Traditional Sweets Still Rules the Table at Indian Weddings: Scandalous Foods

At Indian weddings, where glittering outfits, floral extravagance, and sprawling menus reign supreme, dessert remains a deeply personal affair. And despite the growing presence of tiramisu, brownies and cheesecakes on modern-day buffet tables, a large number of guests are still reaching for the classics, the best, traditional Indian Sweets . According to a new survey by Scandalous Foods, 72 per cent of Indian wedding guests prefer traditional mithais over international desserts.

The report, compiled from real-time catering and wedding service insights, reveals that emotion and memory are the strongest flavours in Indian dessert culture. Jalebi with rabri topped the charts as the most revisited dessert, with over half of the guests going back for a second helping. Gulab jamun was another crowd favourite, while kulfi praised for its nostalgic pull proved equally popular across all age groups and even found fans before and after meals.

“Weddings in India are deeply emotional events, and dessert choices reflect that sentiment. People may admire a tiramisu, but they return—again and again—for jalebi with rabri or a kulfi that reminds them of childhood. At Scandalous Foods, we believe that tradition isn’t just surviving it’s thriving, and we’re here to reimagine it for the modern palate without losing its soul.” said Sanket S, Co-Founder, Scandalous Foods.

The study also challenges the idea that wedding food is more for Instagram than indulgence. When asked whether dessert choices are made for the camera or the palate, most respondents favoured taste and tradition. In fact, the spotlight at weddings, the report notes, tends to shine more on clothes than cuisine.

But the mithai game is not stuck in the past. Scandalous Foods points to a growing trend in bite-sized dessert shots and mithai sundaes served in glassware an attempt to blend aesthetic appeal with heritage, keeping mithai relevant in a modern setting.

As wedding menus continue to evolve, the message from this survey is clear: while presentation and novelty matter, nothing beats the comforting pull of a well-made gulab jamun or a rabri-drizzled jalebi. The Indian sweet tooth still beats for tradition.