The food served at your wedding reception should help reflect you and your fiance's style and tastes. What if your tastes are vastly different, you may ask?? That's where you can (and should) build both in to the menu.
Brandon and I we decided at the beginning we wanted everything to be comfortable and relaxed for our wedding day, and that will extend to our food. Our caterer, Lundy's Special Events, has a HUGE menu to choose from. After weighing all the options, we decided on a dinner buffet for our reception. We are trying to stick within our budget and while some may think heavy hors d'oeuvres are less expensive...think again! Since the portions are smaller, many people will eat several. If you are going this route, be sure and include some more substantial food mixed in. The bite sized menu items are all the rage with receptions this year. I love the idea, but it just wasn't our style for the main course, so we plan on using it later in the evening.
So...now to reveal our dinner selections! It is important to make sure YOU are going to enjoy the food served to all your guests. Brandon doesn't like crazy foods and I love home-style cooking, so we are doing a traditional Southern meal. Southern pork tenderloin, fried chicken, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, salad and fresh fruit! I am getting hungry just thinking about it! We are also going to serve a "late night snack" but have yet to decide what it may be. The ideas we have been given are Krispy Kreme donuts, mini cookies and milk shooters, cheese sticks, mini milkshakes...I could go on and on!
Food stations are also a fun idea for receptions. We considered doing this with a pasta station and hot brown station. Never be afraid to ask your caterer what your options are...the possibilities are endless! Nacho bars, sushi bars, mashed potato bars, etc. You can make the reception meal whatever you want! Just make sure everyone will eat, drink and be ready to dance the night away!
Bridesmaid Tip: Offer to take your bride out to dinner at her fave restaurant to help brainstorm her favorite foods. This may trigger a reception idea she may have never considered!
Happy Planning!
-Ty
