The Wedding Menu! Surely, it’s something you shouldn’t overlook when making your wedding prep. All the more so if you’re planning a reception party after the ceremony. You’ll want to keep your guests entertained and refreshed as they join you in celebrating your day.
But have you asked yourself yet: What should your wedding menu contain? Not too sure? No worries. In this post, we’ve put together 30 best food Ideas to include in your wedding menu. Not just that, we’re also going to drop some tips from experts on what to consider when choosing what to include in your wedding menu.
So, stick around to the end and enjoy the menu this post offers:
What Does a Wedding Menu Typically Contain?
Before delving into the food ideas you should consider for your menu, let’s review what a wedding reception menu usually contains:
- Appetizers
- Main Dish
- Desserts and/or Wedding Cake
Whether you’ve chosen to serve a printed menu or not, in most cases, couples divide the dishes they’ve prepared into the above parts.
But that’s all for the formality. If you want to add more dishes to your menu or remove from it, the ball is in your court. You can give your guests a personalized experience if you decide to.
Now that we’ve gotten that noted, let’s head over to the main topic or dish for today. Below, we’ve prepared various food ideas that would fit right well into any wedding menu.
30 Food Ideas to Include in Your Wedding Menu
APPETIZERS
1. Suya
Speaking of appetizers, Suyas are a great place to start the list. These slices of meat alongside onions, tomatoes, and other spices have a way of kickstarting the appetite, getting your guests ready for the main dish.
2. Sushi Rolls and Sashimi Slices
The Japanese combination of Sushi (made from rice and seafood) and Sashimi (made from seafood or raw meat) also serves well as an appetizer for your wedding. Just make sure to get a main dish that can beat the expectation it’ll set.
3. Mini Tacos
Yes, in case you were wondering, tacos are great options for a wedding menu. You can choose to serve it as your wedding appetizer for a personalized experience. It can also go alongside other items for your appetizer menu.
4. Spring Rolls
These rolled appetizers containing vegetables, seafood, and/or meat (depending on your preference) allow your guest to keep their taste buds wet in preparation for what is next.
5. Shrimp Cocktail
The name says it all. It consists of cooked shrimp served in a glass of cocktail sauce. Your guests can keep it hand while chatting and enjoying the reception atmosphere you’ve provided.
6. Beef Sliders
Do you love burgers? Have you dreamt of eating them at your wedding? Well, you know where this is going. You can serve burgers, or rather beef sliders (smaller and more portable as your wedding appetizer.
7. Deviled Eggs
Eggs are also great options for your wedding appetizer. By that, we mean Deviled eggs, which have been sliced in half and filled with other ingredients.
8. Chicken Skewers
Having marinated chicken on skewers served at your wedding can make for a good appetizer. If you love this finger food, then don’t hold back from treating your guests.
9. Crab Cakes
This is another perfect option for seafood lovers. The crab meat alongside other ingredients like eggs and bread crumbs are prepared together to give your guests a unique taste experience.
10. Pizzetta
Surely, pizza can’t be served as a wedding appetizer even though it’s a well-loved food around the world. Well, then you should try Pizzetta. It’s practically pizza in smaller pieces. Yes, you can have your guests holding pizza in their fingers while enjoying the reception entertainment.
MAIN DISHES
11. Jollof Rice
This West-Africa popular dish has become the top choice in many weddings as the main dish served. And it doesn’t come as a surprise. Its rich tomato flavor, spices, and aroma leave guests satisfied at weddings, even wanting more.
12. Lasagna
Lasagna is a well-known and popular Italian dish. And not surprisingly, it’s also quite popular as a wedding meal. So, there’s no need to hesitate to make it the main entry of the day if you just can’t get enough of the dish. And the best part? you can opt for or include vegetable lasagna to give your guests variety.
13. Spaghetti
Italy is well-known for its pasta meals. And following Lasagna is the even more popular Spaghetti dish. Some might say this is not a good choice for a wedding meal. But if you and your partner love it, there’s no reason not to go with it. Your wedding is all about sharing your happiest day with your guests. So, don’t hold back from sharing your favorite meal too.
14. Steak
Steak? Sure, steak is fine, but as the main dish? Yes, Believe it or not, steak appears at many weddings around the world as the main course. Serving it alongside various delicious accompaniments like salad, other vegetables, or potatoes is a way of satisfying your guests.
