Saying “I Do” to Great Food: How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Menu

There are approximately 2 million marriages per year, so you’re not alone in having to deal with the stress of planning a wedding. One of the most important aspects to consider is the wedding menu.
In fact, coming up with the right wedding menu ideas could have a drastic impact on the experience of your guests. Not sure where to start? It’s not as complicated as you might think.
Let’s take a look at how to plan a wedding menu.
Table of Contents
ToggleConsider Seasonal Options
The time of year in which you have your wedding will play a large role in the available food choices. In order to provide a quality experience while also saving money, you could choose to acquire your wedding food from local providers.
Since you won’t need to ship the food over long distances, it will be both cheaper and fresher than many other options. Depending on the area in which you hold your wedding, different foods will be available.
For instance, if you choose a venue near the Atlantic Ocean, you have access to different types of fresh fish that are in season during that part of the year.
The weather also plays a role in the type of food that you should serve.
During the warmer months, it’s recommended to serve lighter dishes and refreshing sides. This could include chicken, fish, salad, and iced tea.
In contrast, steak and soups are more suitable for the colder months of the year.
Of course, you also have the opportunity to base your menu around an entire season. Those who have weddings during late autumn, for instance, could include foods that you would typically find at a Thanksgiving dinner.
Don’t Overlook Potential Food Allergies
You should be well aware of any potential food allergies that your guests have. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to include an option for conveying food allergies on an RSVP card.
This is also the reason why it’s customary to offer at least two different options for plated meals at a wedding.
In general, you can easily circumvent this issue by offering a multitude of different foods. The most practical way to do so is by including a buffet at your wedding.
As long as you are proactive about acknowledging this potential complication, you shouldn’t have any problems in the future.
Take Serving Style Into Consideration
In most circumstances, there are five ways in which you can serve food at your wedding. These include:
- Family-style
- Serving stations
- Appetizers served by waiters
- Plated meals
- Buffets
The ideal serving style for your wedding will depend on numerous different factors. One of the most important to consider is the layout of the room where the meals will be served.
You can get in touch with the staff at your chosen venue in order to learn more information about what choice would be best.
Your overall budget is also an essential factor to keep in mind. If you overspend on meals, you may have less money to allocate to other aspects of your wedding, such as entertainment.
Meal Presentation Matters
There’s something to be said about providing an aesthetically pleasing dish to your guests. After all, it wouldn’t fit the occasion to forego this opportunity.
In general, you’ll want the food you serve to look as appetizing as possible. It’s best to get in touch with your caterer to determine how the food will be presented at your venue.
Many caterers are even willing to get creative with how they serve food to guests. This is a particularly useful attribute to take advantage of if you are looking to adhere to a particular theme.
For example, some couples plan to intentionally get married on or near Halloween. So, your caterer can work with you to ensure that the meals align with the theme you have for your wedding.
Otherwise, there’s a chance that the meals will feel out of place and break the immersion your guests have in the atmosphere you establish.
At the very least, prioritizing aesthetic appeal will help you make the best impression possible and ensure that your wedding meal is memorable for years to come.
Include Food That You Enjoy Eating
Interestingly, many couples get so caught up in organizing food for their guests that they forget to include food they actually enjoy eating.
Something else to consider incorporating is a meal that is memorable to both you and your partner. In context, your menu items could include foods that you ate together on your first date.
Or, they may even include an item from your favorite restaurant.
Although it’s important to include food that you enjoy, this isn’t to say that you need to center the entire menu around your needs. More often than not, couples choose to include a special menu item that reflects foods they enjoy or are sentimental to them.
Still not quite sure what you should include on your menu? You can check out these wedding food trends to learn more.
Coming up With the Perfect Wedding Menu Might Seem Overwhelming
This is especially true when combined with the other stress associated with planning a wedding. However, our above guide will help guarantee that the wedding menu you choose is able to fully satisfy all of your guests.
Want to learn more useful info that can help you out in the future? Be sure to check out the rest of our blog.