So you’ve already chosen your wedding dress, lab-grown diamond earrings, location, flowers, and music. You’ve anticipated how this historic day would play out in every detail.
There’s only one thing missing: a wedding menu that will be the highlight of your event! You’ve gathered your loved ones to commemorate an outstanding milestone—so make sure the food reflects how fantastic the occasion is.
Fortunately, we have outlined what to consider when choosing your wedding menu, you can prepare a terrific menu that will delight both you and your guests.
Table of Contents
Style of your wedding
Food provides an atmosphere and may help establish the mood for your wedding. Choose a menu that reflects the mood you desire for your big day. If you’re arranging a black-tie or formal event, you can expect a sit-down, served supper with gourmet selections, and a beautiful presentation.
If you want something elegant but approachable, try a buffet or comfort food with a refined spin. The atmosphere you want to communicate at your reception may help you determine what types of foods to have on the menu and how to present them!
Duration of the reception
The length of your reception might help you estimate how much food you’ll need to offer to keep your guests satisfied. If your reception is brief, you may be able to get away with appetizers and food stations, followed by your wedding cake. If your reception is closer to the customary three or four hours, you should broaden your catering options to keep everyone satisfied throughout the night.
Consider the chronology. Your guests will most likely be hungry after the ceremony, so serving hors d’oeuvres to hold them until the main course is a wonderful idea.
Even after supper, dancing the night away can boost appetites, particularly later in the evening. While dessert may suffice to satisfy the cravings, some couples choose to provide a “midnight snack.” It may be as basic as coffee and donuts or as intricate as tacos or sliders, but it’s a fun touch that reflects your personality or preferences as a couple.
The guest list
The typical wedding has around 130 attendees, and the number of people you select to invite has a significant influence on your meal. After all, if you’re like most engaged couples, making sure your guests are well-cared for at your wedding is your number one concern.
If your wedding is family-friendly, there will be children and potentially picky eaters to feed. You should consider adding a kid’s entrée to the menu. Check with your caterer to see if they provide any kid-friendly options, like spaghetti with marinara, chicken tenders and fries, or macaroni and cheese. Their parents will appreciate you.
It’s also crucial to remember that, while it’s your special day, you’re hosting your friends and family. It is customary to consider your visitors while selecting menu dishes, so include at least one well-loved favorite, such as braised beef short rib. Popular meals are an excellent method to make your wedding pleasurable for all guests, making it an even more memorable and significant occasion!
Consider your budget
Budget is an obvious factor when organizing your wedding menu. Food is one of the most expensive aspects of a wedding, so make wise choices.
Most caterers provide numerous packages priced per person. Gourmet dinners, top pieces of meat, and other add-ons may be more expensive, so inquire whether there is a flat charge or a separate payment for each option.
Check for any dietary restrictions
Not every guest will finish everything on the menu. Avoid too spicy meals that may irritate stomachs, and consider preparing a kid-friendly menu if you expect to have complete families attend. Vegetarians and vegans will also require particular selections, either in the buffet line or during the sit-down dinner.
Talk to your caterer ahead of time about what foods you can provide for people who have allergies or other dietary restrictions. If you’re hosting a sit-down dinner, inquire about any dietary restrictions on the wedding invites and ensure that everyone receives a suitable dish.
Make it personal
Everything from the clothes to the décor reflects your style, so why shouldn’t the food? Add some of your favorite items to the menu and explain why. If you and your prospective spouse like making mac & cheese on weekends, include it on the dinner menu with a small card explaining why.
You may also use your food as a map of your connection. For example, if you fell in love with gelato in Italy, include it as part of the dessert. Even a specialty beer that you enjoy together on rare occasions might be included on your drink menu.
Keep it local
The season in which you get married will influence what you serve at your wedding. For example, a summer salad with various fruits and vegetables tastes better in the summer than in January. Even the location of your wedding might influence what you eat. A wedding near the shore may have fresh seafood, but a wedding in the Midwest may serve barbecue.
Another innovative touch is to get ingredients for your wedding from local farmers. Even picky eaters will love your vegetables more if they know you support local farmers who are committed to sustainable farming.
Upgrade the typical dishes
There’s nothing wrong with the conventional chicken, beef, or vegetarian alternatives. In reality, those three selections often fulfill everyone’s tastes. Begin by designing dishes with beef, chicken, fish, or vegetarian options, then add sides, sauces, and other ingredients that can accommodate various dietary constraints.
The secret is to choose a variety of salty, sweet, and spicy meals. Once you’ve covered the essentials, you may experiment with other appetizers and dinner alternatives. For example, if you and your fiancé enjoy sushi, look for a caterer who has worked as a sushi chef and may give a unique twist to your wedding cuisine.
Lastly….
Vendor coordination necessitates extensive logistical planning. Trying to link a caterer, banquet manager, venue, rental firm, and wait staff might turn into a full-time job. Instead of aligning the planets and praying for no blunders, why not select a location that includes catering?
When everything is done in-house, logistics are worked out from the start. That means tables, chairs, linens, wait service, setup, and dismantle down are all covered. Forget hidden costs and itemized lists and go for a comprehensive venue!
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