15. Fried Rice
There are just so many ways you can serve rice as your wedding main course. Fried rice is another mouthwatering delicacy you can offer your guests. But it doesn’t stop there. It can also be served together with Jollof rice to create the combination your guests didn’t know they wanted.
16. Chicken Curry
Chicken curry is another top choice you should consider for your reception’s main course. The best part is that it can be accompanied by a variety of other foods, including rice, bread, and salad.
BUFFETS
Instead of having one dish served to your guests, you can also consider setting up a buffet, allowing the combination of several meals per your guests’ tastes. The following are some buffet ideas to include in your wedding menu.
17. Seafood Buffet
Seafoods are loved by many people. And if you do, consider having a seafood buffet. Treat your guests to an all-you-can-eat seafood banquet.
18. BBQ Buffet
Earlier, we mentioned steak as a main dish favorite at many weddings. But if you’d rather have steak alongside other meats, then consider a BBQ buffet. It’s basically the meat version of your seafood buffet.
19. Vegan Buffet
Cater to your vegan guests with a vegan buffet. This is also the ideal option if you’re a vegetarian yourself. You can treat your guests to quinoa salads, diary-free cakes, and vegan baked mac ‘n cheese.
DESSERTS
20. Fruit Skewers
Fruit skewers are perfect candidates for your wedding dessert. They are a healthy option of delicious fruits to keep your guests refreshed. What’s more, they help add to the overall aesthetic of your wedding.
21. Brownies
Brownies are not only delicious but an easy option to get and serve as part of your wedding dessert.
22. Mini Cheesecakes
Serving bite-sized cheesecakes is a good option for your wedding dessert. That’s because they are not only delicious but also easy to eat.
23. Macarons
Macarons are another easy option for your guests to eat as a dessert at your wedding. These small macarons are tasty and can also be packed with gifts for guests to take home.
24. Ice Cream Bar
Everyone loves Ice Cream (At least, most people). So, don’t hold back from going with this option for your wedding dessert.
25. Cookies
Our list wouldn’t be complete without cookies, would it? Cookies are well-known snacks. And yes, they serve perfectly well as wedding desserts.
26. Cupcakes
Cakes are the most popular dessert options at weddings around the world. Giving small cupcakes to your guests will keep them in the mood to party with you longer.
27. Parfaits
Parfaits may not live up to the popularity of cakes as a wedding dessert. But when it comes to taste, you can be sure your guest will appreciate it if you opt for a parfait.
28. Doughnuts
Nobody is ignorant of doughnuts. And the fact that they can be served as a wedding dessert allows you to satisfy any longing left in your guests’ taste buds.
29. Fruit Tarts
Fruit tarts are another option that allows you to satisfy your guests after the main course. With a fruit tart in hand, your guests can continue chatting as the day gradually wraps up.
30. The Wedding Cake
As mentioned earlier, cake is the top wedding dessert option out there. Serving a wedding cake to your guests is one of the best treats you’ll be giving them throughout the day.
What Should You Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Menu?
Now, that you’re brimming with ideas for your wedding menu, what should you keep in mind when you’re narrowing the list?
1. Your Guests
No doubt, without your guests, you wouldn’t even start preparing your wedding menu. That’s why you need to consider their preferences. Go with options that will most likely appeal to them. But when doing so, don’t try too hard. Why? Because everybody has different tastes. So, you should never expect to satisfy everyone who attends your wedding. To help you do this, adhere strictly to your –
2. Budget
Your budget should be the major thing that guides your wedding menu. If you can’t afford a food option, go for a cheaper one. But also, as a reminder, be realistic about current prices. So, when creating your budget, keep current prices in mind as well as the number of guests you’re expecting. If possible, cater for more than you expect to avoid unwanted scenarios at your wedding reception.
3. Your Taste
We’ve talked about your guests and your cash in hand. But what really matters most (after your budget, of course) is your personal taste and preferences. What kind of food options do you and your partner like? Is it something you can afford? If so, don’t hesitate to go for it.
Whether you want a buffet at your wedding or you want to have multiple main dishes for your guests to choose from, it all depends on you and your partner. It’s your choice to make!
Wrapping Up Our List of Ideas for Your Wedding Menu
Creating a wedding menu may not be as easy as it sounds. That’s especially true if you don’t have any idea of what you want beforehand. But no worries. All you need is a little time to think and research what items will fit best in your wedding menu.
In this post, we’ve highlighted 30 food ideas to incorporate in your wedding menu whether as appetizers, main dishes, buffets, or desserts. So, take your time and create a wedding menu that both you and your guests will love.
