Food is absolutely wonderful! Mainly due to its deliciousness but also because of its ability to bring people together, whether you are celebrating a graduation or you’re right in the middle of your wedding reception! Aunt Mabel may not have spoken to Uncle Ralph in years, but MAN! these ahi tuna wonton appetizers are just too delicious to NOT talk about! And just like that, food easily sparks a night of joyous conversation.
Choosing the food for the reception is one of the best parts of wedding planning 🙂 It definitely is exciting to do tasting after tasting, but when you are ready to make a decision, there are so many options! How do you know to make the right one? Here’s our recipe of things to consider when planning the deliciousness of your wedding reception meal:
1. Add ingredients that you and your future spouse like to eat!
You should always start with what you like, then go from there! Your wedding day is the most important day of your life (so far!) so you and your new spouse should love everything, including the food!
List each of your favorite types of salads, proteins, side dishes, even desserts! Then, do all the tastings your hearts (and stomachs!) desire, paying attention to the foods that you would actually put on your menu. Talk it over and consolidate the list from there into a listing of foods you both enjoy!
2. Keep in mind your guests’ expectations!
There is a balance between choosing your favorite foods and being considerate of your guests’ preferences and needs. We love the idea of having sushi at a wedding, but sadly, we did not serve it because it was not universal enough for our guests.
It’s probably not a good idea to force-feed super new food to 200 of your closest family and friends at once in case they don’t like the food and leave out of hunger. In this case, simplicity and universality wins over a personal touch and an impressive meal 🙂
Also, consider any dietary restrictions and make sure your caterer knows about them. Most (if not all) caterers will offer specific meals for dietary needs (gluten free, vegan, etc.) at no extra charge, so be vocal! This is something your planner could also keep track of for you, and make sure that the appropriate guests get the appropriate meals during dinner.
3. Sprinkle in cultural traditions
Incorporating cultural traditions into the food at your reception is a great way to have your friends experience your or your spouse’s family’s culture for the first time, and for the family members to eat some comfort food! Roast pig is an awesome food that is traditionally served during large celebrations in Filipino and Hawaiian culture and (taking into consideration our guests and their food preferences) it would be an automatic hit!
4. Serve it up to your guests
Since couples usually take pictures in between the ceremony and reception, many choose to have a cocktail hour during that time. This could include a few passed appetizers to whet your guests’ whistles, or it could even include heavier fare (such as a mac & cheese bar). Consider how filling your cocktail hour food will be, then plan the actual dinner accordingly. You don’t want to end up with a ton of leftovers (unless you get to take them home with you) but you definitely don’t want to run out of food either!!
For the meal itself, buffet-style or plated are the most popular options. Buffet-style is more informal, and allows your guests to fill their plates with exactly what they want. A sit-down meal is where the servers bring each course to the guest at their seat, and usually includes an entree that the guest has chosen in advance (by way of the RSVP card they sent to you). Either way has pros and cons but both are delicious in the end!
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After a long day of getting ready, your ceremony, photos, and more, you and your guests are going to be so excited to sink your teeth into some food! Remember, it’s important to keep your guests in mind when making these decisions because while it’s your day, it’s also a highlight of everyone else’s day as well. Might as well make it delicious. 🙂 As our favorite food guru Alton Brown would say, we “bid you good eating!”
Photos by Christine McGuigan and Tara Groteluschen