Choosing the menu for your wedding reception

Rubbery chicken, be gone! Too many brides opt for the standard wedding fare of chicken, steam veggies and some potatoes as the main course for their wedding. Sure, it’s an option if you have a really small budget or don’t have the time or energy to put into it, but it’s likely you want something better than that.

Here’s how to choose the right menu for your wedding reception:

• Consider the season. You don’t want to serve hot chowder during a June wedding, nor is a summer fruit medley appropriate for a December reception. A seasonally inspired wedding menu will make your meal so much more special.
• Consider the time of day. You don’t need to serve a full meal if your reception is taking place from 2-5 p.m. Appetizers or even if cake and beverages are sufficient. You are, however, required to serve it if you’re celebrating at your reception during a typical meal time (i.e. if the reception is taking place from noon-4 p.m. or from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. If your budget doesn’t allow a full meal to be served, then pick a time of day when your guests don’t expect to be fed a full spread.
• Decide how much of your budget will be allotted to the meal. For a moderate budget, it’s likely you won’t be serving crab cakes and filet mignon. But it’s possible to serve delicious, unique meals for less money. For example, a creative pasta dish will probably be less expensive than a less exciting cut of fish. For some caterers, a buffet meal is more expensive, but for others, plated meals will be a higher cost. As mentioned before, having a reception during a non-meal time of day is best for small budgets.
• Pick how the wedding menu is going to be served. Let’s go along with the assumption that you’re going to be serving a full meal. How are you going to serve it? The most common choices are plated meals and buffets. In addition to those two choices, you can also serve your meal family-style (which means the dishes are placed in the middle of the table, and the guests serve themselves from the platters) or through stations (such as a carving station or a pasta station). Certain foods lend themselves better to different ways of being served.
• Choose a theme for the wedding menu, if you want. This is an excellent way to serve a unique, delicious meal without resorting to high-priced menu items. Sure, steak and lobster might be exquisite, but a rustic Italian feast or a Hawaiian-inspired meal will probably have guests just as excited.
• Don’t forget about those with dietary needs. You should always offer a vegetarian option, and you should also be aware if a guest needs a gluten-free meal or other special need. A considerate guest will inform you of this need immediately upon receiving the invitation. When interviewing caterers, make sure to ask if they’re willing to accommodate these special diets, if necessary.
• For a memorable meal, make room in your budget for a special touch. This might mean hiring a sushi chef for the cocktail hour. For coffee-lovers, offer to-go cups of specialty java as favors. Think about what type of culinary (or beverage) touches might really showcase your personalities, and try to incorporate it into the wedding reception.

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