“Chicken or fish?”
How about neither? Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with either of these options. They’re just so… expected.
You want to treat your guests to a memorable menu, and the great thing about food is there are so many ways of doing this.
We haven’t just relied on our taste buds here, either. We’re also pointing out other things you can use to inspire the culinary direction, such as the wedding theme and how your menu can play into that beautifully.
Food and celebration
When planning a wedding, you’re essentially curating an experience for your guests. All the choices you make about what to include in your big day come together and become the overall guest experience.
There’s no doubt about it, one of the reasons people love weddings so much is it’s a chance to eat, drink, and have fun. Food is a big part of every major celebration, and this is an opportunity to amp yours up by putting together a menu everyone will enjoy.
The venue and your menu
If you’ve already booked your venue, it’s a good idea to check in with them to see what’s allowed, and what their limitations are before you get your heart set on anything.
Some venues only allow you to use their in-house chef. Other less traditional places might not have a kitchen, and any food you serve will need to be catered.
Some venues are equipped with extras you may want to take advantage of, such as a wood-fired pizza oven, yum!
If you’re still checking out possible places to tie the knot, make sure the one you choose is set up so that it’s able to accommodate your ideal feast.
Wedding food that fits the mood
On the scale of casual to formal, where does your wedding land?
Wedding food for a semi-casual wedding day could be a potluck, a buffet style meal, or a food station, such as a taco station or a BBQ.
If your wedding is formal, the key is to showcase the best example of culinary arts, which means just as much attention and care is put toward plating each course as is put into making it mouthwatering. The goal is to appease all the senses; create an all-encompassing sumptuous experience.
If you’ve got a themed wedding, food is such a fun way of playing into that. After all, a 1920s speakeasy inspired wedding isn’t complete without platters of delicate hors d’oeuvres.
A food truck or steamed bao buns are perfect for a wedding reception that’s borrowed inspo from a music festival.
A good rule of thumb when planning the wedding menu is to allow the food to follow the lead set by the vibe of your big day.
Taking it all In
Food presentation influences our perception of how it tastes. This means, make it as visually appealing as you can.
If you have a buffet style meal, or a food station, display the food at different levels on different tiers. Incorporate decorative elements that fit in with the atmosphere. Use greenery and flowers such as succulents, or little glass jars of wildflowers to add to the beauty of your display and make it really stand out.
Pay attention to the dishes and platters you choose to present the food. Using wood platters plays well into a rustic theme. Neutral toned ceramic dishes are perfect for a boho celebration.
If your guests are going to be served at a table, make sure you go over plating options with the caterer or chef when deciding on the menu.
Making Everyone Happy
Feeding a variety of people and trying to cater to all their preferences or dietary restrictions is no small undertaking.
One way to try and stay ahead of the game is for guests to share any food restrictions or allergies when they RSVP. If you have a chef or a catered meal, see what they can create to accommodate these preferences.
Children are notoriously picky eaters, and if your wedding is kid friendly, ensure there’s something special whipped up just for them.
If you have a food station, such as a taco station, make sure you provide both corn and flour tortillas for your gluten free guests, as well as beans and fillings your vegetarian or vegan guests will love.
Foods You Love
Love bratwurst and sauerkraut? Why not embrace the theme, and serve it with different types of mustard and beer flights? Your vegetarian or vegan guests will love the veggie sausage options. This is both a memorable meal since it’s so unexpected, and special, because it’s something you love.
Of course, this is just an example. You can apply this to whatever type of food excites you.
Conclusion:
Food is an excellent way to make your wedding memorable. Most people love food, and there’s nothing better than being fed a delicious meal by someone else. Through paying attention to your guests and providing options for dietary accommodations, the day will be remembered exactly as you want it to: a time where everyone ate, drank and you got married.
