When it comes to choosing your wedding food, there are many things you have to consider. While it is your wedding, and you are entitled to choose any food you want, it would be ill advised to choose something that couldn’t be enjoyed by (at least) the majority of your guests – though you can’t please everyone! With that being said, you also don’t want to make your food choices bland and boring! Here are 6 important things to remember when making your choice:
Cost
This is a major factor and something you should think strongly about. It has been said you should spend about 30% of your wedding budget on food and drink. There are definitely some food options that are more affordable than others. It may be a good idea for you to sit down and come up with a budget for your food before you begin making elaborate arrangements for the menu. You don’t want to set your sights on a five course meal when you have a low budget to work with.
Food Options
One thing to consider is a wedding buffet. This is actually great for all types of weddings. It will give plenty of options, which means that even the pickiest of eaters will be able to find something that they will enjoy. If you are not planning on having tables set up for everyone to sit down, then finger food options may be a great idea. Choose something that will be easy and simple.
Formal or Informal?
Some brides will choose to have a formal dinner at their wedding reception. If this is the route that you want to take, then you will want to make sure that you have a few different options available to your guests. Some people may prefer to eat chicken, while others may want beef. Some people love pork while others can’t eat it. You must also consider vegetarians that may be at your wedding.
Problem foods
Another factor to bear in mind is the fact that most of your guests will probably be dressed in their best attire. If you serve foods that are messy, such as pastas with sauce or barbecue ribs, you may find that many people can’t enjoy them for fear of it getting all over their new suit or fancy new dress! The bride will definitely not want to eat messy foods at her wedding reception because she would be taking the risk of ruining her wedding dress – which is enough to ruin anyone’s big day!
The Theme
Now, consider your wedding theme. Some people like to have themed weddings. Beach weddings are becoming increasingly popular with people travelling to foreign destinations to get married. You might want to think about food options that will revolve around this theme. For instance, serving seafood options would fit well with a beach wedding. This helps to tie the theme together.
Buffet Foods vs Formal Sit Down Meal
There really is no right or wrong answer to this, it’s really just what is best for you and your guests on your special day. For a fork buffet, you want to offer a great variety of foods to keep everyone happy. So foods like chicken strips, ham, pork, beef, cream and roast potatoes, vegetables etc all complete with a choice of sauces. For a formal sit down mean, you are really looking at two or three options from a set menu from which the guests would have picked their choice on returning their invitation. For this you’d expect maybe a Chicken dish, a Salmon dish and of course a vegetarian option. In the evening a smaller buffet with sandwiches and finger food options and some sliced cake will keep your guests happy!
Make sure that you take the time to look into all of your options so that you will choose the perfect menu for your wedding. After all, this is your big day and you will want to make it the best it can possibly be.
{Image from Intimate Weddings}
Rob Lowry specialises in making sure your big day really is the best day of your life. His expertise has been sought by brides nationwide as well as by personalised wedding gifts where he advises on creating wedding gift lists and wedding thank you gifts for the happy couple.
