How to Choose Your Wedding Menu
Narrowing down your wedding menu can be hard when there are so many options! Today, we're going to give you some actionable tips to help you decide what to serve at your wedding so you and your guests are happy.
Set a Budget
The very first deciding factor in what you will serve at your wedding is knowing what you can afford to pay per person. This needs to be determined before you even start looking at menus. How many guests do you want at your wedding? What is your overall budget? Divide your overall budget by the amount of guests to figure out your food cost per person.
Pick a Serving Style
There are a lot of different ways to serve your guests at your wedding. Here are a few:
Plated - guests pre-select meal choices and their food is served directly to their table
Buffet - guests are excused by table to serve themselves (or you can have servers)
Family - different dishes are served to your guests' table and they choose from those dishes, without having to leave their table
Food Stations - different tables have different styles of food, so guests go to the ones they want and either serve themselves or are served at the station
Decide which serving style you like best and factor this into your food budget.
Ask Your Caterer
Not sure what to serve? Ask your caterer! They will be able to provide a variety of suggestions based on your tastes, budget, and serving style.
Consider Dietary Restrictions
Have guests that are gluten free? Vegan? Vegetarian? Allergic to shellfish? Consider dietary requirements when making your meal selections. Will you try to accommodate everyone? Will you accommodate the major food allergies? Food stations are a great way to give your guests choices for their dietary needs. Plated meals are also helpful, because they can pre-select their meal choice on their RSVP's. You can also let your caterer know of any allergies ahead of time.
Choose the Right Beverage
You'll want to choose a beverage that compliments your meal. Pizza with pop. An elegant dinner with wine. Ask your caterer what pairs well with your meal selections if you're not sure.
Schedule a Tasting
Ask your caterer if they offer tastings! This is a great way to get an idea of what your menu will taste (and look) like!
What will you be serving at your wedding? Tell us in the comments!