Ask people to tell you about a wedding they attended, and chances are good that one of the things they’ll mention—in addition to the beautiful ceremony—will be what they thought of the food.
Food helps shape memories. It influences our mood.
We’re not saying this to stress you out about your wedding day menu choices. Instead, try to think of your wedding food as an opportunity, a powerful tool for enhancing your guests’—not to mention your own—experience at your wedding.
To help, we've compiled a collection of ideas for wedding reception meals and planning tips for you and your spouse-to-be.
How To Choose a Wedding Reception Menu
Keep the following suggestions in mind as you and your spouse begin the process of planning your wedding menu.
Give yourself plenty of time.
In other words, put your menu planning high on your list of wedding to-dos. Do your research, and schedule your tastings. And if possible, try to book your caterer at least a year in advance. If your event will take place during their busy wedding season, late spring through early fall, you might even need to book earlier.
Make a decision: sit-down dinners, food stations, or buffet?
Don't worry: There's no wrong answer here. Select the approach that best fits the atmosphere you're trying to create. Or, look at the food options for these approaches and see what speaks to you. Maybe you'll love the idea of a macaroni and cheese station, or you want your guests to enjoy filet mignon being served to them at their table. You may want to emphasize wedding food traditions, or you may be looking for a chance to try something a little different. Ask prospective caterers about your options, top food station ideas, and dinner menu examples.
Successful menus for a wedding reception have plenty of choices.
While you won’t be able to provide each guest with their favorite foods, try to offer a wedding menu with variety. You might want to, for instance, offer one or two meat entrees and a dish for your vegan guests. Or, you can select American comfort food along with something more spicy or exotic.
Don’t sacrifice your own preferences.
While you absolutely should consider your guests as you plan your wedding menu, it’s perfectly OK to include choices that you love—along with foods that tie in with your wedding theme.
Be ready to accommodate special requests.
Ask potential caterers how they handle special requests for wedding banquet food, from gluten-free options to vegetarian dishes. We also recommend including a place on your wedding invitations where people can add food allergies and dietary restrictions that you and your caterer can consider while selecting food items for your wedding reception.
Pick appetizers, main dishes, and sides.
Another reason to give yourself plenty of time to make your wedding menu decisions is you will be selecting more than wedding main courses. You'll be mulling over your options for all of the food provided.
Do you want dessert options?
This is another consideration: Do you want to stick with the wedding cake (and possibly the groom's cake) for dessert, offer an alternative, or include desserts in addition to your wedding cake?
Don't forget cocktail hour.
While creating a menu for your reception will be a priority, if you'd like to have a cocktail hour you'll need to make food choices for that portion of your wedding, too. Most couples select fun finger foods for cocktail hour.
Wedding Food Ideas
Could you use a little inspiration for your wedding menu? Need some wedding dinner ideas (or wedding lunch ideas)?
Here are a few possibilities to help you create a wedding feast that is absolutely delicious.
Wedding Buffets-Menus and More
Wedding buffets are another excellent option for your wedding meal.
A wedding buffet is a common meal service style where numerous dishes are attractively displayed for guests to serve themselves. Rather than being served individual plates at their tables, guests can visit food tables and choose which foods and how much they would like on their wedding plate.
Buffets allow couples to offer guests more options and variety. They also create an informal environment where guests can mingle while serving themselves. Wedding buffets require planning to ensure ample food amounts, dinnerware, and decor that aligns with the couple's style and wedding aesthetic.
Generally, a typical wedding menu for a buffet might include a chicken entree, beef, pasta, multiple side dish options, salad, and dinner rolls.
We recommend including options for vegan guests and those with dietary restrictions.
You also can tweak the buffet options to include a favorite dish, from seafood to lamb. Or, you can include foods that time in with your theme, like fried chicken or barbecue for a rustic wedding.
