Food is a big part of most weddings – even more so if you and your future spouse consider yourselves ‘foodies’. Sitting down to your first meal together as a married couple is often the moment where you can take a breath and relax, knowing that the legal ceremony is out of the way and you can simply focus on celebrating with your nearest and dearest.
Photo by Alison Conklin / styling and florals by Allium Design
But why is the food you choose for your wedding menu so important? In this post, we share three reasons why you’ll want to get it right.
Fed guests = happy guests
Firstly, fed guests are happy guests. The day of your wedding can be a pretty full timeline, especially if people have had to be up early to travel, or have taken the time to look their best for your photos. If you’re getting married around 1pm or 2pm, this can mean that your attendees simply don’t have time for lunch before they arrive at your venue, so by the time the service is over, they’re already pretty hungry. Add another hour on for photos, and you’re left with guests that may start to get grouchy.
As well as making sure your main food is served promptly, you should consider having appetizers or bread on the table. That way, the moment your guests arrive, they can get something to eat. If you’re hosting a cocktail hour first, have small canapés circulating – not only does this help with hunger, but it stops anyone feeling tipsy too quickly.
Represent your personality
The food you choose can be a great way to represent your personality as a couple as well as highlighting things that are important to you. For example, you may choose to have a more informal buffet, stocked with items from local suppliers to showcase your commitment to sustainability and supporting businesses close to home. Or, you could lean into a global vibe, including dishes from your favorite places you’ve experienced on your travels.
Photo by Alison Conklin
Make sure you match your table setup to suit the food. Formal white china can work well if you’re having a traditional sit-down dinner, but if you’re going to have pizza, noodles or food trucks, you should go a little more creative. Remember that your choice of drinks matter as much as the food, so don’t just settle for house wine if that’s not what you and your guests enjoy.
Making everyone feel welcome
Your guests may have travelled a long distance, paid for a hotel, babysitter or dog walker for your event, so it’s good to recognise that whilst the day is yours, it’s also, in part, about making them feel welcome and showing your appreciation of their support. If you’ve got friends and family who have allergies or dietary requirements, food can be a sensitive subject, and some people may even feel nervous about going to your big day.
As much as possible, try to make sure that the dietary alternatives for your wedding are interesting and delicious. Vegetarians and vegans will probably be expecting a standard butternut squash tart or roasted veg stack, so consider more interesting menu options – they’ll appreciate the effort and attention you’ve put in.
No matter what you serve, you should make sure that all meals will arrive at the table at the same time. There’s nothing more awkward than sitting at a table, encouraging people to go ahead and eat whilst you wait. By making these small tweaks to a standard wedding menu, you can make your guests feel seen and welcomed.