Food is a central part of many social events as well as the memories associated with those events. Of course the guests at your wedding will remember lots of things besides the food, but it is important to remember the food is important as well. People remember good food and bad food, as well as the service.
There does seem to be a lot of choices involved in what to serve at your wedding. I suggest you start by deciding the main course first.
You will need to make a decision on how the meal will be served to your guests. Your choices are buffet style, family style or traditional meal service. How the meal is served affects your food choices and the atmosphere of your wedding.
Many brides and grooms are opting to choice a buffet style wedding reception meal. The buffet is easy to set up and it is usually cheaper than a traditional sit down service meal. Choosing a buffet allows you to offer a greater selection of both side dishes and a main entree. This allows your guests the freedom to mix and match their choices and only put on their plates what they want to try.
The most traditional meal at a wedding reception is one which is served directly to your guests. This usually means that you choose 2 different main meals and your guests decide prior to the wedding what they want. The positive of this is that the main course is usually something more expensive, such as steak or lobster, than you will find in a buffet style meal. Of course the downside would be that your guests have to stick to their original choices and they have no choice of side dishes.
Family service is a third option, although it is not one which is used a lot. Family service is a cross between the other two options. If you choose this method on how to serve your main course, the food will still be brought to the table but instead of each guest having the same amount of food, they will fill their plates from the bowls and plates full of main courses and side dishes laid out on the table. The food will be passed among guests, just like how a family would enjoy a meal at home.
Now that you know how you want your main course served it may be time to think about the appetizer table. Many weddings have appetizer tables set up for their guests, this way they can enjoy a snack during the cocktail hour. These tables are usually stocked with finger foods such as fruit, vegetables, dips, cheese and crackers. Talk to your caterer about what is available and decide what your guests may want to indulge in.
Finally, even though you have probably chosen your wedding cake for your main dessert, you may want to offer a selection of desserts as well. Think about creating a dessert table where you can offer a wide range of desserts that cater to all your guests wants and needs from rich desserts to lighter ones. Some options will include chocolates, truffles, fruit bowls, cakes, pies, muffins, brownies, cookies, minicakes, scones and tarts.
Pamela Kazmierczak has written several articles for the wedding niche. Check out her site Wedding Ideas to get all the wedding planning ideas you will need to plan your wedding. Learn more about your Wedding Menu Today!