Eat With Eyes & Stomach

A meat, two sides and bread have long been replaced as standard wedding reception fare. Today’s couples understand we eat with our eyes and our stomachs and are choosing foods with high quality ingredients, vibrant color and intense flavors. All of this can be done without being overly costly.

Here are 100 food choices to serve at your wedding reception.

Pick and choose those that meet your budget & style.

Hors d’oeuvres or Appetizers

1. One-sip soups
2. Vegetable spring rolls
3. White vegetable crudités
4. Duck quesadillas with mango salsa
5. Deviled eggs
6. Mini-reubens on cocktail rye
7. Shrimp puffs
8. Polenta squares
9. Endive spears stuffed with shrimp and mango salsa
10. Parmesan beignets
11. Dilled cucumber & smoked salmon and asparagus finger sandwiches
12. Mini crab cakes

Beverages

1. Raspberry mint lemonade
2. Bubbly bars with champagne-guests choose to add fizz, fresh fruit and fruit juices to the flutes or shot glasses
3. Iced coffee
4. Italian sodas
5. Flavored martinis-pomegranate, apple cider and green apple
6. Peach and mango margaritas
7. Sangria (A blend of wine, liqueurs & seasonal fruit)
8. Cappuccino and espresso bars
9. Cocktails served in Mason jars, especially at vintage-style events
10. Micro-brewed beers
11. International coffee bar with Kahlua, Bailey’s, Tia Maria, Grand Marnier and other cordials.
12. Zero-alcohol bars with infused waters, homemade lemonades and specialty ice teas

Food Stations

1. Frozen vodka and caviar bar
2. Action Station where chef prepares omelet, fajita, pasta, tapas, sushi or steak
3. Carving board (Ham, turkey, beef or lamb)
4. Pancake bar with multiple topping and syrup choices
5. Mashed potato bar where chef folds in caviar, lobster, roasted garlic or sauteed mushrooms
6. Sushi
7. Pasta (Two types with variety of sauces)
8. Salad bar
9. Seafood-Shrimp, oysters, scallops, clams (Add a lit ice sculpture & use as a focal point)
10. Grilled meat, including hamburgers, hot dogs and Polish sausages
11. Ice cream sundae bar
12. Breakfast bar with heart-shaped waffles and specialty syrups, popovers filled with scrambled eggs, and a variety of frittatas

Dinner

1. Rack of lamb or grilled baby lamb chops in plum sauce on a bed of spaghetti squash
2. Artichoke and wild mushroom risotto
3. Ginger marinated smoked duck breast
4. Filet Mignon with truffle sauce
5. Pecan encrusted chicken
6. Chilean sea bass
7. Grilled cheese and Soup (variety of breads, cheeses and soups)
8. Miniature pizzas
9. Smoked chicken orzo
10. Lamb spring rolls
11. Curried Chicken
12. Bacon themed food-wrapped shrimp, bacon wrapped figs, etc.
13. Potato leek soup
14. Grilled swordfish kabobs
15. Chicken satay
16. Meatballs-pork, beef, lamb and pistachio, etc.
17. Halibut steak
18. Breakfast food for dinner
19. Grilled portobello mushroom
20. Lobster salad
21. Lettuce wraps
22. Fish tacos
23. Sausages of duck, venison or rabbit served with specialty mustard
24. Wiener schnitzel
25. Crab-stuffed trout
26. Pepper-encrusted filet of sirloin
27. Calamari
28. Chicken breast with rosemary and wild mushrooms
29. Wild game: Buffalo, pheasant, grouse, deer and rabbit
30. Grilled quail or quail pie
31. Baked cheese grits
32. Vidalia onion souffle
33. Pot stickers and wontons with sweet potato puree
34. Fried soft shell crab
35. Quail and pheasant quesadillas
36. Oysters Rockefeller
37. Goat cheese chive whipped potatoes
38. Fresh pineapple soup

Dessert

1. Chocolate sponge wedding cake with raspberry filling
2. Rum cake
3. Apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream
4. Coconut macaroons
5. Mini pudding shots (lemon meringue, sour cherry, praline, etc.)
6. Carrot cake with cream cheese
7. Glazed donuts
8. Souffles
9. Cheesecake or cheesecake lollipops
10. Chocolate mousse torte
11. Snow cones
12. Cronuts (1/2 croissant + 1/2 donuts)
13. Warm gingerbread

Late Night Snacks

1. Frozen yogurt
2. Hot pretzels
3. Finger sandwiches
4. Desserts like cookies, angel food cake with fresh berries, strawberry-rhubarb pudding, tiny fruit tartlets, tiramisu, key lime pie or cheesecake
5. Pizza or taco bar
6. Vegetables and dips & cheese and crackers
7. Chocolate fondue and fresh fruit
8. Milk shakes
9. Snow cones with cocktail syrups
10. Gourmet teas and coffees
11. Ice cream sundae bar and sorbets
12. Flavored popcorn
13. Specialty chips and dips

Have a wedding planning or etiquette question? Ask me. SHARE with those planning weddings.

Linda Leier Thomason is a former CEO who writes freelance business and travel stories, along with feature articles. Her work experiences include a Fortune 500 corporation, federal government, entrepreneurship and small business. Find out more about Linda by clicking the “Meet Linda” tab above. Interested in working together? Complete this form below.

©Copyright. February 2016. Linda Leier Thomason

All Rights Reserved.