A festive meal at a wedding is much more than pampering the taste buds and feasting the eyes with the visual aesthetics of snacks, food and drinks. It is the first treat you serve to your guests as a married couple. From the choice of appetizers to the wedding cake, food at a wedding is one of the most important aspects of making you and every guest feel comfortable and taken care of.

In order for the selection of the wedding feast to be 100% successful, it is important to choose both the caterers and to decide on the format of the food presentation in time, and to find out the dietary restrictions of the guests - diets and allergies.

When to start thinking about the menu?

Ideally – as soon as the wedding date and place are known, or at least 6 to 9 months in advance. Many popular caterers are booked up a year in advance, especially during the summer season, so this is one aspect of the celebration that is best arranged as early as possible.

Each couple can have their own vision of the most suitable menu for the wedding celebration - agree on the main aspects already at home, when planning the wedding, so that you can discuss all unclear questions with the service providers - caterers and ask for recommendations.

The most popular wedding food formats

Gone are the days when long, shared tables were an integral part of wedding celebrations. The formats of the celebration meal can be very different - from an elegant three-course dinner to a Swedish buffet table and even food buses for a wedding party in the garden. The most important thing is to choose the one that best suits your wedding style, budget and comfort level of your guests. And just like with any other wedding position, the more authentic you are, the better.

Swedish table

This format is becoming increasingly popular due to the sense of freedom and variety. Guests choose their own dishes from the offer, which is already laid out on the table, and can eat at the time and in the amount they want.

Advantages:

• Varied selection of dishes
• Easier to adapt to dietary restrictions
• Reduces the need for a large service team

Cons:

• Guests must get up from the table (not convenient for older people)
• Queues sometimes form
• Less elegant than a served meal

Suggestion: Set up several serving points so guests don't have to stand in line.

Tables with service

The most traditional and sophisticated option – a multi-course meal like in a restaurant.

Advantages:

• High level of service
• Guests are served
• Elegant

Cons:

• More expensive format (service cost)
• It is more difficult to adapt to the wishes of each guest
• Confirmation of the exact number of guests is required

Tip: Choose 2-3 main dishes that guests can choose in advance.

Food buses

Mobile food buses are becoming a stylish choice especially in more relaxed wedding formats. Burgers, sushi, vegan snacks - a perfect choice for a free-style party in the late evening hours.

Advantages:

• Modern, stylish solution
• A great opportunity for guests to socialize
• Free atmosphere and no attachment to time

Cons:

• Weather dependent
• Good organization is needed to avoid queues
• Harder to adapt to diets

Diet restrictions for guests

Every guest is important, as is their well-being. When planning the menu, it is more than essential to pay attention to the guests' diets - intolerances, allergies, vegan choices, the specifics of the children's menu, which are essential for the guests' health.

What to consider:

• Inform caterers of special dietary needs at the very first meeting.
• Provide at least one vegetarian or vegan alternative for each item on the standard menu.
• Ask for special labeling on tables or menus, such as "vegan", "gluten-free", etc.

If your guests include children, it is worth asking the parents about the specifics of their menus. Children's preferences differ drastically from what adults find delicious.

Tips for children's menu:

• Choose simple, familiar foods.
• Add fun desserts like mini donuts, fruit sticks, and colorful muffins.
• Provide a children's corner where they can feast in a more relaxed atmosphere.

How to ask guests about allergies?

The best way – already in the invitation or RSVP form. A simple question: "Do you have any dietary restrictions or allergies we should know about?" is a smart solution to organize a wedding menu that will suit every guest. Remember that even minor allergies (such as to nuts or lactose) can cause serious reactions. Give information about guests' allergies and intolerances to the caterer and also to the service staff.

Drinks at the wedding

Wedding drinks are much more than champagne or wine for toasting moments. They complement dishes, bring out their flavors and help set the mood. A good choice of drinks can raise the general level of gastronomic pleasure of the wedding meal. The trend of modern weddings is to celebrate them with a limited amount of alcohol or without intoxicating drinks at all, which is also helped by the wide selection of both alcohol substitutes and exciting sparkling drinks, kombucha and attractively designed non-alcoholic cocktails.

Desserts and cakes

The possibilities of modern desserts are endless and exciting both in taste and in visual aesthetics – from classic multi-tiered cakes to small, personalized snacks. The recommendation of wedding professionals, which will also determine the direction of the wedding scenario - to serve the wedding cake immediately after the ceremony. If once the cake was the queen of the late evening, now it is often the very first treat, because the moment after the ceremony is exactly when the most tense emotions are released, true and liberated joy enters the wedding atmosphere, and after the emotional tension, the guests will be happy to judge a delicious piece of cake that they can appreciate from the heart. On the other hand, the late evening hour is when the guests are tired and have enjoyed themselves quite a lot, so that they can no longer raise the cake in a proper way.

Once again, authenticity enters the sweetest zone of wedding tastes - there are couples who don't want a cake at all, and replace it with sweets and a dessert table where you can express yourself to your heart's content - from mini tiramisu desserts and macaroni towers to panna cotta and doughnuts.

Attract professionals

When your holiday is approaching and you really want someone else to take care of delicious snacks and a warm dinner or a leisurely brunch... Someone who is good at it brings joy and satisfaction, and it looks so tempting on the holiday table that it is impossible to resist without tasting it all. Indulge yourself and indulge in the magic of holiday anticipation with no worries as Moonbar Catering will take care of your holiday meal for weddings, birthdays, corporate events and outings. Take a look and order a delicious meal at your event for yourself and your loved ones, as well as full service bar service: https://ligavam.lv/kazam/kazu-banketi/moonbar-catering !

Author of the article: Ieva Simanovića