Planning an Appetizing Wedding Menu

Trust us when we say your guests would hardly forget the food if it, with no doubt, flares their taste buds. Yes, they don’t care about your one million rupee saree, the grandeur of the décor or any other minute detail you planned so carefully; if the food is bad, you will not hear the end of it! The wedding feast is one of the main highlights of the occasion. The memories of one’s tongue are stronger than the memories of their mind. If you are planning on hosting your wedding for a small crowd at your home sweet home or wishing to host your wedding at the outdoors at a magnificent destination, the first thing you will need is a caterer who would serve world-class food to your guests just as a five-star hotel chef would do. However, before you meet a caterer, you should be having a great insight about the trends and fads in the wedding market that revolves only around the matter of food, so that your special feast will be nothing but extraordinary. Nevertheless, you may have doubts about what could possibly bring a twist to your reception feast. You may wish to gather some knowledge and look into the choices you are open to before discussing the menu with your caterer. Shove the worries away! We have brought to you some exciting content, curated with the help of Gayan Hadinnapola, the Managing Director of JU Caters Udumbara. Dive into this read that’s going to take you on a journey filled with delectable cuisines and tasty drinks. 

Picking Your Feast Style is the First Step

The food you serve partially depends on the type and theme of your wedding. The couple has to first consider what theme they opt for - whether they need a more formal wedding setting or a more laid back informal, party-type of a function. At present, couples tend to prefer more outdoor functions, such as a nuptial in a beachfront villa or near a lake in the open space. In such occasions, the guests are served with a selection of tea with sweets as they arrive, followed with a selection of finger food and the main meal with a range of action stations. Some opt to serve a mid-night snack for some of their guests before they leave.

A sit down dinner is a graceful option for a formal wedding that would leave your guests feeling overwhelmed. Your guests would love the idea of being served and waited on rather than having to leave their seats. This is also a much practical option if the venue is not spacious enough. Although this may seem to be an expensive choice, especially if you are planning on having more than three courses, this is also a kind and generous act towards your guests. However, you are also free to opt for a buffet or BBQ as it is a more relaxed and fun option for a reception. This also goes along with a less formal occasion such as a backyard or garden wedding. A buffet also aids you to serve a wider variety of cuisines for distinct tastes and preferences. 

The next best alternative is serving appetizers. You are not necessarily obliged to serve your guests with full meals. Think about stuffing the guests with heavy meals during an evening wedding – It’s a complete NO! It doesn’t work that way. Serving heavy appetizers will help you save food and aid the guests to freely mingle, drink and dance. Not just that, it will also be a cheaper option, instead serving a full meal. 

What more? Have you heard about the Carve at the Table style yet? If not, let us break the news then! This is a twist to traditional wedding feasts where your pick of meat is carved at the table while your guests are given a chance to be entertained by watching it. This adds a little bit of fun and entertainment to sit down dinners. Couples now prefer to delight their guests with more novel concepts ranging from finger food buffets to cheese tables, sushi corners to modernized Sri Lankan food corners such as savory hoppers and many more.

Food Stations Are Here to Rule

The best way to serve guests at a cocktail style reception would be to have a themed food station of your choice. You may even have multiple food stations, each serving a different type of cuisine from succulent sushi, mini burgers, fine cheese and wine, spicy Mexican treats or luscious desserts. 

The food stations have to complement the main food items you intend to serve. The number of live action stations also should be selected based on the number of guests the couple is planning to invite. If you have a long guest list, then you should not have too many varieties of food at action stations as it would create long queues and some guests might not even get a chance to taste. If you are planning to invite fewer number of guests, action station will definitely create a more personalized feeling. Food is always better when you eat it just as it is cooked. Nowadays, action stations can range from Burrito Corners to Roti Carts. 

Eco Menus and Their Emergence in the Talk of Weddings

An Eco menu is the latest IT thing in the matter of weddings. Terms such as organic, sustainable, free trade, seasonal and locally produced are much more popular among present-day couples who feel a responsibility towards sustainability. A destination wedding consists of 90% expatriate guests. In such occasions, you tend to have lot of guests with different food preferences. So, this shows the growing demand for Eco menus. Hence, caterers now have developed a range of Sri Lankan and western dishes that are made out of hand picked vegetables and greens from ecofriendly farms. Caterers also work with suppliers who produce organic vegetables.

Cake & Punch Receptions

This doesn't necessarily mean the guests are only served a piece of cake and a punch. Actually, the concept of a cake & punch reception is that, instead of serving your guests a full sit down meal or even a buffet, you provide light snacks and desserts with few beverages. This is a very common form when it comes to Church weddings, followed by receptions. People tend to be more relaxed and they also move around a lot in this kind of a setting. Initially, when this type of serving was promoted, some thought it is done with the intention of cutting down expenditure. On one hand, it’s true, as the newly married couple do not have to lock their happiness over a bank loan that they have taken to pay for the banquet. However, guests really do enjoy a cake & punch reception if it is done right. 

Make Way for the Cocktails, Gelato and Oh, Wait – Coffee!

With the Sri Lankan weather, it is refreshing to serve a wedding cocktail such as “The Blushing Bride Champagne Cocktail” or even a “Sweet on You Strawberry Vodka Lemonade”. Again, we would suggest you to have a sample tasting with your barman before you finalize the beverages. It goes by the saying, the best drink in the world is the drink you love the most. Mocktails with Iced Tea or King Coconut also sets a tropical ambiance.  

Want to beat the heat at the beach wedding? Yes! Gelato and ice cream carts are quite the fad these days with justified reason – nothing is more welcoming than a yummy gelato at 4.00p.m on sunny beach while the guests await the bride’s arrival. And this one will surely keep the kids occupied through the ceremony without you having to give unwelcoming stares at your little guests.

Skipping to the new favorite at weddings – coffee, let’s just say we see a widely growing ardor for this warm drink. Caterers are now focusing on the concept of keeping a coffee station open as the guests love the idea. It simply keeps them warm and happy. 

Serving Your Vegan Friends

Serving vegetarian food is no longer a challenge. Some couples want their menu to be 100% vegetarian. What you need to keep in mind when selecting vegetarian dishes is that you need to get the correct combination of flavors. And then, you are all set. However, don’t opt for a complete no-meat menu as some of your guests may not be into the vegan lifestyle. For them, a meal isn’t complete without meat. 

Planning the Perfect Wedding Menu

Planning the perfect menu is equivalent to buying that perfect wedding dress. You need to get the faultless fit between your preferences of food, while it also complements the theme, and most importantly the budget. A big mistake that countless couples make is that they tend to opt for the standard menus and try to select the one that best fits their budget. We recommend you to discuss your thoughts with the caterer, inform them about your likes and dislikes and who your guests are going to be. Never pick a standard menu. Your wedding is the most memorable day in your life, so you need to make everything special from the welcome drink to the dessert you serve. There is nothing called must have items at a wedding. It all depends on the theme, people who you invite and also the budget. What you need to realize is that your guests will remember what you served them and how well it was done.