Are you currently in the process of planning a wedding, and unsure where to start with regards to your wedding day menu? For engaged couples, choosing a caterer and starting wedding menu planning is a major part of organising the big day – and it’s also a great way to showcase you and your partner’s unique tastes through the menu options that you choose!
Though it can seem daunting at first, creating your wedding menu should be a fun and exciting process. So, as professional wedding caterers with years of industry experience, we’ve decided to share our ultimate guide to creating the perfect wedding day menu.
How do you create a personalised wedding menu that reflects your style and preferences?
Creating a wedding menu that is personalised to you and your partner starts with thoughtful wedding menu planning and finding the right caterer for your special day. However, because many wedding venues come with a list of pre-approved or recommended caterers, you may find that your choices are a bit more limited at certain venues. It’s for this reason that it’s important to first understand what catering options are available at your prospective venues, and take the time to look at their menus ahead of time, to see if they have options that suit you.
Once you’ve selected a venue and caterer, you will then be able to start discussing different wedding food ideas with your caterer or chef, to ensure that your menu aligns with your vision and theme for the big day. If your caterer offers bespoke or customisable options, you will be able to discuss your favourite cuisines and any cultural traditions you’d like to include as part of your menu. Alternatively, if they have set menus, then you and your partner should spend some time browsing through the options to see which ones stand out to you. It’s important to also remember to mention any dietary requirements, food allergies or preferences you or your guests may have.
At Fork and Field, we offer a wide range of wedding food options, but, if you’ve got something different in mind, we can also create something bespoke. As a rule, a good wedding menu is based around seasonal ingredients, and customising these to create dishes to reflect your unique tastes. Consider your vision for your wedding, and try to choose a menu that complements this theme and actively contributes to it. For example, if you’re having a barn wedding, you might want your menu to highlight local ingredients and flavours. Or, if you’re getting married in autumn or winter, you may choose comfort foods such as pies or roast meats served with potatoes and fresh vegetables.
Throughout your wedding planning, it’s important to choose options that have a special meaning to you and your partner. When creating your wedding menu, try to balance crowd-pleasers with food and drink options that still feel personal to you as a couple – after all, it’s your special day! Some ways to add a touch of personality to your menu include creating signature cocktail options or opting for sharing platters over a traditional three-course meal.
What are the steps involved in planning a wedding menu from start to finish?
So, how do you get started with wedding menu planning? Once you’ve chosen your selected venue and caterer, you will then need to determine your budget and approximate number of guests. Knowing this ahead of time will help guide your choices when considering different wedding food ideas.
Next, menus! Read your chosen caterer’s menus and make a note of the options that sound good to you. Think about the overall theme of your wedding, and try to choose options that match the day’s atmosphere. Are you aiming for a more formal dinner, or a casual, buffet-style wedding breakfast? This is a good starting point to create a wedding menu that aligns with your vision.
When you meet with your caterer, ask how you can incorporate seasonal ingredients and customisable options into your wedding menu. Try to choose a balance of flavours, offering a range of options throughout the day including canapes, starters, mains and desserts, as well as the more informal evening food. Keep in mind any guests that might have allergies or dietary requirements, such as vegetarians and vegans when planning your menu, and be sure to mention this to your catering team.
Once you’ve got an idea of your wedding menu, you will then need to work with your caterer and wedding coordinator to plan the logistics of the day. This will involve presentation style (plated, buffet or family style) and timings. It’s at this point that you should also go for a menu tasting to ensure that you’re happy with your choices, and that everything meets your expectations.
Are there tips for accommodating dietary restrictions and preferences in a wedding menu?
Whether it’s you, your partner, or one of your guests who has an allergy or a dietary restriction, working with your caterer to create safe and delicious food options for your wedding is of the utmost importance.
To create a wedding menu that is accommodating to dietary restrictions and preferences, you will first need to start by gathering any dietary information from your guests when you receive their RSVPS. This will help you to arrange variations of your chosen meals with your caterer, so that you’ve got tasty food available for every guest. A well-rounded wedding menu guide is to offer at least one option per course that meets common dietary restrictions.
For example, you could create a gluten-free version of your favourite dessert, such as a cheesecake or brownie, to incorporate into your wedding menu as an allergy-friendly option. Alternatively, buffet-style service allows guests to choose what they’d like to eat based on their needs and requirements – just be sure to ask your caterer to clearly label each of the dishes!
Whilst it might require a bit of additional planning, ensuring that every guest feels included in your wedding food choices is an important element of your day that you will not regret.
How can you balance traditional and modern culinary trends in a wedding menu?
Looking to combine modern favourites with traditional crowd-pleasers as part of your wedding menu? One way to achieve this is through opting for a more traditional wedding breakfast, then choosing a modern favourite for your more casual evening food offering.
For our couples looking to achieve this, we recommend opting for our traditional three-course offering (which is our most popular menu choice!) as this features classics like soup to start, a choice of chicken, beef or salmon for main and popular desserts like chocolate brownie, apple and blackberry crumble and creme brulee as just some of the available options. Then, for the more informal evening food, we have various options including fish and chips, pasties, pizzas and doughballs and roaming sandwiches.
By combining a classic wedding breakfast with fun evening food options you will ensure that your wedding food is not only filling and delicious, but also a good reflection of you and your partner’s taste.
What are some creative ideas for cocktail hour, main courses, and desserts in a wedding menu?
Looking for creative wedding food ideas to help you get started in planning your wedding menu? We offer a wide range of options to suit all different tastes and wedding styles.
For canapés during the drinks reception, you should offer moreish nibbles to kick off your guests’ culinary journey. Some of our popular options include our delicious pork belly bites with bourbon whiskey glaze and crushed apple, crispy Asian duck with tangy hoisin dressing and our baked feta with sun-ripened tomato and pesto crostini.
When it comes to the main event, the world is your oyster! Whether you fancy our traditional seared chicken breast with rosemary and garlic potatoes, a comforting British pie, or a Mediterranean feast for your guests to share, we can tailor your menu to suit your day.
Love is sweet – so you’ve got to finish your wedding breakfast with a scrumptious dessert. Just some of our options include passionfruit cheesecake, strawberry and prosecco torte, or the ever-popular sticky toffee pudding.
If you’re searching for a wedding caterer that will help you to create a wedding menu that will make a lasting impression on your guests, speak to us about how we can bring your food ideas to life. Contact us today, or, if you’re feeling curious, download our menus here.