The reception for your wedding is a time to enjoy friends and family and celebrate your marriage with those most special to you. A good reception is characterised by dancing, talking, socialising and heartfelt speeches. But, tasty, good quality food is also a big part of this event. Guests often look forward to this as [...]

The reception for your wedding is a time to enjoy friends and family and celebrate your marriage with those most special to you. A good reception is characterised by dancing, talking, socialising and heartfelt speeches. But, tasty, good quality food is also a big part of this event. Guests often look forward to this as one of the highlights of your wedding.

When deciding on what to include on your menu, it is imperative that you keep the tastes and dietary preferences of your guests in mind. In order to please the tastebuds of the majority, many engaged couples decide to opt for the usual catering choices, such as roast beef and vegetables, for example.

However, there remains plenty of opportunity for creativity while you can still keep your wedding menu tasty and interesting. Consider including some of these catering alternatives to make the dining part of your special day extra impressive:

• Champagne bar – for a really sophisticated approach, serve dry champagne (or sparkling wine) with oysters, strawberries, cheeses, smoked mussels, etc… Set up a station at which your guests can help themselves to tasty treats and quality bubbly.
• Mini burgers – mini gourmet burgers are certainly popular amongst young and old. Create platters of these treats using good quality rolls, homemade beef or chicken patties and a tasty dipping sauce. This make for fabulous hors d’oeuvres while guests await your return from your wedding photographs.
• Popcorn – serve salted or candied popcorn in sweet handmade cones for a cheap, new and tasty alternative.
• Ice cream / Sorbet – there are some tantalising ice cream and sorbet flavours available, including savoury options (such as gorgonzola, red wine and avocado), which are sure to be a pleasant surprise to sceptical guests.
• Pies – a well-made pie is a delicious, somewhat rare, treat. Have platters of little pies made up for hors d’oeuvres or sweet, fruit-filled pies for dessert.
• Regional cuisine – if one or both of you (as the bridal couple) are from another country, consider a catering theme centred on the cuisine from that land. This will be particularly enjoyable for your friends to sample, and will remind your family of their favourites back home.
• Sushi bar – hire a pro sushi chef to make delicious bites of fresh sushi for guests as they order and request it. This is a great feature and will delight your guests that love sushi. Ensure that only a small number of items are made available on limited menus so that the chef is not expected to create very complicated and time-consuming sushi snacks.
• Cookies and milk – this is an easy alternative to a formal dessert and is the ultimate in comfort food. Create a milk station at which guests can choose from a variety of flavoured milks as well as an array of different biscuits.
• Donuts – a tiered cake stand overflowing with sugary iced donuts is sure to create a beautiful sight. This can just be an added feature to your wedding, or can replace a formal wedding cake.
• Soup shooters – let your guests taste a range of delicious soups by serving them in shot glasses. This is a great way to keep them happy while they wait for you to return from the photographs. It also doubles as a starter.