With summer fast approaching, the ever exciting and busy wedding season is upon us. Couples curate their special day to reflect their personalities and put on a phenomenal party for their friends and family. One of the biggest decisions that any couple must make in their wedding planning is to choose the food they are going serve their guests.
Senior Event Planner, Ibby Thompson, answers some of the questions we are often asked as London’s top luxury caterer about wedding day food.
Do we choose foods we like or foods we think others will like?
Your wedding day should reflect who you are as a couple. Think about your favourite restaurants, which are your favourite dishes, what cuisines are they? Are there any dishes that have a particular significance for you as a couple? This could be your grandmother’s famous secret recipe to give your wedding that personal touch or the dish you were eating when you got engaged. When your personalities shine through in your menu, it makes your wedding day that much more special. Caterers can always amend a menu or provide alternative dishes to suit dietary requirements, and as this is your one day to celebrate you, so choose the food that makes you both happy!
Are canapes necessary at the reception?
The reception is the perfect time for your guests to enjoy a delicious glass of chilled Champagne or a cocktail after the ceremony as they catch up with family and friends. This is also the time when all the photographs will be taken so a post ceremony reception usually lasts around 1.5 – 2 hours. We would always recommend serving at least 6 bite-sized canapes per person for this time, especially as some people may not have had time to eat and will be hungry. Serving canapes will also mean that the bubbles don’t go straight to their head! As an alternative to canapes, a food station offering grazing food such as hand carved Iberico ham, freshly prepared seafood or miniature plant based dishes can create a stunning focal point.
Should we have plated dishes or sharing/family style?
There has been a shift in wedding trends as couples seek to create a relaxed and sociable atmosphere with a focus on celebration. Family style sharing platters have grown enormously in popularity, enabling people to enjoy a variety of dishes as well as take as much or as little food as they would like. It can also act as an ice breaker, initiating conversations between guests who may not know each other. On the flip side, sharing platters take up much more space on the table which may distract from some other elements you have taken a lot of time to plan such as the floral arrangements, candles and place settings. There is also likely to be more food waste due to the higher quantity of food required which should be a consideration as we work to be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. If the look, balance and impact of a dish is important to you as a couple, a plated dish will always win the day as every element will have been planned by the chefs to ensure perfect harmony.
Do people ever eat the pudding?
Usually, the show stopping creation from By Word of Mouth’s pastry team emerges and guests are still seated, engaged in conversation and keen to devour the irresistible pudding placed in front of them. However, we have also seen a significant rise in popularity of pudding stations which encourage the guests to get up and start dancing, grazing on a selection of mini puddings on a break from the dance floor. This also allows time to serve the beautiful wedding cake which all too often acts as the centre piece without being eaten. The choice between a plated pudding and a mini pudding bar really depends on how keen you are to get the dancing started and how long you want your guests to stay seated.
We would be delighted to answer any further questions you have about your wedding day and to begin to put together your perfect menu!
Get in touch via the Contact page to get the conversation started.