Wedding Reception Food Ideas

Wedding Reception Food Ideas

Coming up with wedding reception food ideas is easy now that you have determined what type of reception you would like to have.

You can save a lot of money by asking family members to help you plan andprepare your wedding reception. Chances are, they will be honored to help.It will give them a chance to bring out and dust of some of those favorite secret family recipes.

Here are a few wedding reception food ideas to get your imagination rolling...

Sunrise Ceremony - Breakfast Reception - 8 AM to 11 AM

* Food Stations

Have a continental breakfast. Set up your mini buffet tablesdecoratively with various types of pastries, croissants and fruit. Cantaloupe,honeydew melons, fresh strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and grapes are favorites. Creme puffs, chocolate eclairs, muffins, bagels, fruit filled donuts and turnovers would be perfect. Make sure you have fresh coffee, teaand fruit juices as well.

* Buffet Style

Try a pancake breakfast! This is fun. We used to do this back home. A favorite uncle would always volunteer to be the cook. If you are getting married on the beach, have the breakfast reception in the picnic area. Get that uncle to fire up the grill and cook pancakes, bacon and sausage for everyone. It is much easier and quicker than you think. The pancake batter is premixed and in pitchers for easy pouring and you know pancakes cook very quickly. Everyone gets a fresh hot meal. Have a buffet table set up with the necessary toppings - butter, syrup, fresh blueberries and whipped cream. Serve fresh coffee, tea and fruit juice.

[Photo courtesy of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts]
Made by Nina Torres of Cakes Plus in Tampa

Consider having a Krispy Kreme wedding cake.

Late Morning Ceremony - Lunch Reception - 11 AM to 2 PM

* Buffet Style

Just have an assortment of cold cuts, salads, cheeses, sandwiches and desserts. Fruit, pasta and potato salads, deviled eggs, cottage cheese, fresh vegetables and dips...the ideas are endless.
Most major supermarkets are experts

at creating beautiful platters of these types of foods. In our area, Publix has a stunning selection. You may not have a Publix store in your area, but look at their site anyway. It is full of excellent information on planning your wedding reception. There are all kinds of wedding reception food ideas. They also have beautiful photo galleries of cakes and food platters.

Consider having a Cupcake Wedding Cake.

Early Afternoon Ceremony - Tea Reception - 2 PM to 4 PM

* Buffet Style

Wedding reception food ideas here are a piece
of cake! ;)

Serve doughnuts, petit fours, pies, and mini specialty cakes such as carrot cake and cheesecake. Have a finger sandwiches as well for those who don't like sweets or can't have them. Use huge punch bowls filled with fruit punch and decorated with fruit slices as both refreshment and centerpiece. Of course, serve tea and coffee as well.

Consider having a Cookie Wedding Cake.

Late Afternoon Ceremony - Dinner Reception - 4 PM to 7 PM

* Buffet Style

Unless you are having an extremely formal wedding, go with the buffet style. The menu will be more flexible and the guests will be more relaxed. Having a choice of foods and the freedom to sit where they choose is much more pleasant. This would be a great time to fire up the barbeque for that beach party wedding.

* Formal Style

Usually the caterer will offer you a fixed menu of wedding reception food ideas. The titles are fancy and the food is expensive! Occasionally them may make exceptions or substitutions if requested. When choosing this type of menu you will not please everybody. Try to keep it relatively simple. Some people are just plain folks and won't even know what it is they are eating if you make your selections to impress. Trust me on this one. I have been to weddings where the menu sounded something like this:

Entr�e: Pan-Seared Caramelized Atlantic Salmon with Lemon Cape Beurre-Blanc or Red Snapper paired with Purple Sticky Rice infused with Coconut.

By the time I got out of there, I would have killed for a burger!

Sunset Ceremony - Wine and Cheese Reception - 7 PM to Midnight

* Food Stations

This would be the easiest and cheapest type of receptionto have. It's great if you have a large guest list that you don't want to shave.Extend the romance of the sunset ceremony into the reception. Beautiful minibuffet tables could be decorated with finger foods. Make gorgeous edible centerpieces out of fruits and cheese. Serve champagne, wine, beer and punch.Tropical music playing in the background while guests nibble and mingle issimple yet delightful.

Add enchanment to the evening. Hire a professional magicianto entertain your guests. If you find a good one, this is really fun!Top it all off with wedding cake and...that's it! Cheap and easy, yet relaxed, beautiful and very memorable.

Consider having Individual Mini Wedding Cakes.

Hopefully, this has given you some food for thought! Use your imagination. Get together with family and start cooking up those wedding reception food ideas.

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Reception Types & Wedding Reception Food Ideas