Picking the right food for your wedding can be a tricky business. You have to juggle choosing dishes that everyone will like with a bunch of potential allergies, as well as avoiding heavy food that will put lead in people’s dancing shoes, or smelly food that will make socializing a chore. Achieving a crowd-pleasing menu that wows your guests and sets the mood perfectly is no easy task…but it is achievable!
A wedding menu should be a personal thing, and we certainly aren’t going to tell you what dishes you should serve on your own big day! But we can give you a few pointers about what NOT to serve, to ensure that the wedding breakfast is memorable for all the right reasons.
So whether your wedding will have you leaving Florida on a cruise, tying the knot on a beach in California, or keeping it traditional at the church in your hometown, here are four dishes that should NOT be on the menu for your reception afterwards!
Snacks that need two hands
After the ceremony, your guests will wander around, chat to old friends and new acquaintances, and enjoy a glass or two of bubbly. Cocktail snacks are vital here, but with a drink in hand they need to be manageable and easy to eat with one hand. You don’t want your guests to pass on dishes you’ve thought hard about, just because they’ve still got half a glass of fizz to finish!
Raw onions
This goes for garlic too. No one wants bad breath at a party, and dishes that include lots of garlic or raw onions can ruin the rest of the reception quite quickly. If you absolutely can’t live without the taste of onions in your ideal menu, at least caramelize them!
Spaghetti bolognese
This is shorthand for any messy, saucy, juicy food that takes skill and dexterity to avoid spilling on yourself. Your guests will be dressed up to the nines, and having to worry about getting bolognese sauce all over their finery will put a dampener on the mood. If you do opt for dark-colored sauces or drippy noodles, make sure you prep the table with plenty of serviettes!
Allergy triggers
Even if you ask guests to let you know about allergies, you can never be too careful, particularly if your guest list includes plus ones. Play it safe and avoid high risk dishes (like peanuts), to avoid any disasters!