When planning a wedding, most couples focus on what food they’ll serve, and of course, that’s a BIG part of it, but it’s so easy to overlook the timings for your food, and this is just as important!
Figuring out how the wedding catering will fit in around the awesome events of your wedding day requires plenty of consideration. After all, hungry guests are rarely happy guests and on the flipside, the last thing you need is for the food service to clash with other important moments. Instead, you should be thinking about how your catering can help to set the scene throughout the day.
In this guide, we will take you through a typical wedding food timeline, helping you to understand how each catering stage contributes to the guest experience and overall success of the day.
The Drinks Reception: Setting the Tone for the Day
That all-important drinks reception usually happens straight after the wedding ceremony. It’s a lovely first impression and introduction to the reception venue, as well as an opportunity for guests to mingle, clink glasses and reflect on what a beautiful experience they’ve just had (being a guest at your wedding ceremony).
A wedding drinks reception is a great way to break the ice and allow less formal fun to follow, now that everything is official – and it will keep your guests occupied while photographs are taken.
At this point, alongside your drinks selection, it’s worth considering some delicious canapés – the perfect match for a wedding drinks reception. Elegant, bite-sized and easy to enjoy while mingling, canapés help keep guests satisfied between the ceremony and wedding breakfast. They also create a fantastic talking point, adding an extra touch of luxury to the occasion while ensuring hunger pangs are kept firmly at bay. For couples looking to make an even bigger impression, a beautifully sumptuous grazing tables can provide a stunning centrepiece and an irresistible selection of treats for guests to enjoy.
The Wedding Breakfast: The Main Event
With the love and laughter flowing, it’s then time for the main event – the wedding breakfast – which is so called, not because it’s held at breakfast time, but because it’s your first proper meal as a married couple. Guests are usually seated a couple of hours after they have arrived and it’s then that the main wedding meal can begin to be served.
Take time when planning this part of your big day and choose whether you will go for a three course plated meal, sharing board or buffet for the main event. When doing so, take into account any dietary requirements that your guests have and how the service style could complement the atmosphere that you’re looking to create. The main goal is to create a dining experience that your wedding guests will well and truly remember – so get creative!
Evening Food: The Secret to Keeping the Party Going
If the plan is to party well into the night (and why not!), then your guests will need some additional fuel at some point to keep them going, especially if that delicious and decadent main meal was served at around 4/5pm.
In addition to fending off the hunger pangs or satisfying any beer munchies, dare we say it, it’s also a good way to mop up any alcohol that’s been consumed and avoid any boozy disasters from happening. So, at around 9pm, timed perfectly around dancing and entertainment, consider bringing some more yummy finger food out, such as:
- Kebabs and mini burgers
- Jumbo homemade sausage rolls
- Pulled pork sandwiches
- Fish tacos
- Fried chicken
- Pulled Pork rolls
- Mini fish and chips
- Individual curries or portions of chilli con carne
Always ensure there are more than enough awesome-smelling, mouth-watering, yummy snacks, for everyone, no matter how much they devoured at dinner. There’s always room for more deliciousness – so avoid the common mistake that couples make with evening catering and make sure it’s in plentiful supply.
Book your tasting session today
If you love the thought of what we do, then why not get in touch for more details and book your tasting session today? We look forward to providing our expert guidance on creating the perfect wedding menu and timeline for your special day!