It indeed takes an army to organize a wedding. Out of everything on your to-do list, curating a wedding menu is a bull that you should grab by the horns and tackle before it becomes too much to handle. Today, we’re going to discuss a plethora of different wedding food ideas, share tips on planning the perfect wedding dinners, and more.
Things to Consider While Setting The Menu for the Wedding
Before you brainstorm wedding dishes ideas, consider the following:
1. Budget
A wedding is an expensive affair. The best way to plan your marriage reception food menu is to allocate a per-guest budget to the wedding dish menu. A set budget gives you ample freedom to include only the wedding dinner food that is non-negotiable for the bride and the groom.
Budgeting for wedding dishes prevents you from overspending or going haywire.
2. Wedding Theme
Once you have affixed the budget for the wedding dishes you want to serve to your guests, draw up a wedding meal menu that represents the theme of the celebration. For example, if you’re paying tribute to your culture, then traditional wedding food would make sense rather than modern gastronomic wedding main dish ideas.
Make sure that your wedding reception dinner menu includes dishes that represent both the bride’s and the groom’s cultures.
3. Guest Preferences, Dietary Restrictions, etc.
Here’s the clincher: wedding dinner menu ideas should always be inclusive. You must take guest preferences into account when finalizing main meals for weddings. Pay attention to their preferences, like whether they are vegetarian, vegan, kosher, or halal. The devil is in the details.
In addition, you should also consider common dietary restrictions to prevent food-related emergencies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (.gov) identifies nine major allergens, and based on that, your guests can be:
– Lactose Intolerant. So, if you are planning on including a cheese board in your wedding table menu, make sure you have some non-dairy and vegan options too.
– Gluten Intolerance. This includes guests who suffer from celiac disease or have gluten sensitivity.
– Diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. In each case, your guest may have restrictions they must follow to enjoy wedding dishes without affecting their body.
While it may seem like a lot to consider, as a host, it’s your responsibility to ensure your guests enjoy their meal in peace.
How to Plan a Foolproof Wedding Dishes Menu
So, how can you achieve your goal of curating a wedding reception food menu that matches the theme, happens to be inclusive, and is also within your budget?
Consider catering in Los Angeles to make your celebration stress-free. Discussing your unique wedding party menu ideas with a full-service caterer is a wise choice because they can customize the dishes according to your requirements.
Besides a custom menu that appeals to all guests, the benefits of full-service catering are many.
- First off, you don’t need to worry about sourcing, prep, service, or clean-up. Everything will be taken care of by the caterer.
- You can prevent food waste because they have the experience and knowledge to calculate catering portions and ensure it’s just enough for your guest list.
- One caterer is all you need to have a wide selection of international cuisine at the wedding table.
Once the menu is finalized, make sure to have a trial tasting so that you’re fully aware of the dishes being served at the wedding. That way, you can avoid potentially unpleasant surprises on the big day. A trial tasting also gives you ample leeway to include or exclude dishes that are not to your liking and make tweaks to suit your overall wedding expectations.
In addition to working with a service provider who offers a diverse catering menu in Los Angeles, you should also take the season into consideration. Sounds strange? Well, working with seasonal produce reduces the cost of elaborate wedding menus. Sourcing locally produced ingredients for the main dish for a wedding is also a sustainable practice.
You don’t need to worry about exceeding your budget. Instead, focus on renting a great venue in Los Angeles that ticks all the right boxes specific to your wedding theme. Banquet halls in Los Angeles can make for an excellent indoor venue.
Top Wedding Main Course Ideas
Now that you know how to plan a wedding reception dinner menu, let’s discuss some popular wedding main course food ideas that can win over your guests.
1. An Assortment of Your Favorites
Not a fan of elaborate spreads? You can serve an assortment of appetizers as your main course. It is unusual, but as long as the dishes are delectable, your guests will love enjoying finger food while they mingle with each other. A buffet-style spread where everyone gets to take their pick is always a great idea for a day wedding, especially if you have picky guests with widely varying tastes.
Why?
Because nothing spells diversity more than an exotic cheese board, some traditional tuna tartare, a luxurious selection of caviar, smoked fish, and other such decadent dishes. You can easily curate a wedding menu featuring classics with a twist if you’re a fan of fusion food. The options are endless if you hire Vivaldi for catering.
Your main meals for weddings need not be boring. If you’re opting for a buffet-style wedding reception layout, finger food will always be a hit with the guests.
2. Innovative Californian Delights
But if you’re more of a modern, clean-eating advocate, take inspiration from some of California’s favorite food trends. From ceviches to roasts made with free-range chicken, and grass-fed beef steaks to plant-based dishes, you can curate a minimalist menu that’s innovative but delicious.
The focus on sustainably and locally grown fresh produce is another plus.
3. New York’s Melting Pot of Delicacies
Last but not least, if you’re a believer of variety being the spice of life, take a cue from New York’s vibrant food scene. You can curate a menu that features the best dishes from various global and local cuisines.
While the balancing act of such a menu that features culturally diverse dishes can be tough, you can consider serving some as late-night wedding snacks.
Whether you’re looking for a wedding venue in Los Angeles or need help planning a family style dinner wedding reception, Vivaldi Venues & Catering can be the partner you need to execute your plans. Get in touch with us today to throw a wedding that your guests will remember for a very long time. Cheers!