Wedding Reception Foods Ideas

Wedding Reception Foods Ideas will point you in the right direction with regard to the choices you have to make for your reception meal.



There are quite a few ideas for wedding reception foods for you to choose from. The choices will depend on the style of wedding and wedding reception you want but also the kind of service you want to use (buffet, sit-down, finger-food).

It will also greatly depend on the time of the day (morning, afternoon, evening) that you will be having your wedding reception.

I have broken down the wedding reception foods ideas here by the time of the day:

Wedding Reception Foods Ideas - Morning

If you are having your wedding in the morning, you will probably be planning a brunch or light lunch for your guests.

This is also going to be the cheapest option for a wedding reception especially if you decide to serve it buffet style.

You would probably start your reception with drinks of coffee, tea, assorted juices or punch. Then you can add in an assortment of fresh croissants, biscuits, muffins, toast (with jams, jellies, honey, etc.) as starters followed by sausage, bacon, pancakes, french toast, waffles and freshly made omelets. Serve a toast with champagne and you are all set!

Wedding Reception Foods Ideas - Afternoon

If you are having your wedding in the late morning/early afternoon, you will want to stick with lighter faire that will also be easier on the pocketbook.

Start with punch, juices, perhaps some signature cocktails and/or wine. Add in salads (potatoe, macaroni, green, coleslaw, etc.), trays of h'ors doerves, cheese, crackers, meats, sandwiches, fruits and vegetables with dips. You could even have some slab pizza cut into small servings.

You could also provide self-serve plates of cookies, squares, cupcakes, along with your wedding cake for dessert and don't forget the champagne for toasting.

Wedding Reception Foods Ideas - Dinner

If you are having a late afternoon wedding, by the time you've taken your photographs, you should plan on serving a larger, more extensive meal for your guests. Believe me, both you and your guests are going to be hungry so you have to have more substantial choices to serve.

Some examples would be to start with an assortment of buns and rolls, soup, salad, then a pasta dish (these are filling and not as expensive). Then go on to the meats and vegetables such as roast beef, chicken, ham, turkey, cabbage rolls, etc. and vegetables such as mixed, beans, carrots, broccoli, squash, etc.

If you have it in your budget you could add seafood such as shrimp, lobster, crab, fish and higher end cuts of meat such as prime rib or steak.

It's good to put foods on the menu that you know you and your guests will enjoy, so if your family ethnic background is asian, of course, add some asian cuisine in there! If you know that there are some of your guests that are vegetarian or vegan, it's nice to make sure that there is enough available for them to eat as well. That's just being a good host and hostess!

Of course, with an evening or dinner wedding reception, your listing of drinks must also be larger and usually complemented with a full bar along with bottles of wine and toasting champagne.

Of course, if you are thinking of catering your own wedding reception, you'll find great Wedding Reception Recipes here.

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