08 Nov 2026 read
Wedding planner Gurleen Puri explains how to use the right place settings and food combinations to create a gastronomically interesting festive grazing table
Picture this — Diwali is inching closer with full speed, you’ve put on your chef’s hat to either make or curate a beautiful hosting menu with karanjis, laddoos, namak para, mathri, fresh fruits and indulgent brownies and cakes. But how to display your spread? Pass arounds are a bit passé and a buffet feels too wedding-esqe. But what neatly fits in the middle is a stunning, indulgent grazing table where the savouries sit alongside sweets, mithaai is paired with freshly baked croissants and serve ware is spread across silver, brass and terracotta.
If you're hosting a Diwali gathering this year and looking to take your hosting game up a notch, an elaborate grazing table might just be what you need. The perfect way to bring decor and food together, it takes care of two party essentials at once. We spoke to wedding planner and grazing table ninja Gurleen Puri for her tips and tricks on creating the perfect festive grazing table. “For me, a beautiful grazing table is about abundance, warmth and a sense of discovery. It should feel like a celebration, not a perfectly arranged buffet,” she says.
Mix your metals
Mixing metals doesn’t have to be restricted to jewellery; you can play with them on your grazing table as well, creating a mix of rustic and refined. Set up some old silver, brass or copper serveware alongside terracotta, earthy pottery and exquisite porcelain to create a visually diverse setup.
“Layering different materials creates depth, so I also like incorporating small Indian sculptures, vintage objects and beautiful lamps. A large wooden platter next to an ornate silver bowl, or a rustic clay vessel filled with fruit beside a delicate porcelain dish, makes the arrangement so much more interesting,” she explains.
Play with heights
When setting up a grazing table, playing with different heights makes all the difference. If everything is at the same level, a grazing table can look flat, despite the delicious food you serve. The trick, Gurleen explains, is to create little compositions rather than one continuous, uniform display.
Antique silver stands, brass pedestals, wooden blocks, terracotta vessels, cake stands and large rustic platters at varying heights can help create a visually stunning table. Gurleen says adding one oversized dramatic element like a huge bowl of fruit, a sculptural arrangement of flowers or a magnificent silver platter piled high with mithaai can help create a stunning moment on the table.
Go back to your roots for food
A grazing table’s focus point is the food, so that should be your starting point before you get to the other elements of your table. “I always start with the food and build the visual story around it. There should be a balance of sweet and savoury, fresh and indulgent, familiar and unexpected,” Gurleen explains.
Think of pairing regional Indian snacks like mathri, mini khakhras, masala cashews, roasted makhana, chakli and namak para with mithaai like motichoor laddoos, Mathura pedha, Dharwad pedha, Agra petha, sandesh, mohanthal or ghevar. In addition, have little bowls of homemade chutneys, pickles, spiced nuts and fruits like fresh pomegranate on your table to add colour and character.
Experiment with unexpected flavours
You don’t have to go either traditional or contemporary, curating a mix of both can create an interesting culinary experience. Regional Indian mithaai, French chocolates, freshly baked croissants, artisanal cheeses and seasonal fruits can all sit together. Crisp mini khakhras can be paired with soft French cheese and some mango chunda. Mathri with a beautiful aged cheddar and fig preserve works wonders. Fresh figs with Indian soft cheese, spiced nuts with dark French chocolate, or saffron-infused mithai alongside fresh berries are also popular hits.
It’s all in the lighting
Lights might seem like an obvious choice for Diwali, but how you use them in your decor and on your grazing table can make a huge difference to its appearance. Pair candles with traditional diyas, little lamps and delicate fairy lights to elevate your grazing table and highlight its varying heights and food.
Ultimately a good grazing table is all about creating a multi-sensory experience that adds to the festive mood. According to Gurleen, the best grazing tables are the ones that look beautiful from a distance but are cosy and inviting up close for guests to keep coming back for more.
