Planning a menu for your wedding involves curating meals that match the theme; your food choices should also complement each other. Wedding caterers can serve the food in different ways, which affects the atmosphere and flow of the event. Distinctive Catering provides carefully crafted menus to align with various wedding styles; our caterers also help manage logistics and finalize details. Here are some tips for planning your menu with a wedding catering team:
Decide the Meal Service Style
Catering companies provide different meal services, so you can have a setup that matches your wedding theme. The setup helps determine if the event will be casual or formal. Some wedding catering services provide:
- Plated Meals: Use plated service to promote a formal and polished environment. Professional staff serves entrées and desserts to your guests, and they use high-quality china and linens.
- Buffet Style: For a more relaxed environment, such as an open house reception, include a buffet setup. This allows guests to serve themselves at their convenience.
- Family Style: Intimate rehearsal dinners or engagement parties can benefit from a family-style meal service. Staff provides each table with platters of food, so guests have various options to choose from and won’t need to leave their table.
- Strolling Stations: This option may offer more options and themes than a buffet; some caterers provide slider, pasta, fajita, and baked potato stations. Having four stations allows guests to select food based on their preferences, instead of being limited to one or two selections.
Choose Complementary Dishes
Caterers can work with you to select dishes that complement each other. They provide multiple options for appetizers, main entrées, and desserts, and your wedding caterer helps you select food with textures and flavors that work together. Pair a heavy pasta entrée with light appetizers, like a fruit or vegetable tray. If the appetizer portion of the wedding is spaced some time before dinner, offer more substantial options, such as meat hors d’oeuvres. Meals that are heavy on meat and savory sauces may pair well with light desserts. Some caterers provide chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate fondues served with fruit chunks.
A wedding caterer may provide themed meals to match cultural wedding celebrations. Several options include Hawaiian, Polish, and Italian buffets. You can also have a Mexican-style buffet; this offers fajitas or tacos. Some of these options include salads as a light side dish. Caterers are able to curate a balanced meal of proteins and vegetables.
Finalize the Details
Finalizing your menu details helps streamline the meal, and the caterer supports you throughout the process. Make sure your caterer is aware of any guest allergies or dietary restrictions. You can include vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options in your menu. Confirming the guest count verifies that the caterer prepares the right amount of food. Bar service is also available, and you can select from varied packages. These offer different combinations of house wines, craft beer, domestic beer, and signature drinks.
Use Wedding Catering Services
Wedding catering services provide meals that meet your guests’ needs and your preferences. The setup can support an efficient flow, so it won’t interfere with other festivities or socializing. Catering companies set up the tables and food, and they clean up afterward. They may also box remaining food for you or your guests to take home. Contact Distinctive Catering to help you plan a professional and flavorful menu for your wedding.