions and rising prices of commercial LPG cylinders might lead to an increase in wedding catering costs by approximately 10 to 20 per cent if the situation persists.

This warning comes as restaurants and commercial kitchens in various parts of the city report irregular LPG supplies, prompting vendors who organise large wedding events to monitor the situation closely ahead of upcoming ceremonies.

Mohsin Khan, a planner with Vivah Luxury Weddings, stated that large wedding events heavily rely on commercial LPG cylinders, and the current supply situation is already causing anxiety among vendors.

“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 has also advised couples to secure caterers before the situation escalates. “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.

With the widening West Asia conflict disrupting energy supplies, the government has revised the priority order for allocating domestically produced natural gas, placing LPG production alongside CNG and piped cooking gas at the top.

Under the revised allocation, the requirements of these sectors will be fully met first before gas is supplied to other sectors, according to a gazette notification. Sangeeta, a wedding planner based in South Delhi, highlighted that catering costs could increase significantly if the situation does not improve. “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.

Adding that there has been no major increase yet, she shared, “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.”

Another wedding planner from northwest Delhi noted that outdoor weddings could face a greater impact because caterers rely almost entirely on LPG cylinders. “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.