Wedding Food Ideas
Have you booked your food truck but want to add a little extra food to impress your guests? Here are some cool wedding food ideas that we think deserve a spot at your wedding.
Thanks to brides.com for the inspiration!
Source: https://www.brides.com/gallery/fun-wedding-food-ideas
As much as food trends continue to impress more and more each year, wedding food can still have a negative connotation. Guests with low expectations may envision dry chicken cutlets and under-salted steamed veggies on their plate. Let’s face it, wedding food can get a bad rap.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you want to blow your guests away with your menu, perhaps the first step is to bend the rules and have a bit of fun! There’s no etiquette book that says you have to serve certain foods in keeping with age-old wedding traditions, so don’t be afraid to spice it up a bit.
Instead, consider the kind of food you enjoy in any setting—what do you really want to eat on the best day of your life? Skip the huge, fondant-covered cake and replace it with cupcakes in your favourite flavours if you prefer. Or, if you want to avoid frosting altogether, opt for pies instead. Talk to your caterer about ways to make traditional dishes more fun, or opt for self-service food bars to get the party started. Bite-sized food is always fun and is definitely not reserved for just children, so even at an adults-only reception, one-bite passed hors d’oeuvres will be a huge hit. It’s all about getting creative and finding something both you and your guests will love—the possibilities are endless.
From your cocktail hour to the cake-cutting, any menu item that adds whimsy and fun to an already exciting day should be embraced. Read on for some of our favourite fun food ideas, inspired by real weddings.
1. Pretzel and Beer Bar
CAT MAYER STUDIO
As wedding traditions become increasingly flexible, bending to personal taste and style, we see more and more couples choosing to swap out the multi-tiered wedding cake for a playful assortment of cupcakes and smaller desserts. This might still garner some critical commentary, but as long as you and your soon-to-be spouse are happy with your choices, that’s all that matters.
3. Cake Pops
EMILIA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Cake pops are sure to be a hit among kids and adults alike. Made up of crumbled cake, frosting, and typically, covered in candy melts, cake pops are delicious. Plus, they blend beautifully with any dessert table colour scheme you’ve got going on.
4. Cookies
REBECCA YALE PHOTOGRAPHY
If you’re opting to forgo cake or cupcakes altogether, gorgeous cookies may be your go-to option. Cookies don’t always have to look plain—they can be decorated with stunning florals or fruits, along with custom watercolours and designs. Plus, with cookies on the dessert table, your guests have a simpler option for after-dinner sweets before hitting the dance floor.
5. Mini Grilled Cheese
SUMMER STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
In a way, all mini food could be considered super fun, but something as nostalgic and comforting as a gooey grilled cheese is undeniably enjoyable. Pair them with mini cups of tomato soup for even more bite-sized fun.
6. Doughnuts
THE GROVERS PHOTOGRAPHY
Don’t assume doughnuts are out of the question just because your wedding isn’t at brunch time. In fact, the impact of doughnuts on your dessert table will be even greater if your guests show up expecting traditional dinner, cake, and dancing. Plus, they don’t require a fork or plate. Just pair them with cute, customized napkins, and you’re good to go.
7. Doughnut Holes
While regular-sized doughnuts may be the perfect treat to deck out a display, mini versions should be considered as well. Doughnut holes may be considered unconventional for a wedding, or any other special occasion, but they’re super fun and require little commitment. Plus, you can opt for a variety of flavours to offer something sweet for every person on your guest list to enjoy.
8. Milk and Cookies
The most successful “fun” foods are ones that pair whimsy with nostalgia—and no set-up does this better than a milk and cookies bar. Serve grown-up cookie flavours like almond crunch or lavender shortbread with a range of milk options, from two per cent to chocolate and soy.
9. Popcorn
Whether it’s between hors d’oeuvres and the first course, or between the entrée and the cake cutting, there will always be a few guests on the hunt for a snack. A great way to keep everyone fed all night is to have snacks on hand. Assorted popcorn (think: the classic Chicago trio of cheese, caramel, and butter) is the perfect solution.
10. Homemade Pie
Perhaps the best part of serving pie at your wedding is how personal it can be. There’s a hominess to pies that almost requires you to include a nod to a secret family recipe. It’s a great option for further personalizing your reception and making special people in your life feel included.
11. Mini Tacos and Margaritas
BIRDS OF A FEATHER PHOTOGRAPHY
There are few things that scream parties like tacos and margaritas, so why not bring the fiesta to your reception? Guests will love the creativity of past mini tacos paired with tiny margaritas. Plus, there’s so much room to play with taco flavours, even offering a meatless option.
12. Chocolate-Covered Bacon
Of all things you could serve on a skewer, this might just win the award for most delicious—and the most surprising for your guests. If you’re a bacon-obsessed couple, you might as well go all in. Sweet, smoky, and salty—all the best flavours all in one.
13. Mini Ice Cream Cones
ERIN MCGINN
Who says ice cream cones are just for the kids? While this is a great option for the little ones at your reception, adults will love it just as much. Add a bit of nostalgia with mini ice cream cones in a variety of flavours for some summer fun.
14. Cotton Candy
Raise sugar levels with your favourite childhood candy. Cotton candy gets a grown-up boost when you use it as a garnish for cocktails or let it float atop your champagne coupe. And if you want to update the self-serve candy station trend for customized party favours, set up the candy on a bar cart. Include your favourite old-time candy and cute decorations for a super-personal, memorable feature at your reception.
15. Macaroni and Cheese Lollipops
MICHELLE LINDSAY
Chances are, the majority of your guests love macaroni and cheese, but why not take the homestyle dish to a new, unique level? These macaroni and cheese lollipops are fried to golden perfection for easy eating while on the move at a reception.
16. Mini Churros
THE BOLD AMERICANA
Take a unique spin on dessert and ditch all of the traditional options. We love the decadent look of mini churros paired with vanilla ice cream and dulce de leche for a fun dessert. Or, play with the flavors and utilize this concept as a savory snack. It’s all up to you.