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Don’t serve up the same boring fish or chicken dish. Treat your
guests to an out-of-the box wedding menu with these delicious trends
By Carley Lintz, CTW Features
Just like dresses and décor, food styles,
cuisines and flavors tend go in and out of
favor for weddings. And with the rise of
foodie culture, there’s no lack of new and
exciting trends for couples to choose from.
Need some culinary inspiration? Here are
nine of the latest wedding food crazes that
are sure to delight your guests’ palates.
1. FARM FRESH
Many couples are taking a cue from the
farm-to-table movement for their wedding
dining experience, says Kaitlynn Camp, Sales
and Event Manager for A Silverware Affair in
Chattanooga, Tenn.
“Popular trends lately that I have noticed
are more local and organic menus
featuring colorful farm fresh vegetables.
The presentation is gorgeous as well as
delicious,” she explains. Plus, in-season fare
also tends to be more affordable, which is
great for couples on a budget.
2. VEGGIE LOVERS
To accommodate an increasing number of
guests with dietary restrictions, entirely vegan
and vegetarian wedding menus (rather than
a single non-meat alternative) are becoming
more commonplace. In fact, searches for
vegan wedding food is up 186 percent
according to the 2018 Pinterest Wedding
report.
3. PRETZEL BARS
Food stations have been a major wedding
trend for a few years now and pretzels are the
latest iteration (Pinterest searches are up 343
percent this year). Be sure to offer a range of
sauces and toppings like cheese, mustard or
cinnamon sugar, so guests can create their
perfect twisted treat!
4. EDIBLE FAVORS
Rather than spend money on a favor no
one actually wants, like another candle or
drink cozie, give them a taste of the big day.
“Popular items I have seen lately are jars or
homemade honey, jams, jellies, cookies and
snack bars,” says Camp. “Guests love them
instead of something they may never use
again.”
5. MIDDLE EASTERN MENUS
Take your guests on a culinary expedition
by incorporating flavors and dishes from
Middle Eastern countries, such as Persia,
Israel, Morocco and Syria. Infuse spices like
cardamom and harissa; utilize ingredients
like cucumber, mint, tahini and eggplant; or
consider including dishes like lamb or grilled
halloumi on the menu for a bold and tasty
food experience.
6. FLAVORFUL BLOOMS
Why leave flowers to just the décor? Floral
flavors are a lovely way to add an unexpected
note to your wedding menu. Create flower
power cocktails with St. Germain liqueur, add
edible petals to your cake, freeze blooms in
your ice cubes or sprinkle your salads with
flowers for a bit of beauty and taste.
7. PERSONALIZED EATS
Turn your food into a story of you and your
soon-to-be spouse’s life together by pulling
inspiration from all the places you’ve been.
Include your childhood favorites, hometown
dishes and flavors from the cities and
countries you’ve traveled to for a truly unique
menu.
8. KOREAN CUISINE
Another culinary hot spot as of late: Korea.
From bibimbap and kimchi to glass noodles
and beef and pork bbq, there are so many
rich tastes and dishes to explore from Korean
cuisine for your upcoming nuptials.
9. MIDNIGHT SNACKS
A whole night of dancing and celebrating
your newly minted marriage is a guaranteed
way to work up an appetite. Ensure guests
go home with great memories and full
bellies by offering late-night bites at the end
of the party, such as tiny grilled cheeses,
doughnuts, cookies and even little chicken
and waffle sliders.
Whatever you decide to serve up to your
guests, make sure you have a solid caterer
who can pull it off. When hunting for a
catering vendor, be sure to look for great
customer service, says Camp.
“They should always be great communicators
with their clients and happy to explain and
answer all of your questions,” she says,
adding that that communication is a two-way
street. “Always be open with [your caterer]
about what you want and take time to really
figure out what you would like for your big
day, sometimes even before you begin the
catering hunt.”
© CTW Features
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18 | FALL & WINTER 2018
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Ensure guests
go home with
great memories
& full bellies!