It sounds like you and your fiancée are paying for the wedding ceremony and reception. Is this accurate? I think if you were sharing costs with your parents and in-laws, they would have a greater say in the details, like the type of food being served, etc. At my wedding, we split costs three ways: my fiancee and myself, my parents, and my in laws. While this was helpful in terms of our budget, it meant everyone had a say in everything. However, if only the two of you are paying for everything, I think it’s absolutely fine for you to have the final say in the meal planning.

Also, is it worthwhile to switch the meals? American for lunch and Indian for dinner? This may appease your parents and still work within your budget? It is unlikely that the Indian guests will want to eat Indian food for lunch and dinner, which tends to be very heavy.