If you are getting married soon, you may be starting to think about how you would like to cater your wedding. Some couples are happy to have a buffet prepared for guests to dip in and out of, freeing up the room for dancing. Others want a three or four-course sit-down meal with all the trimmings. Whatever you pick for your wedding reception, you need to make sure your wedding venue can deliver what you need.
Some wedding venues are unable to provide a catering service and don’t even have a kitchen. This would require you to bring in ready-made food and present it yourself on the day. Some catering companies will do this for you, providing all the plates, place settings, tableware and cutlery. If you are planning this wedding on a tight budget, you might want to take this on yourself with your friends or family.
Typical nibbles for a wedding buffet include prawns with a high flavour dip, such as sweet chilli or sweet and sour. You will need to make sure these are refrigerated properly. The same goes for any cheese boards you may present, to prevent illness from food bacteria. Pizza fingers have become very popular because they are so quick and easy to prepare. You are also pretty much guaranteed kids will eat something too! Small cakes, pastries and bites from the freezer section are great to lay out for dessert. Sandwiches containing salmon, hams and cheese are also very popular.
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If you are sitting down to a meal, find out what menu options are available from your wedding venue. If you try The Italian Villa wedding venue Dorset you will be able to see a typical menu for your big day. Usually, fish is available for both a starter and main. If you or your guests are reluctant to eat fish, see if you can order a bespoke menu. Chicken is a popular alternative, but usually ham and pork are traditional meats to be served for a wedding meal.
Goat’s cheese has become a top favourite starter at weddings. It is often served with beetroot and salad. Prawn cocktail remains in number one position for budget starters, together with melon. For something a little more luxurious, try a savoury truffle dish to begin your meal. Saffron potatoes are present on most wedding menus as a side dish to accompany the main fish dish. Other meals may feature a mediterranean roast selection of vegetables.
Most people cannot stretch to serving lobster as a main dish choice at a wedding catering for 100 guests. However, it is the preferred show dish for celebrities. It is often served whole, but female guests can be a bit cautious about messing their dresses tackling this one. Vegetarian options are usually provided, but it is rare for an entire vegetarian menu to be supplied as standard. Vegetarian dishes often feature nuts or beans so may not be suitable for everybody.
Dessert is frequently served as a cheesecake and a cheeseboard offering, but Tiramisu continues to be the romantic favourite. Traditional apple pies have lost favor lately.