Whether it’s appetizers that your guests can’t keep their hands off, or the main course that has them talking for months afterward, the food service at your wedding plays a significant role on your guests.
1 – The Budget
Everyone has to work within a budget, and it’s crucial to figure out what your food budget is before you get into any detailed planning. Quite often, the budget will decide what type of food will be served, how many courses you will offer, and which caterer you will use.
2– Which Serving Style to Implement?
You have several options when it comes to serving style. They include:
Sit down, plated dinner
Food truck
Banquet-style
Different food stations
Buffet
You’ll want to select a style that works with all the other factors, but also one that you love and that speaks to your personality.
3– The Theme
While a themed wedding isn’t necessary, some brides like to coordinate their reception menu to the style of their wedding.
You can choose from an elegant, stylish wedding that may work well with a classic dining experience, while a rustic, outdoorsy-type wedding might do well with a family-style comfort food kind of meal.
You may also want to include sentimental touches like foods associated with the place where you got engaged or where you first met.
4– Dietary Restrictions
There’s always a chance that one or more of your guests will have a dietary restriction. Whether it’s an allergy, a health problem, or some other issue, you’ll want to make the necessary adjustments to the menu to ensure your guests feel comfortable.
No one likes to eat stale cake. Luckily, you can keep yours fresh and just as delicious as when you received it from the baker.
Follow these tips to enjoy your wedding throughout the first year of your marriage.
If you plan on having it slice by slice, then it makes sense to store individual slices. If you plan on eating larger sections at a sitting, then you can store them that way.
To store your cake:
Remove all of the ornaments and decorations from the cake.
Cover the cake board in foil if you are going to be using it to support the cake; this will prevent any cardboard taste from infiltrating the cake.
Place the cake in your freezer for around 20 minutes to firm it up a little.
Remove it from the freezer and wrap it 2-3 times in plastic wrap, so it’s airtight.
Wrap the cake with at least two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
Place the cake in the back of your freezer for a consistent temperature.
About a day before you want to eat it, remove it from the freezer. Let it sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to defrost a little, then unwrap it carefully and continue to defrost. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before you serve.
You can eat your wedding cake on whatever kind of schedule suits you. It was your day, and it’s still your day, so enjoy your wedding cake whenever the mood strikes.
If you want to follow a standard wedding cake tradition, you can eat a piece on your wedding date every month for the year.
Many newlyweds save the top for their one-year anniversary, then bring it out of storage and enjoy it together.
How you choose to honor the top of your wedding cake is up to you, but if you follow the tips, you can feel confident that it will taste great whenever that happens to be.
However, if you like to think outside the box and aren’t interested in a wedding cake, then it’s time to set your creativity free. When you consider the range of wedding cake alternatives out there, you can celebrate your uniqueness and keep your wedding about you.
You can go with one type for all that fits your personality and taste.
You can serve one that ties into the season, like apple pie at a fall wedding.
You can mix it up and serve a range of pies to keep everyone happy.
As with the pies, you can serve one flavor to everyone or mix it up and have several. You can also opt for cones to add some style or even rent a soft serve machine for a different texture.
Providing a range of toppings will also allow your guests to personalize to fit their taste.
Some suggestions include the ice cream mentioned above, a bacon bar, a popcorn bar, or a mix and match dessert bar with several items.
Things like salted caramel cookies, squares, tarts or brownies, chocolate tort with a pretzel crust, and bacon-infused brownies or other desserts make exciting choices.
If you are going to forego a traditional wedding cake, remember to let creativity be your guide and not to put any limits on your imagination.
Your caterer, wedding planner, or friends and family may have some ideas if you want to expand your options, but the main thing is to have fun with it.
Another area of your wedding reception where you can exercise some creativity and individuality is with your drink service. In our next email, we will look at your options when it comes to drinks, and some do’s and don’ts that will help keep everyone happy and safe.
If you plan your drink service properly, address any potential issues before they occur, and keep the safety of your guests front and center, there’s no reason everyone can’t have a memorable time without being a cautionary tale for the future.
Here are some tips that will help ensure everything goes smoothly:
You can opt for a favorite cocktail you’ve shared with your new spouse when you first became engaged or combine ingredients that speak to both of your personalities. Just be sure to sample first, so you know it tastes good!
If you are having your reception in a non-traditional venue, then you will likely need special permits to serve alcohol, so make sure you take care of it in advance to prevent problems on your wedding day.
25 Melville Park Road
Suite 74, Melville,
New York, 11747, US.
25 Melville Park Road
Suite 74, Melville, New York,
11747, US