Design/methodology/approach – With the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a theoretical foundation, the study uses a questionnaire-based survey method to identify the determinants of food wastage in Indian wedding ceremonies. It hypothesises an extended model of TPB and uses Structural Equation Modelling to test the hypotheses. Purpose –Indian weddings exemplify situations where more food finds a way to dustbins than mouths who mentioned that approximately one-fifth of the food at the social get-together and marriage functions is thrown away. The present study explores the impact of sociocultural and individual factors on food wastage behaviour in Indian wedding ceremonies. Findings – Besides supporting the influence of TPB constructs, the results underline the role of social connectedness and abundant food availability at wedding ceremonies in shaping the food wastage behaviour of wedding guests. Originality/value – Present study informs the academic discourse on the largely ignored problem of food wastage in Indian wedding ceremonies. It addresses the lack of deliberations around peculiarities of food consumption in India’s sociocultural milieu and offers suggestions to control food wastage at individual and community levels.

This paper is organised as follows: A literature review presents the problem of food wastage and identifies its determinants under the sociocultural context of Indian weddings. Subsequent sections explain the research methods used for addressing the research questions outlined in the study and the findings obtained thus. A discussion of the results follows. The final section summarises the conclusion, limitations, and scope for future research. 

A significant number of weddings in India occur during specific periods in the year determined to be auspicious by religious authorities. Wedding ceremonies in India serve a great many numbers of purposes besides binding people into a holy union. Nuptial ceremonies also assert one's social standing by flaunting affluence and abundance, considered vital tools for forging social connections.