Choosing a Reception Menu
One of the things people discuss after a wedding is how the food tasted. Therefore, choosing the reception menu is an important part of planning your wedding. There are a lot of questions about what is the right menu and wrong menu to have at your wedding, however, there is really no right or wrong – just different tastes. However, there are some questions you can ask yourself so that you find the appropriate reception menu.
What Time of Day Is Your Wedding Reception?
The time people eat will have a lot to do with the food on your reception menu. For instance, if you have a morning wedding with the guests eating brunch you will have an entirely different reception menu from someone with an afternoon wedding and a dinner reception. Not only will the foods be different, but so will the cost. Having an early reception costs a lot less to cater.
What Food Do You Want?
Your menu needs to first and foremost please you. Then you need to do the best for your guests. You need to realize that you will not be able to please all your guests. For instance, you may love mussels, but most of your guests may hate them. You may opt for mussels on the menu, but also offer other items to please the remainder of your guests.
Your food choices will always determine your cost. Things like lobster or prime rib are often more expensive than chicken. However, you can also offer choices on your response cards so you can order a variety of items beforehand. This way you can let your guests choose if they want chicken, beef, or fish.
Also, try to have a vegetarian or vegan dish available for those guests who do not eat meat or meat products. While it may not be your lifestyle choice, it is polite to offer them food they can eat.
How Do You Want It Served?
If you have a variety of food you want to offer, then a buffet may be the proper option. A buffet is often cheaper than having food served, so you may be able to offer more variety to your guests. Another inexpensive option is family style, which includes foods that can be passed around a table. You will often get more variety with this style, too. Buffets and family style service should only be reserved for casual or less formal weddings.
Catering companies that provide the food and serve it often offer only standards like chicken, prime rib, fish, and a vegetarian entrée with a potato, vegetable, and soup or salad. Therefore, if you want something “different” on your menu, you will need to pay more or offer a buffet. More formal weddings, though, should always have servers providing plates of food to the guests.
Who Do You Want to Cook It?
Many reception halls require that you use their catering services for the wedding. However, if you have a certain company you want to use there are other venues that will allow you to have any company cater the wedding. Otherwise, you may have to pay a greater fee for your reception.
The reception menu for your wedding will be based upon the time of day, how you want to serve your food, and who you want to make your food. Even if you choose standard wedding plates of food, you can add your own touch to the wedding with the service or adding a different dessert.
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