If you're anything like me, then you LOVE food. No seriously, planning what to eat gives me an unhealthy sense of excitement. I remember when I was growing up, my mom would always tease me by saying, "Danae, most people eat to live, not live to eat!" What can I say? I love food!
Because food is such a huge part of today’s culture, it's imperative that you choose an amazing wedding menu that reflects you and your soon-to-be spouse's taste. Thus, creating your perfect wedding reception meal should be a fun and exciting experience! Today's post won't be a very long one simply because I don't believe there is a perfect "cookie cutter" menu that will work for everyone. My goal is to suggest some options to think about based on my experience working in the catering industry. My internship in college was at a catering business called GreensPoint Catering based in Longmont, Colorado. Before writing this particular blogpost, I ran my tips by my old supervisor to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. I also received permission to mention them by name. I'm reference them because of my personal belief that they are professionals and extremely talented at what they do. And, I want to credit them with anything I have learned in this industry catering-wise. I feel I should also mention that I am not being paid to reference them and that this isn't an advertising ploy. That being said, let's move on to some tips on how to create the perfect reception menu!
Tip 1: Choose foods that you both love.
By making your menu reflect you and your fiancé's favorite dishes, it will make your reception more personalized and enjoyable. If you and your significant other absolutely adore spicy food, then don’t be afraid to feature some Mexican or Indian cuisine. The great thing about catering is that you can customize your food to whatever you want on your big day, so take advantage of that.
Tip 2: Know your wedding guests.
You and your fiancé know your guests better than any caterer, so it is important for you to be able to identify which guests have food allergies (gluten, lactose, peanut, etc.) and develop a menu that your guests can safely enjoy.
Tip 3: Have an idea of what your budget is for food.
Caterers can range in price from $22 a plate to $100+ a plate. If you can't realistically afford a caterer, then don't be afraid to look at other options. For example, food trucks are a fun option and don't forget that Chik-fil-A, Qdoba, and Chipotle cater as well.
Once you know how tips 1-3 pertain to you, you can delve into the actual creation of your wedding menu!
Tip 4: Feature a light meat.
If you or your fiancé are vegetarian or vegan then please skip to Tip 6. If you're not vegetarian/vegan, then allow me to expand on what I mean by “light meat.” A light meat is simply a lighter protein; an example of this would be chicken or fish. If you do not like seafood, then have chicken somewhere in your menu. You can be creative with your menu, so don’t feel like you need to just have a plain chicken breast on each guest’s plate. For example, you could incorporate some chicken into a pasta dish or do something like chicken tacos, etc.
Tip 5: Feature a heavy meat.
This tip is for my fellow steak lovers! You can have rib-eye steak as an option for your guests; you could do pulled pork, tenderloin, etc. Your options are endless! And, keep in mind that some guests will eat more than others, so it’s a good idea to feature a heavy meat to fill up those hungrier guests.
Tip 6: Feature a vegetarian or vegan option.
This is always a good idea. You want each of your guests to feel included in the celebration of your big day and having a dish that everyone can enjoy will contribute to that.
Tip 7: Know approximately how many kids will be present at your wedding.
Children are notoriously picky eaters, so it is important to plan a meal specifically for them. You don’t want to be spending extra money on a steak that a 5 year old is going to sit and pick at with their fork. Many caterers have a kids' menu that you can purchase that will include something simple like chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, with grapes.
Tip 8: Enjoy your food at your reception!
So many newly weds get caught up in the excitement of their wedding and forget to actually eat. They're walking around and socializing, or they simply have lost their appetite from all the excitement. So, PLEASE take a second to sit down with your new spouse during the reception, try to eat and enjoy the amazing food that you chose for your big day!
xoxo Danae
xoxo Danae
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