Sliders
Sliders have been growing in popularity at wedding receptions and cocktail hour. They’re delicious, but not too filling. They’re not messy, and they lend themselves to a lot of creative options. Sliders are also high on our list for wedding luncheon ideas.
Sushi Station
Sushi is a great wedding food choice, especially if you and your partner love it. Sushi displays are lovely and add an element of elegance to a wedding.
Keep in mind though, that not everyone at your wedding reception will be a sushi fan. It's possible that someone will ask, "Why would I want to eat raw fish?" That's not a big issue. We simply suggest, as we mentioned, offering a variety of options. Another consideration: Because of the raw ingredients in sushi, we don't advise leaving it out very long.
Paella
This works as an appetizer or side dish. Served in a pan, paella is a big crowd-pleaser at weddings. Guests are drawn to the aroma of the rice, vegetables, and meat, along with the sound of sizzling food and the colorful, delicious ingredients.
Grazing Tables
When it comes to cool wedding food ideas, one fun option is the grazing table: a generous, colorful, family-style food presentation. Grazing tables often feature a large charcuterie or a display of meats, cheeses, olives, pickles, and loaves of bread, along with fresh fruits, dips, crackers, and nuts.
These tables encourage mingling and relaxed conversations as guests help themselves to the food.
Food Tower Ideas
With food, presentation plays a major role in creating appeal.
And at weddings, one popular mode of presentation is a dramatic, show-stopping tower.
You can talk with your venue or caterer about a cookie tower, a Champagne tower, a cheese tower—the possibilities are practically endless.
Skewers
Kebabs are another great wedding food. You can offer creative combinations of meats, cheeses, vegetables, or maybe vegan options. Grilled kebabs are tender and flavorful, too.
Braised Meats
Braised dishes (chicken, pork, or lamb) are an excellent choice for weddings: They’re flavorful, and juicy, and they pair with a wealth of side dishes. They also offer great visual appeal.
Fish Option
Salmon is a popular wedding food choice among couples and their guests. It holds its shape well, and makes for a beautiful presentation in a plated meal.
Other excellent fish and seafood choices for your entree include sea bass, red snapper, and shrimp.
Add a tasty sauce to enhance flavor.
Texas Favorites
You always can embrace Lone Star favorites for your wedding main course ideas, from barbecue brisket to fajitas, for your meal. Complement the barbecue with French fries, mashed potatoes or potato salad, or corn. If you go with fajitas, think about refried beans or Mexican rice as sides.
Pizza for Your Wedding
If you're looking to infuse a sense of casual charm and universal appeal into your wedding menu, consider the timeless option of pizza.
A pizza station at your wedding brings a familiar and comforting touch, making it a favorite among guests of all ages.
Pizza varieties to consider include:
Traditional Margherita: Classic and simple, featuring tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Meat Lovers' Delight: Packed with savory goodness, including pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and other meaty delights.
Veggie Extravaganza: A garden-fresh option with an array of colorful vegetables, from bell peppers to cherry tomatoes.
Custom Creations: Allow guests to craft their own personalized pizzas with a variety of toppings, ensuring everyone gets exactly what they crave.
Luxury Wedding Menu Ideas
For couples looking to add an extra touch of elegance and sophistication to their wedding menu, here are some luxurious options to consider:
-Caviar station: A caviar bar with blinis, crème fraîche, chopped onions, and other savory accompaniments can make for an indulgent and memorable cocktail hour.
-Oyster bar: Fresh shucked oysters on the half shell with mignonette sauce and lemon wedges create a refined and upscale vibe.
-Lobster tails: Serve decadent lobster tails as a main course or in individual cocktail-sized portions during the reception.
-Beef Wellington: This classic dish of tender beef wrapped in flaky puff pastry exudes elegance and luxury.
-Foie gras: Consider offering foie gras as an appetizer, perhaps paired with a sweet fruit compote or reduction.
Champagne tower: A towering display of champagne flutes creates a celebratory and opulent focal point.
