While flowers are beautiful and linens can make an impact, nothing caps off your wedding weekend better than the food. A wedding is a marathon, so it’s important to have a great catering team and a menu ready to take guests from “I do” to the end of the party. Remember that refreshments should be served any time after the ceremony, so choosing a menu is more important than choosing between meat and vegetarian dishes.
“Whether it’s bar snacks or late-night fries on a silver tray on the dance floor, you want your guests to have food readily available, starting at cocktail hour,” explains Marjorie Artires, creative director at Pinch Food Design. “It can take different forms at different times, so it should also be used as a tool to create a rhythm or flow to the wedding. One way to think about catering is in different ways — have different sections for when to serve it. Together you can tell a story to your guests, so remember to have fun with the menu, presentation, and service format.”
Storytelling—like your vows—can also be a way to enhance the day’s setting and reflect your own history. “The food program at weddings is a great place to showcase the things that couples love,” says wedding planner Tori Smith of Smith + James. “We’re often asked how to make a wedding unique and ‘like us,’ and food is a great touch point to achieve that. Sometimes it’s seen as boring, but it’s not.”
Do you want to know everything there is to know about wedding food? Read on to learn how to choose a style of wedding food that will appeal to you and your guests.
How to Choose a Caterer
The biggest factor in determining your catering options is your wedding venue. Some venues will ask you to work with their in-house catering team or someone they have a special partnership with. For other venues, you’ll need the budget to transport everything. For example, if you’re planning to host the wedding in your parents’ backyard, you’ll need more infrastructure than the average home kitchen. “Depending on the venue setting, a kitchen tent may be needed, and you’ll need a place for the catering staff to serve food in advance,” Smith says. “Be sure to ask your caterer what their rental requirements are (i.e. if you’re serving french fries late at night, you’ll need to rent a fryer),” says Carly Katz-Hackman, chief sales officer at Pinch Food Design. “As long as there’s space and lighting, any off-site caterer should be able to set up a kitchen large enough to serve your guests!”
If you’re considering a venue with a specific caterer, it’s important to understand their dining experience before booking. There won’t be a wine tasting until you pay a deposit, so you may want to do some research to find first-hand reviews from your planning team, couples who have gotten married there, or past guests. If the venue’s public restaurant offers in-house catering, you can preview it by visiting the venue and dining there. For example, the Wyeth Hotel in Brooklyn offers meals from its award-winning restaurant during your wedding. “Le Crocodile is always available for dining, so you and your guests can enjoy a delicious meal not only on your big day, but whenever you want,” says JD Dosh, director of wedding sales. Other venues may also offer preview days where you can taste the food in addition to visiting the location.
Have you chosen your wedding day caterer? This is the time to make your experience even better. “I always recommend finding a caterer that matches your vision,” says Artieres. “You’ll want to hire a caterer who is a top performer and confident in the results. There’s always a risk in trying to change someone’s entire approach to food and presentation.” Corporate partnerships can help. “You can also ask your venue about their favorite caterers who consistently serve great food and are willing to make changes or adaptations,” Smith offers. Another tip? “Before you book the team, be sure to ask them what they think about menu customization. The best catering teams are always happy to help you make your dream menu a reality!”
Knowledge about menu selection
There are generally three stages to consider when serving food at a wedding. First up is cocktail hour. “We thought cocktail hour was a great opportunity to make the food the star of the wedding,” Smith said. “The cocktail hour setting offers a less formal atmosphere than a seated dinner. Enjoy tray-passed hors d’oeuvres!” While grazing tables or live oysters on the shell may be popular, don’t be afraid to go a little more creative. Artieres suggests “working with a florist to incorporate food into compositions such as expressive rough-and-dry tablescapes, vertical cheese board displays, or sculptures.” Consider marble slabs, elevated food carts or, as we call them, pop-ups (a short-term food pop-up).
Before choosing a wedding menu, you should consider the service style you want. “The cocktail party format (a buffet with no seating arrangements) often gets people’s energy up quickly, with people socializing, eating and dancing all at the same time,” says Artiz. “Family-style dinners allow guests to mingle in a social spirit around the table. Sharing food and passing plates creates a warm family atmosphere.” “Catering companies should focus more on making sure everyone is served and fed.” Then there’s the formal multi-course meal, which is the easiest type of service for caterers. “It allows us to control individual dietary restrictions, portion sizes and schedules,” she explains. However, she adds, “Having a sit-down dinner together can feel rushed when access to the venue is limited and you want dinner, dessert, and dancing to happen in three hours. You need to make sure you allot enough time for your guests to find themselves, be seated (about 20 to 30 minutes), enjoy their dinner, and then leave the table.”
Although you may choose to offer your guests a variety of options, it’s best to understand how your caterer can accommodate dietary restrictions. “Dietary restrictions can often be labeled and stated separately from the menu selections,” Smith explains. “It’s always a good plan to offer guests a vegetarian or vegan option, and most caterers will offer this as a ‘silent vegetarian option,’ meaning they will offer it in addition to your main menu selection,” she adds. If you’re aware of restrictions in their responses, you should let your caterer know at least two weeks in advance to accommodate.
If you’re hosting an after-party, late-night food is key to keeping your guests occupied. “Generally, we like to provide trays of food for all the after-partners so you don’t have plates of food in the same room while you’re dancing,” Smith said. “It’s better to have trays outside than an hour-long chicken tender. And, who doesn’t want a cheeseburger on the dance floor?” Katz-Hackman said couples should be aware they may need to budget extra for staff to stay late. “For clients who don’t want to spend the extra money to serve their guests late-night food and drinks, we often recommend delivery from a local pizzeria or food truck, if it fits in their budget,” she says. “It’s another layer of surprise and delight.”
When considering your options during the tasting, remember to prioritize what you want on the day. Dosh advises: “If you are fond of a vegetarian menu, choose it and leave it as a surprise for your guests. It’s natural to have opinions among family and friends, but it’s hard to please others.” It’s about celebrating your love and choice, and if someone is in desperate need of steak and potatoes like grandma, you can always arrange a silent plate for your vendor through this medium.
