Do you want to learn about catering delicious food for a wedding reception? Are you curious about how to craft the perfect wedding buffet menu? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Before we delve into planning the best menu for your event, let’s learn a little bit about how wedding catering has evolved.
The History of Food for Wedding Reception
The origins of wedding catering go further into the past than you might think; in fact, this tradition is rooted in medieval times! Feasting was a social event where the hosts could display their opulence and wealth as their guests joined them for a meal. Centuries later, in the 1800s, multi-course dinners became tied to celebratory events.
Wedding catering as we know it today evolved in the middle of the twentieth century. In the past, feasting was reserved solely for the upper classes of society; it was too expensive for most people to partake in. This all changed when mass-produced food became more readily available in the 1940s and 1950s. Suddenly, catering became much more accessible to the middle classes and considerably grew in popularity.
Although plated dinners are often perceived as the traditional choice for wedding catering, that doesn’t make them the only option! Buffets have quickly become an alternative way to cater a wedding, and in the present day, they are amongst the most common reception catering styles. In fact, a cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a buffet-style dinner is the most popular reception style in New Orleans!
Why to Choose Buffet Food for Wedding Reception
Now that you know more about the origins of wedding catering, let’s consider some of the benefits of high-quality, New Orleans-style food for wedding reception. There are plenty of advantages that buffets have over other catering styles, so let’s review them!
Create a Friendly Atmosphere
A significant disadvantage of plated dinners is that guests are required to sit and converse with the same group of people throughout the whole meal. This doesn’t present any problems when everyone at the table is already close friends. However, if one of your guests is assigned to a table where they don’t know anyone, they may feel out of place and uncomfortable during the dinner.
On the other hand, buffets introduce a more relaxed, exuberant atmosphere. Guests will have the opportunity to chat with others who aren’t at their dinner table as they wait in line for food, meaning that they aren’t as socially isolated. This opens the door for more conversations, filling your reception dinner with lively discussion.
Start Your Own Wedding Tradition
Plated dinners are often seen as the most traditional approach to wedding catering and tend to be very formal. While this may be appropriate for some weddings, a buffet may be better if you and your partner are planning a less traditional wedding. If you want to embrace the individuality of your ceremony and start a new wedding tradition, consider doing so by adding a buffet!
Personalized Dinner Options
Another pro of buffets is that every guest gets to customize their meal to their exact preferences. They get to choose which entrees and sides they are drawn to, ensuring that they will find foods to love.
Buffet dining is also great because it means that your guests can sample every dish. Typically, during plated dinners, each guest only gets to try one of two to three entree options. With buffets, there’s no need to choose! Everyone is welcome to try as many different dishes as they like.
But the personalization options don’t stop there! Another reason to choose a buffet for your wedding is to allow everyone to choose their own portion sizes. No one will go home feeling hungry since they are welcome to return to the buffet for a second (or even third!) helping of food. What’s more, portion control isn’t only ideal for guests; it’s also better for the environment because it limits how much food waste is generated following the reception.
Add on a Station
Wedding stations are a fantastic way to customize your catering further and plan an unforgettable reception! They come in many different forms, which in turn provide fun, self-serve food options to your guests.
Moreover, they also encourage walking around and mingling with guests as you eat, further enhancing the friendly atmosphere created by buffet-style catering. Introduce all of your loved ones to a host of scrumptious new flavors by adding a station to your wedding reception!
Choosing Food for Wedding Reception
As you can see, there are many reasons to love buffets and to choose them for your wedding! If you’re ready to book a buffet for your reception, plan to address the following details.
Pick Dishes that Match Your Wedding Theme
Have a theme in mind for your wedding? If so, it’s important to choose food that will complement it. For example, if you are having a beachside wedding, consider catering local, fresh seafood in order to embrace the coast’s authentic flavors. Alternatively, if you’re hosting a rustic barn wedding, order a blend of hearty Southern cuisines in order to emulate a cozy, home-cooked meal. Your dedication to your theme is sure to delight guests and immerse them in your creative vision.
Consider the Food’s Serving Temperature
When it comes to buffet catering, there is a bit less flexibility in serving temperatures for foods since they will be sitting out for more extended periods of time. Aim to select dishes that can be enjoyed when they are either moderately warm, moderately cold, or at room temperature. If a dish needs to be served piping hot or very cold, it is a less ideal choice for the buffet, especially if you are celebrating at an outdoor venue. Being mindful of food serving temperatures ensures your selections will be as tasty as possible. However, if you work with a trusted caterer like Elysian Events Catering, you won’t have to worry about the food’s temperature since we use equipment and techniques to keep food at the proper temperature, fresh, and delicious!
Mind Guests’ Dietary Restrictions
On your big day, make sure every guest has access to delicious dishes! If you know that you or your guests have dietary restrictions and/or allergies, mark which dishes in the buffet contain sensitive ingredients. You can achieve this by placing recipe cards next to each serving platter. On each card, include the name of the dish and the ingredients within it.
Choose a Caterer that Specializes in Buffets
If you are planning a buffet for your wedding day, it is essential to choose a caterer who has experience outside of plated dinners. This way, they know exactly how to set up the buffet tables at the venue in an easily-accessible, sanitary way.
Choosing a caterer that specializes in buffets is also helpful because they can provide you with additional guidance as you craft your menu. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by options, they can give feedback on dishes that best suit your venue and theme, as well as feel personal to you.
Cater Your Wedding with the Help of Elysian Events
We at Elysian Events Catering offer four different wedding catering packages, and our prices reflect our buffet-style model. Creating one-of-a-kind buffets for every occasion is our specialty, and we pride ourselves on our authentic New Orleans flavors.
We have over ten years of experience in the catering industry, giving us the knowledge necessary to bring your buffet to life. Plus, if you have any favorite foods that don’t currently appear in our catering packages, please let us know! We will collaborate with you to ensure all your favorite flavors are present at your event.
If you are hosting a wedding in the New Orleans area and are interested in a reception buffet, please contact us by phone, email, or through our contact form. Together, we can make your catering dreams come true!
