Reception Menu Dos and Don’ts

Planning your wedding reception menu can be fun, but stressful. Trying to feed a large, diverse group of people while staying on a budget can start to feel overwhelming. Here are some tips for making the process easier.

DO: Know Your Guests.

You can’t be aware of the special needs of all of your guests, but if you know that a large number of your guests are vegetarian, gluten-free, etc., it is polite to take their needs into consideration when planning your menu. That doesn’t mean everything needs to fit those requirements—just try to include something for everybody.

DON’T: Stress about Pleasing Everybody.

While it is good to try to meet your guests’ dietary needs, don’t take this to the extreme. Discuss options with your caterer (remember, they have experience feeding large, diverse groups and will probably have some ideas for you), then make your choices. After the choice is made, don’t let yourself waste time or energy worrying about how those choices will work for each individual guest.

DO: Schedule a Tasting.

After all, isn’t that the fun part? Ask your caterer for samples when planning your menu (and before you settle on a caterer, for that matter). Catering is one of the largest expenses of a wedding reception. You want to make sure you are spending that money wisely.

DON’T: Choose an Exotic Menu.

Even if you and your partner are particularly adventurous eaters, your guests may not be (some of them almost certainly won’t be). Stick to tried-and-true dishes for your reception. Your caterer can help you make choices that will satisfy a large number of people without being boring.

DO: Choose What You Like.

Don’t be pressured to choose something you really don’t want (or to omit something you do want). After all, it is your wedding. If you are vegetarian, feel free to serve a vegetarian menu without giving in to pressure from family or friends to serve meat. Make the choices that will make your wedding perfect, but don’t forget that making your guests happy is also part of the perfect reception. Try to strike a balance.

Stonebrook Manor in Denver provides full wedding packages, including catering. Whether you are planning an hors d’oeuvres-only reception, a buffet, or a sit-down dinner, we can help you plan a menu that will delight you and your guests. Contact us today to learn about all our delicious options.