People expect to be spoiled at weddings. And if the food falls flat? Guests always remember. How many times have you heard, “The wedding was beautiful, but the food? Yuck!”
A meal is an experience—there’s so much more involved than how it tastes. Unfortunately, when deep in the trenches of wedding planning a lot of people tend to skim over food. They forget all about the importance of presentation and fail to play around with all the fun creative ways they can use the wedding day meal to enhance the overall theme.
To make sure your big day feast gets a resounding 5-star review, we’ve put together this smorgasbord of top wedding catering trends. Each one puts a spin on the traditional (boring?) wedding food, replacing it with a dining experience that’s pleasing to all the senses.
Get ready to impress your guests.
Food on a Stick
Move over corndogs and caramel apples, hello BBQ chicken, watermelon, and feta with mint, spicy cucumber, and mango salad.
There are so many incredibly delicious combos and twists you can serve skewered on a stick. Plus, it’s an unexpected and novel way to present and serve food.
Interactive Food Stations
Empower your guests by letting them create their own nachos, tacos, ramen bowls, or mini wood-fired pizzas.
Interactive food stations give your guests the upper hand. Plus, there’s something for everyone. People with food sensitivities are able to just skip over what they can't eat, without feeling forgotten or left out.
Don’t forget to let the food you serve and the way you serve it play into your overall aesthetic. Presentation is key. Stage your plates so they’re tired. If you’re serving tacos, use those taco holder plates that keep them upright and in place, instead of traditional plates. Use chalkboard signs, and serve on platters and plates that support your overall vibe.
Fancy Comfort Food
Truffle mac and cheese with herbed butter and toasty bread crumbs. Barbeque pulled pork slider with apple slaw. Caramelized onion and pear pizza with saffron aioli… Is your mouth watering yet?
Taking a traditional comfort food, and dressing it up so it’s wedding-appropriate will not only delight your guests, but they’ll be reminded of your wedding when they eat that food in the future—and how this regular mac and cheese doesn’t even come close.
Food from a Particular Region
If you’ve got travel or a popular destination as your wedding theme, seal the deal by serving recipes that are customary to that particular locale. For example, a French inspired themed wedding could add to the overall je ne sais quoi, and serve Boeuf Bourguignon, crêpes, salad niçoise, even escargot. Though that one’s up to you.
Food from a Particular Time Period
Hosting Great Gatsby 1920s-themed weddings is hot in the wedding planning world. The speakeasy environment is fun, and the dresses are gorgeous, seriously, who doesn’t love getting all gussied up for a themed special occasion? And last but not least, the food and cocktails are irresistible. Pick your era, research the menu, and go all in.
Food Truck Catering
The food truck industry has been growing steadily, and it’s not hard to see why. From traditional fare to creative fusions, the food is unusually good, and the atmosphere is fun. Perfect for a music festival, sports, or semi-casual let’s all hang out and enjoy ourselves type wedding themes, choosing one or a few food trucks to cater is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Tableside Service
From creating fresh guac right there at your table, squeezing in the lime, and adding diced cilantro and garlic while your stomach grumbles in anticipation, to preparing steak tartare. Tableside service gets guests excited about the food, and watching all the steps as it’s prepared right before their eyes adds to the overall experience.
Gold Leaf Accents and Edible Flowers
Who says dressing up for weddings is just for people? Meals can be dressed up too. Add a little flair to your fare by using gold leaf accents, or prettifying it by incorporating a sweet arrangement of delicate edible flowers. It’s the perfect touch for any garden party, enchanted forest wedding, rustic, romantic, or boho-inspired theme.
Tapas Menu
A tapas menu is traditionally small shared plates of Spanish foods including bread, meats, olives, sauteed veggies, crispy potatoes, and yes. Sangria.
This is an excellent way to wow your guests with the food presentation and lets your guests choose their own food in the amount they want to tuck away.
You can serve Spanish-style tapas if you’d like, or you can create your own menu and serve it in a tapas-inspired way.
Sushi Bar
Treat your guests to a sushi bar! It’s an easy way to cater to different tastes, as you can incorporate a wide variety of rolls.
Sushi is a work of art and always lends itself well to gorgeous presentation.
Conclusion:
Food is such a critical part of any celebration. It’s common knowledge that people eat with their eyes first, so use that to your advantage. Maximize both flavor and presentation, and your guests will be lining up for more.
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Food