Latest Food and Beverage Trends … We’ve Got the Dish!

The food and drink choices for your reception can be a bit of a tightrope act. Do you stay with the traditional sit-down dinner? Should you have servers pass hors d'oeuvres and drinks? And what about food stations? We spoke with some of the best wedding planners in the industry, and they gave us the scoop about what you can serve at your reception to create a memorable event for even the pickiest foodies.

• Small says it all. Following the culinary trend, “small plates” have hit the wedding reception scene. Wow your guests — in just one bite — with burger sliders, gazpacho presented in a shot glass, or mini stuffed mushrooms on forks. Even your favorite comfort foods like chicken pot pie and macaroni and cheese can be gussied up in petite demitasse cups. One bride served her childhood favorite treats — peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (no crusts) in the shape of her initial. Talk about memorable!
• Feature food stations with flair. While roast beef and pasta stations are not (yet) part of a bygone era, brides and grooms are mixing it up a bit. How about adding a mashed potato bar, with fluffy white and sweet spuds spooned into martini glasses and garnished to order with choices such as chives, sour cream, butter, bacon, brown sugar or marshmallows? For a Mexican twist, treat your party to a taco bar. Offer beef, chicken, and veggie fillings and don’t stop till you top — with diced tomatoes, chopped onions, shredded lettuce, and grated cheese. Sushi stations, complete with chef, are also popular — and nothing enhances the experience like good sake served warm in tiny cups.
• Celebrate your culture. Share your heritage and life experiences through your food and beverage selections. One couple chose an “around-the-world” buffet. Each dish represented a different country where the bride and groom had visited or lived during their courtship.
• Raise your glass. The “station” concept has crossed over to the beverage scene. Mojito, champagne, and margarita specialty bars are a creative and fun way to let your guests customize their cocktails. After-dinner drink stations are also popular. From coffee or cappuccino to sherry or port bars, guests can enjoy their favorite nightcaps with dessert. Some couples include a selection of their favorite Italian red wines at the pasta station, or an array of crisp white wines with seafood or poultry. Limit your wine pairings to smaller “sips” so guests can comfortably try as many as they like.

No matter what your style, you can probably incorporate some of these fun ideas into your reception. Enjoy! ~CM