-Dessert bar: Offer an array of petit fours, macarons, chocolate truffles, and other delicate gourmet sweets.
Serve Brunch Dishes
Looking for some unique wedding food ideas? Serve breakfast for dinner.
Brunch foods are a huge crowd-pleaser and a great choice for wedding evening food. Offer a crepe station or serve up pancakes, smoked salmon, crab cakes, fruit kebabs, and deviled eggs. Other fun choices include mini quiche, donuts, and Belgian waffles.
Summer Wedding Ideas
Thinking of a summer wedding? We recommend lighter fare that's fresh, seasonal, and creative. Some of your many options include edible flowers served with berries, melons, and fresh herbs. Or, offer a summer picnic complete with fried chicken, whipped sweet potatoes, and grilled mixed vegetables.
Affordable Wedding Menu Reception Ideas
Couples sometimes ask us about “cheap wedding reception menu” ideas or “cheap appetizers for a wedding.”
Planning a wedding reception menu on a budget can seem daunting, but it's possible to employ inexpensive wedding menu ideas without breaking the bank.
For appetizers, for example, a simple vegetable or cheese and cracker tray is an affordable option.
Main course ideas include herb-roasted chicken, pasta, and pork tenderloin.
Non-Traditional Wedding Food Ideas
Looking for wedding menu ideas that are anything but ordinary? Explore these creative, non-traditional food options for your reception.
Try tasty Asian dishes like chicken broccoli, fried rice, or Hoisen beef.
Or, instead of chicken offer roasted duck or lamb.
Or, go with popular regional dishes like Texas barbecue, chicken fajitas, or blacked chicken with crawfish étouffée sauce.
Another fun option is to offer late-night snacks on your menu. Burgers, slider sandwiches, tacos, fries, or milkshakes offered late into the night are great for soaking up cocktails and satisfying hunger after dancing up an appetite.
Wedding Refreshment Ideas
In addition to food, you should be prepared to offer a wide variety of wedding refreshments including water, iced tea (especially for a Texas wedding), juices, and sodas.
Additional possibilities, in addition to the alcoholic beverages you offer, could include punch, mocktails, fruit-infused water, lemonade, coffees, cold-brew tea, or hot chocolate.
Wedding Menu Sign Ideas
Displaying your wedding menu is a great way to let guests know what delicious foods will be served. Menu signs also double as attractive decor elements for the reception. Consider these creative ideas for your wedding menu signs:
-Chalkboard signs: Chalkboard menus exude a trendy, rustic vibe. Have your calligrapher list the courses in colored chalk.
-Framed paper signs: Print your menu on decorative paper and frame in simple wood or metal frames for a refined look.
-Signs on easels: Place menu signs on elegant easels at the entrance to the reception or beside the buffet and bar.
-Individual table menus: Set single menu cards printed with the courses on each guest table setting.
-Flower menu boards: Arrange a menu on a board surrounded by flowers matching your wedding palette.
Mirrored signs: For glamorous weddings, print menus on mirrored acrylic or glass signs.
Signs on wood slices: For natural weddings, print your menu on slices of wood cut from trees.
Get creative with size, materials, fonts, colors, and embellishments to design wedding menu signs you'll treasure along with memories of your menu. Display them prominently so guests know what delicious details they can look forward to.
ASK THE EXPERTS
These suggestions are only a few of many, many options. We encourage you to talk with your venue or caterer and ask for their thoughts and traditional wedding menu ideas (or not-so-traditional ideas), based on your wedding season and theme. They can offer suggestions for fresh, locally grown foods and offer ideas for pairing entrees and catering side dishes. You also can read reviews for wedding venue food. See which dishes really wowed people.
The Bell Tower on 34th, a wedding and event venue in Houston, TX, is committed to helping couples realize their wedding vision.
Our elegant venue, with an executive chef, is purpose-built for special events.
Learn more about holding a wedding here.
The Bell Tower on 34th
901 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018
(713) 868-2355