Food can make or break a wedding reception.
Planning your wedding can be a confusing storm of dresses, flowers and stationery, and that's before you even get a chance to consider the food. Your menu should reflect the theme of your wedding while providing your guests with a memorable meal. Keep the setting, the season and the style of your wedding in mind when choosing foods. Most importantly, have fun when planning your reception menu! Enjoy the process, enjoy the food and try not to stress about small details.
Small Bites
The small bites trend is sweeping American restaurants, so it's no surprise it's been popping up at weddings more regularly. From sliders (mini burgers) at chain restaurants to upscale Tapas bars, small plates are becoming an acceptable alternative to traditional meals. Small plates allow your guests to eat as much or as little as they want of the dishes they enjoy the most. Small plates work especially well for cocktail receptions. They also allow for an upscale, modern interpretation of casual favorites. Burgers, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sandwiches or even soup will seem more upscale when served creatively in shot glasses, martini glasses and on small plates.
Colorful Inspiration
You're expected to consider color palettes when choosing flowers, centerpieces and bridesmaids' dresses. But when it comes to food, all that careful planning often goes right out the window in favor of taste. You can easily coordinate your taste palate with your color palette with a bit of extra effort. If you're using a caterer, let them in on your wish to have color-coordinated foods; they'll find creative ways to meet your demands without sacrificing flavor. Working with a green and yellow color scheme? Think pesto, edamame, corn, polenta, mango or kiwi. Even colors tough to find in nature-- like black-- can be incorporated into your menu. Think dark chocolate, black beans, black raspberries and eggplant.
Local Flavors
If you incorporate local ingredients into your meal, your guests will appreciate that you took the time to make their meal eco-friendly. Let them know the source of the ingredients on the menu or on buffet placards. Locally produced food may even help you cut down on costs. More importantly, selecting local ingredients can reinforce the theme presented by your venue. A beach-side wedding, for example, would benefit from a course of locally sourced seafood. A lush green vineyard, on the other hand, might inspire a salad of locally-harvested mixed greens.
Dessert
While the preceding courses may change over time, one thing will always remain constant: your guests' expectations for dessert. If you're trying to keep your budget low or your reception unique, this category leave plenty of wiggle room. Opt for a display of varied cupcakes instead of a traditional tiered cake. Ditch the plain white cake in favor of something more your style, whether it be decadent chocolate or apple pie. The wedding is your day, so don't feel pressured for a big white cake if donuts are what you really crave.
Tags: your guests, your wedding, into your, local ingredients, Small plates, small plates, when choosing