Wedding menu: tips to choose the perfect one

Choosing the wedding menu is one of the most difficult tasks for the bride and groom when organizing the wedding. Will everyone like it? It will be right? It will be a good combination…? And a thousand more questions that appear while choosing the menu.

Also, it is one of the most important things in a wedding, because as it’s said, the guests remember if they had a good time and if they ate well. To help you in this task, we tell you our tips to choose the perfect wedding menu.

Choose the wedding format

The first thing to consider, when selecting the wedding menu for the reception, is the wedding format you want. Do you want a traditional format, with a cocktail (appetizers) and then a seated banquet? Or do you prefer a more casual, cocktail-like format, with lots of appetizers and buffets, where there is no seated banquet? Or maybe you want to organize a completely different wedding, and make a totally different format such as, for example, organize a big paella with friends and family.

Having clear from the beginning, the wedding format you want, will be key to organize the menu and begin to select the dishes.

Combinations cocktail – banquet

If you choose the traditional format, with cocktail and after a seated banquet, it will be important to decide if you want to make:

• The cocktail and then: starter, main course, dessert and cake
• A more complete cocktail and then: directly a main course, dessert and cake

If you prefer the cocktail to be abundant, with a variety of buffets (ham buffet, cheese, Japanese, showcooking, rice, etc.) and appetizers, perhaps the best option will be to start directly with a main course at the banquet. And if you want to make starter and main course, we recommend you choosing a shorter and lighter cocktail.

Also, depending on the chosen appetizers, it will combine better then with the chosen plates at the banquet. For example, if the main course is meat, maybe you can select more fish and vegetable options during the cocktail.

Know your guests

Normally, the wedding menu is the same for all guests, so it will be important to think about the general tastes of your family and friends. It will also be important to consider the culture or traditions of your guests. If for example, there is a big part of the family, which traditionally does not eat a certain meat, perhaps it is better not to choose it as main course, and select a dish that can suite everyone.

For people with allergies, intolerances or special diets (vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, etc.), usually the venue or catering where you organize the wedding, have it very controlled and adapt the menu to their needs. So, you don’t have to worry about anything. Simply, by informing about the guests who require a special menu will be enough and your guests will be very well attended.

For children, a children’s menu is usually chosen. With dishes specially designed for them that they will love: macaroni, cannelloni, fried chicken steaks, waffle with chocolate… More than one adult would prefer the children’s menu, right?

Reflect the personality of the couple in the menu

Apart from considering the tastes of your guests, it will also be important and very nice, that the menu reflects the personality of the couple.

If for example, the bride or groom is from a foreign country, and some dish or appetizer remembers of its cuisine, it will be beautiful detail. Or for example, if you are cheese lovers, you can choose a cheese buffet during the cocktail.

It will be nice to see that the guests realize it and see your personality and tastes reflected in the menu.

Consider the season and time of day when the wedding is celebrated

Considering the season in which the wedding is celebrated, it will be essential to choose the ideal menu, since we do not want the same in summer as in winter.

For autumn and winter weddings you can choose more copious and warm dishes (shrimp raviolis, mushroom cannelloni, roasted meats in their sauce, etc.).

Instead, in spring and summer weddings it will be better choosing fresher and lighter options (salmon tartar, fish with a vegetable sauce, lighter meats combined with fruits, seafood salad, etc.). You can also consider the fruits and vegetables of each season.

It will also be important to consider whether it is a day wedding or a night wedding. In day weddings, you can opt for more abundant options and in night wedding, maybe slightly lighter options.

Snacks after the banquet

Another thing to think about, after the banquet, will be the snacks for the dance “recena”: a buffet with snacks placed during the party (mini pizzas, mini sandwiches, tequeños, sweets, etc.).

Thinking about whether your guests will prefer sweet or savory, will help you decide what options you choose, or both. If you are sure that your guests (or the bride and groom!) prefer sweet, we recommend you the Candy bar. A sweet table full of pastries and sweets, to end the wedding in the sweetest way.

Try the menu before the wedding

One of the main things we recommend you, is to do a menu tasting before the wedding. Normally, the catering or venue where you organize the wedding, already organizes a menu tasting, but if not, it will be a good idea to make it. Since this way, you can see if you like the dishes and if they are a good combination between them. For example, from the options they offer you, you can choose 3 starters, 3 main courses, 3 desserts and 3 cakes, and from there, select the winning dishes that will create your perfect wedding menu.

Normally, the same day of the menu tasting you try the wines, so it will be great to see if they combine with each dish.

Let you help by professionals

One of the best tips we can give you, is that you let help and guide you by the professionals of the venue or catering where you organize the wedding. They have a lot of experience, and they design menus and plates designed to like all the guests and to be a success.

Do not hesitate to contact us for more information about the gastronomic offer we offer at our venues, and to find the perfect menu for your wedding.