Planning the Menu for Your Wedding Reception—Some Food for Thought

 

Deciding on a wedding reception menu can be an overwhelming task. Hiring a caterer, choosing a theme, and deciding what to serve can take an enormous amount of time. Cut down on the stress, the expense, and planning time by following these simple tips.

 

Stick to Your Budget
It’s easy to overspend on the reception menu, especially if hiring a caterer. In addition to the food, you might also have to pay for linen and tableware rentals, servers, bartenders, ice, and other items. It’s important to allot a certain amount of money for the reception meal and stick to it. If you do hire a planner or caterer, make sure they understand the overall parameters of your budget and that they're not to exceed it.

 

Consider Your Theme

There’s no need to have caterers cook up a batch of nouvelle cuisine for your barn reception! The food you serve at your reception should be in accordance with your own tastes and overall wedding theme. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with serving a vegetarian menu, a barbecue feast, or a casual buffet if that’s your preference and it fits with your style of wedding.

 

Mind the Season
Wedding reception menus have moved past the days when chicken or steak were the two main options. We’ve become a nation of foodies, and that new appreciation has opened up more choices than ever. One good rule of thumb, however, is to match the menu to the season: Think clambakes and fresh produce in summer, soups and game in the fall, roasts in the winter, and bright colors in the spring.

 

Watch out for Trouble
As much as we love it, food has the potential to ruin—or at least dampen—your wedding reception. Prevent mishaps by serving champagne or white wine instead of red; simplify hors d’oeuvres and finger foods so they’re not laden with sticky sauces and can be eaten easily while standing.

 

If planning a buffet, be mindful of foods that sit in heated dishes. Meats may continue cooking, and some leaner cuts can become dry and tough. Pastas tend to dry out quickly. Fish rarely does well in a chafing dish.

 

Give Special Attention to Special Diets
Although it would be incredibly expensive—not to mention nearly impossible—to provide a menu tailored to your guests’ food allergies or other special needs, there are a few easy things you can do to make it easier for everyone on your guest list to enjoy something delicious.

 

One option is to ensure at least a few vegetarian dishes are being served, even if they’re not entrees. You can also provide a delicious sugar-free dessert for those who may have diabetes, and adding a gluten- or nut-free option is also nice. While it’s impossible to plan for every contingency, addressing a few of the more likely needs will go a long way to ensuring your guests enjoy themselves.

 

Lastly, the most important tip for planning your reception menu: Believe that you probably won’t be eating much at your wedding, and many of your guests won’t either. Enjoy the planning and try to taste at least some of everything you serve, but don’t get too bogged down in details and expenses. Your focus should be on enjoying yourself—even in the planning stages!