Are you in the midst of food menu wedding planning and don’t know where to start? There are plenty of delicious options to choose from, but planning a wedding menu goes beyond food; it’s about accommodating your guests and creating a unique catering experience. If you are in the process of planning your wedding, consider the following in order to ensure that your reception offers tasty options for everyone.
Consider Dietary Restrictions
One of the most memorable parts of a wedding is sharing your and your partner’s love for each other with all your family and friends. Inviting your loved ones to your wedding is a wonderful way to blend your families and allow them to get to know each other better.
However, one thing to keep in mind when inviting large groups of people to a wedding is that not everyone has the same dietary needs. Whereas some people are very adventurous eaters and will try practically anything, others may have dietary restrictions that prevent them from eating certain foods. Keep the following dietary restrictions in mind during food menu wedding planning to ensure everyone finds something they love.
Allergies
Allergies are a very serious consideration when planning meals. If you happen to be serving any dishes at the wedding that some guests are allergic to, take care to label these dishes for all guests’ safety.
Gluten-Free
Gluten is a protein found in several different kinds of grains, especially wheat. A person may adopt a gluten-free diet in order to accommodate health conditions like celiac disease or as a form of dieting. Gluten-free people can eat any unprocessed foods that are free of gluten, such as fruits, vegetables, and meat, and processed, gluten-free foods like gluten-free pasta.
Dairy-Free
Dairy-free individuals may want to avoid dairy products due to conditions like lactose intolerance or an allergy to cow’s milk. If you or one of your guests falls into the latter category, make sure to label any foods that contain dairy to ensure a safe, fun wedding.
Vegetarian and Vegan
Neither vegetarians nor vegans eat meat, and the latter also don’t consume other animal products, like milk and honey. Offering meat-free catering options will ensure they can enjoy a hearty, delicious meal too.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder, or SPD, is a condition which causes a person’s brain to process sensory input differently. This can lead to them being sensitive to certain sensory stimuli, whether that be lighting, sounds, smells, tastes, or touch. SPD affects everyone differently, so while some people with SPD may only struggle with one form of sensory input, others might be sensitive to all five types. If you have someone in your life that has SPD that impacts taste, talk to them about what kinds of foods they feel comfortable eating.
Options for Young Guests
Having your littlest family members serve as flower girls or ring bearers can be an enjoyable way to involve them on your special day. However, keep in mind that kids often are pickier eaters than adult guests. Consider kid-friendly dining options if there will be children at your wedding reception.
Accommodating All Dietary Needs
Although there are many dietary needs to consider during food menu wedding planning, it doesn’t have to be difficult to offer great options for everyone! An easy way to identify what your guests can and can’t eat in advance is to include a “dietary restrictions and allergies” section in your wedding invitations. This way, guests can write in any foods they need to avoid at the wedding. Your RSVPs will alert you to how many guests you should expect and allow you to keep everyone’s dining needs in mind.
Choose a Menu with Emotional Significance
Do you have a favorite memory related to food? Perhaps you got engaged on a cold, snowy day while sharing gumbo with your partner, or you enjoyed a wonderful oyster dinner on your first date. Food is a powerful bridge to memory and emotion, so what better way to honor those memories than to share them with your guests?
As you plan your wedding food menu, sit down with your partner and discuss your favorite foods and the stories attached to them. Together, you can create a menu that reflects your one-of-a-kind love story and provide a conversation starter for your guests.
Balance Your Flavors
Maintaining the perfect equilibrium between sweet, savory, spicy, and beyond can be quite the balancing act. As you choose your menu, consider picking dishes from a variety of food groups featuring diverse flavors. For example, if your main entree is something rich & delicious, like cochon de lait, consider pairing it with a lighter side dish, such as roasted green beans with caramelized shallot vinaigrette and toasted pecans.
Feeling overwhelmed by the expansive world of flavors? Get in touch with your caterer! They can collaborate with you to plan a meal that packs a punch and appeals to every palate.
Consider Your Dining Style
Although plated dinners are most common for weddings, there are several other catering options to choose from. For example, in New Orleans, cocktail-style receptions are more popular. These events typically consist of a cocktail hour with drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a buffet-style dinner.
Other dining styles include family-style meals, buffets, and cocktail-style dinners, all of which strike different tones. If you are opting for a traditional, formal dinner, the classic plated dinner is most likely to appeal to your tastes. If you want to have a fun, lively reception a cocktail-style dinner is more likely to fit the bill.
Choose a Caterer You Can Trust
We at Elysian Events Catering understand that weddings take plenty of planning and immaculate attention to detail; the last thing you need on the day of the wedding is to be worried about catering. As you choose your caterer, keep the following in mind.
Professionalism
Opting for a friendly, helpful business with excellent service quality is best. Choosing a caterer with extensive service industry experience is the answer. Elysian Events Catering has been in business for over a decade, making us well-equipped to handle your dining needs.
Licensure
Most catering companies are only able to cater food and non-alcoholic drinks to their clients due to licensure laws. However, we at Elysian Events are also licensed to serve alcoholic beverages to our guests. We can help you alleviate the stress of booking separate vendors for food and drinks since we do it all!
Knowledge of the Venue
Preparedness is essential for any caterer. They should be familiar with the wedding reception venue so that they understand how to set up on the day of the party. This includes understanding where to set up dining areas, how to make food easily accessible for guests, and labeling foods with any necessary ingredient and dietary information.
If you are hosting your wedding in New Orleans and are still looking for a venue, we have a list of several we are familiar with and have loved working with in the past.
High-Quality, Varied Dining Options
When you choose your wedding caterer, you will want to ensure they provide foods you’ll remember fondly for years. As such, we at Elysian Events Catering pride ourselves on offering charming Southern food options for everyone. We invite you to sample our wedding catering packages menu, where you’ll find various catering options tailored to fit your needs and budget. We also proudly serve vegetarian and vegan options to accommodate all guests. If you have other dietary restrictions we should keep in mind; please let us know in our contact form so we can customize our recipes to your tastes.
Food Menu Wedding Planning is a Breeze with Elysian Events
If you are hosting your wedding in New Orleans and love the taste of Southern-style, home-cooked meals, Elysian Events Catering would love to celebrate with you! Our rich flavors and customizable menus are sure to delight you at your next event. To learn more, please get in touch with us through our contact form or email. We can also be reached by phone at (504) 541-0091. We hope to hear from you soon!
