Tara Choosing the food to serve at your wedding reception can seem intimidating, due to the endless choices available to you. When this part of the planning is viewed as an opportunity to showcase your own style and taste, it can and should be fun! There are many factors that play into this big decision--so lets break it down.
Budget
Before much thought should be put into your menu, you will want to nail down a firm budget. (You don't want to get crazy!) The reception venue and food usually equals around 50% of your wedding budget, so it should be considered carefully. A major factor to keep in mind is your guest list. Obviously the number of guests attending will be important when you are paying per-plate! If you're working with a slim budget--get creative! There are tons of resources (Pinterest) out there to get your creative juices flowing!
Season
When choosing a theme for your menu, consider the season you have chosen to be married. What fresh fruits and vegetables are available? What are your favorite things to eat during that time of year? What types of food does your caterer prefer preparing in that season?
Wedding Style
The theme of your wedding can very well be incorporated into the food. Think about the aesthetic you want your reception to have and the environment you want to create. You will really need to consider the serving style--Sit down? Buffet? Your choice of menu will greatly determine your serving style-- but you will want to consider both when making your selection.
Choice of Caterer
In order to be pleased with your results, you will want to get started early when choosing a caterer. If your wedding will be local, usually there is no trouble finding someone you trust due to experience and word of mouth. If you are having a destination wedding, it can be a little more difficult to find a caterer. It is helpful to check with your venue to see if they have any suggested caterers (some even have a list of vendors you HAVE to choose from). Even ask the locals you come into contact with--sometimes they give the most valuable information!
Likes/Dislikes
It just makes sense to serve a menu of items that you love at your wedding. Keep that in mind while making your selections, but also think about what your guests as a whole will like. It is important that the food adds to your theme and helps to create an enjoyable and memorable time.
Budget
Before much thought should be put into your menu, you will want to nail down a firm budget. (You don't want to get crazy!) The reception venue and food usually equals around 50% of your wedding budget, so it should be considered carefully. A major factor to keep in mind is your guest list. Obviously the number of guests attending will be important when you are paying per-plate! If you're working with a slim budget--get creative! There are tons of resources (Pinterest) out there to get your creative juices flowing!
Season
When choosing a theme for your menu, consider the season you have chosen to be married. What fresh fruits and vegetables are available? What are your favorite things to eat during that time of year? What types of food does your caterer prefer preparing in that season?
Wedding Style
The theme of your wedding can very well be incorporated into the food. Think about the aesthetic you want your reception to have and the environment you want to create. You will really need to consider the serving style--Sit down? Buffet? Your choice of menu will greatly determine your serving style-- but you will want to consider both when making your selection.
Choice of Caterer
In order to be pleased with your results, you will want to get started early when choosing a caterer. If your wedding will be local, usually there is no trouble finding someone you trust due to experience and word of mouth. If you are having a destination wedding, it can be a little more difficult to find a caterer. It is helpful to check with your venue to see if they have any suggested caterers (some even have a list of vendors you HAVE to choose from). Even ask the locals you come into contact with--sometimes they give the most valuable information!
Likes/Dislikes
It just makes sense to serve a menu of items that you love at your wedding. Keep that in mind while making your selections, but also think about what your guests as a whole will like. It is important that the food adds to your theme and helps to create an enjoyable and memorable time.
Phillip and I chose to be married at 11:00 a.m. on a cool spring morning. Our wedding had a rustic and natural feel--nothing too fancy. We wanted to serve comfort food that everyone would love, so we went with a delicious breakfast menu. Because we wanted our reception to be a relaxed environment, we chose to have the food served buffet style with a few different stations.
We kept in mind that there would be a large number of kids attending, so we made sure to have options they'd love. When it came to choosing a caterer for the occasion, we asked around for recommendations. This proved to be our most useful resource and we decided to go with J.T. Jeffords Catering. They have had much experience doing weddings and we heard nothing but good things about their food. When it came to nailing down our menu, I had a few ideas, but we asked the caterer what items he thought would work best. He told us that he makes a phenomenal breakfast casserole with jalapenos--and I knew we had to have it! (Phillip LOVES jalapenos.)
The other menu items that were chosen included regular breakfast casserole, grits, french toast casserole, hash brown casserole, fruit salad, yogurt parfaits, and a biscuit bar complete with baked ham and delicious jams. Everyone loved the food and had a wonderful time celebrating together. Choosing the menu was one of the most exciting parts of the planning process because we chose things we loved as well as things that others would enjoy too.
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