What's Cookin? Our Reception Menu

Source

One of Tom's favorite hobbies is cooking, and he is really good at it. We have spent many evenings cooking various culinary delights for a living room full of friends and would would never think of having it any other way. That being said, food at our wedding was definitely a priority. Tom refuses to serve his guests sub-par food, and insisted on trying the food before considering a place as a possible reception venue. Our reception venue passed Tom's scrutiny with flying colors. We booked the place shortly thereafter.

Over the holidays, we had the chance to sit down with our reception site coordinator to discuss the menu. Our original intention was to have a sit-down buffet, or family-style meal. Our guest list is full of notoriously picky eaters, and to accommodate everyone, we decided on a selection of comfort foods. After discussing this with the coordinator, it was decided that a traditional buffet would be the most efficient way to serve everyone. At first this made me nervous, I was concerned about the formality of a buffet, and I did not want my guests to be standing in line for long periods of time. Our coordinator assured me that everything will be run as efficiently a possible, with two double-sided buffets that will allow four lines of guests to be accommodated at one time. It took me a minute, but I warmed to the idea. Once the dinner style was selected, we were able to focus on what we would be serving. We chose a variety of appetizers to be served during cocktail hour, as well as the various entrées that would make up our buffet.

We are expecting to have a short cocktail hour, so we opted to go with simple hors d'oeuvres that would not spoil dinner. Upon arriving to our reception, guests will be welcomed with platters of local cheeses, fresh vegetables, fruits, and cocktail snacks. After Tom and I arrive, guests will be served salads at their tables. Then they will be called by table to the buffet where they will have their choice of a variety of comfort foods, such as Italian meatballs, vegetarian lasagna, honey mustard chicken, and baked haddock (we had to incorporate Maine somehow!). Guests will also have their selection of a variety of sides, including mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, and various side salads. Dessert will be our wedding cake, which is lemon cake with choice of almond or fudge buttercream.  I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

My approach to our wedding menu was inspired by a wedding show that I was watching one day. The host was helping a bride choose her reception menu, and asked her to think not only about what she thought of each dish, but what her guests thought of each dish. We wanted to have a menu that made our guests happy and left them satisfied. I think that our menu will do just that.

Did you include a meal as part of your reception?