Once the wedding is over, the reception begins, and a big part of the reception for many weddings is the meal and then the serving of the wedding cake. Often, the reception costs as much or more than the wedding, so planning a reception should definitely take your budget into consideration, but beyond budget, choosing the right meal is very important for the success of your wedding reception.
One of the first things to take into consideration when planning a wedding reception meal is the actual formality of the wedding. If your wedding itself will be casual, then a more casual meal of finger foods or messier foods is more acceptable. However, if you are having a formal wedding, messier foods such as fried chicken, long noodle pasta meals, and other finger foods would not be the best choice.
A buffet style meal is a good choice for a more casual setting, allowing for a variety of food to be served, so the reception meal will cater to most of your wedding reception guests. There are several options for a buffet too.
If your wedding is very casual or in a home environment, you may consider asking each of your guests to bring a covered dish and set up a decorative table and place each dish on the table with serving spoons. A bit of masking tape to write the owner’s name on the dish and sticking it to the bottom will save confusion when it’s time to claim the dishes.
For a fancier wedding, you can actually hire a caterer or find a restaurant that caters or provides large dishes for parties. Of course, the caterer is a more expensive choice for your wedding reception meal, but then again, the caterer will remove all the dishes and leftovers as well as cleaning up after the wedding reception meal, saving you time cleaning and doing dishes. Using a restaurant to precook the wedding reception meal is a good choice for less expense, but will leave you with the cleanup.
If the newly wed couple has already been living together, wedding gifts may not really be necessary, since the couple has already set up a home. If this is the case, the couple may consider hiring a caterer that bills or invoices for the wedding meal, and stating on the invitations that a cash or check donation toward the wedding reception is preferred over a gift. This can help offset the cost of the reception and the meal, while allowing the couple to plan a fancier or more expensive wedding reception and meal.
Another option for a wedding reception meal is to actually forgo the meal completely and opt for finger foods and snacks instead. Finger sandwiches and hors d’oeuvres, vegetable and fruit platters, crackers and cheese, tea cakes and cookies, with whipped cream, dips, and salsas are good choices for a snack-type reception meal. This option can be relatively inexpensive, easy to clean up, and will provide something for everyone. This wedding reception meal is a great choice also if you want a short reception so you can get to your honeymoon and wedding night sooner.
Of course, the time of day you have your wedding may help you determine what to use for your wedding reception meal. In addition, the location of your wedding can help you determine where to hold you wedding reception, and thus affect your wedding reception meal.
There is a local hotel here in the city in which I live that has a Sunday Morning Brunch Buffet, complete with a Belgian waffle and omelet bar, fresh fruit, and a full breakfast and light lunch buffet. If your morning or early afternoon wedding were held in a hotel such as this, you could easily rent or use the brunch facilities or the hotel’s restaurant even if they do not have a buffet for your guests as your reception meal. If money is not an object, renting out the restaurant or brunch area for only your guests is one option, but if you are on a tight budget, allowing each guest to pay for their own meal is also a choice.
Evening weddings are more likely to require a dinner reception meal than finger foods or a buffet. Again, this can be accomplished by utilizing a restaurant at a hotel or having all the guests meet after the wedding at another location. Many churches also have banquet halls or reception rooms for holding wedding receptions and wedding reception meals.
When serving a prepared and catered meal, it is always wise to offer at least two options for meal choices to your guests, such as beef or chicken, fish or chicken, etc. In addition, it’s not a bad idea to have a vegetarian version of your meal. When planning the menu, avoid the use of nuts and peppers, since many people are allergic to these items and it would be a shame for anyone to become ill or not be able to eat at your wedding reception meal.
As you can see, there are many options for your wedding reception meal, some expensive and fancy and some less expensive and more casual. Your wedding reception meal should match your wedding, a fancier meal with a more formal wedding and a more casual or buffet style meal with a more casual wedding.
The season and location and time of your wedding can also help you determine what to serve at your wedding reception meal too. Heavier and warmer foods, such as casseroles, soups and stews are welcome during the winter months and for indoor weddings, while fruit and lighter foods such as finger foods and sandwiches work great with spring and summer outdoor weddings. For inexpensive indoor wedding reception meals for both formal and casual weddings, snacks and tea party type foods are a good choice.
The options are nearly limitless, and the choice is ultimately up to you and your partner to make within the limits of your budget. In fact, some couples have even opted to skip a wedding reception meal altogether for dancing and cake only. Again, the choice is really up to you as to how fancy or simple you want your wedding reception meal to be, and what you can afford.
