Deciding on your wedding catering isn’t always a piece of cake – that’s why we’re here to help!
We know that choosing the food can be stressful, so we’ve listed 5 different ways to serve food at your wedding, with the pros and cons of each.
Plus, you can dive into our individual menus to see exactly what your guests could enjoy – just don’t look if you’re hungry…
We’re starting out the 5 different ways to serve food at your wedding with…
#1 Sit down formal
The traditional way to serve meals during wedding receptions, the sit down formal style has been a staple of bridal celebrations since forever. Often referred to as ‘wedding breakfasts’, these menus feature rich, complex meals.
Pros
Sit down formal dinners can be flexible to fit with your theme. For example, we offer an exclusively Welsh menu made with food sourced locally – perfect for a Welsh wedding.
Cons
It’s in the name: formal. If you’re after a more relaxed affair, where guests can mingle and dip back into the food when they please, you’re better off with one of the options listed below.
Signature dishes
Here’s a glimpse of the type of food you can find in a sit down formal dinner.
- Pork tenderloin served with marquis potatoes, stilton & bacon sauce
- Roulade of lemon sole & prawn mousse, with an asparagus & cream sauce
- Apple & Welsh honey crumble served with Penderyn whiskey custard
#2 Finger buffet
Finger buffets are sometimes associated with children’s parties or big birthday celebrations, but the humble buffet has been enjoying a reinvention over the years. While sandwiches are still a classic element (who doesn’t love little sandwiches?), new ideas for serving sophisticated buffet food have made finger buffets for weddings a first-class choice.
Pros
Finger buffets are relatively stress-free, removing the extra serving staff and stripping it back to your guests and food. Plus, you can mix and match food items to your heart’s content, creating a totally bespoke buffet menu.
Cons
Depending on the size and layout of your venue, you may need to consider where to place your serving stations in order to avoid a guest pile-up in one area of the room!
Signature dishes
Here’s a glimpse of the type of food you can find in a finger buffet.
- Quiche lorraine and sautéed leeks with Perl Las quiche
- Sun blushed tomato, feta and basil filo parcels
- Platter of breaded mushrooms, onion rings & jalapeño peppers
#3 Carvery & BBQ
Not just for Sundays or garden parties anymore! Carvery and BBQ options for wedding food can hit the spot in two different seasons; winter for carveries, summer for barbecues. Customisable meals like these mean guests can eat what they prefer, and can even change their minds at the last minute if necessary.
Pros
Who doesn’t love a carvery or a BBQ? Serving much-loved food to hungry guests is always a winner, with less risk of uneaten or wasted food. Plus, of the 5 different ways to serve food at your wedding, a BBQ is probably the most ‘different’.
Cons
While these types of meals come with vegetarian options, meat is still a huge presence on the menu. Therefore, if you’ve got a high proportion of vegetarian guests, this may not be the menu for you.
Signature dishes
Here’s a glimpse of the type of food you can find in a carvery or BBQ.
- Baked ham with a Welsh honey & mustard glaze
- Roast sirloin of British beef served with a rich cream peppercorn sauce or traditionally with Yorkshire pudding
- 100% British steak burger with garlic & chilli
#4 Canapés
Canapés undoubtedly add an air of sophistication to any event, and weddings are no exception. Rather than staying at tables for a set amount of time, served canapés offer guests the chance to mill about and mingle.
Pros
If you’re worried about catering to your guests’ tastes, canapés are a crowd pleaser. Meat, fish, vegetarian food and desserts can all be bite-sized fun, with guests picking and choosing.
Cons
Without the stomach-lining benefits of a heavier meal, some bridal couples worry that canapés aren’t substantial enough for guests. Invariably though, it comes down to quantity: order enough canapés for all, and no one goes hungry.
Signature dishes
Here’s a glimpse of the type of food you can find in a canapés menu.
- Jack Daniels glazed belly pork skewers
- Oysters, black pepper and lime
- Eton Mess in shot glasses
#5 Bowl food
Stylish mini meals that bring informality to any wedding, bowl food keeps it casual while still offering substantial amounts. Like with canapés, bowl food means guests can move around and the room can stay flexible.
Pros
Serving bowl food is a great way to offer a continental or ‘around the world’ meals. We offer British, Greek, French, Italian, Japanese and Indian menus, so you can enjoy your favourite cuisine on your most important day.
Cons
While casual can be a lot of fun, it doesn’t cut the mustard for all bridal couples. If you’d prefer something more formal or traditional, a sit down dinner may be the way to go.
Signature dishes
Here’s a glimpse of the type of food you can find in a bowl food menu.
- Tempura prawns with soy and chilli dipping sauce
- Coq au vin with smoked bacon, caramelised shallots, tarragon mash and a red wine & sherry vinegar reduction
- Linguine with pesto and French beans with parmesan shavings
When it comes to the big day, catering is key. Of course, none of these 5 different ways to serve food at your wedding is the right way or the wrong way. Ultimately, you have to choose what you prefer – and we know your guests will love it too.
Like this post? Check out some others!
- 15 unique wedding food ideas for a memorable day
- Wedding FAQs: The answers to the top 10 questions we get asked
- The best restaurants in Cardiff, as chosen by the Spiros team
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