20 Inspiring Wedding Food Ideas

Are you stuck trying to come up with wedding food ideas to put on your wedding menus? Finding wedding food options that will please all your guests can be tricky and one of the more stressful tasks on your wedding planning list.

Whether you decide on elegant classics like chicken or salmon, or something more modern like a food station, let’s dive into this collection of inspiring wedding reception food ideas.

How to choose what to serve at a wedding

When picking your main course, you could consider classics such as chicken, beef, or fish, or you could go with something more unique like risotto or curry. You also need to cater to your vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free guests, so include some delicious plant-based wedding food options.

Also, consider the style of delivery of your wedding food. Do you want a formal sit-down three-course dinner, a lunch menu, a barbeque, interactive food stations, or maybe even grazing tables? Thinking about this should help you know what to serve.

Wedding food ideas for appetizers

Wedding food ideas can range from classic and traditional to ultra-modern and alternative, especially when it comes to appetizers.

1. Oversized spoons or loaded ladles

Oversized spoons are an easy appetizer option that can be eaten whilst your guests mingle around the reception. Try loading them up with zesty corn and black bean salad or a vegetable and shrimp combination.

2. Caprese skewers

Try bite-sized skewers of bocconcini or mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, drizzled in olive oil and balsamic glaze as a finger food option.

3. Mini lobster rolls 

Go beyond the shrimp cocktail appetizer with delicious mini lobster rolls. A miniature version of the New England classic dish consists of cooked lobster meat in cut-up rolls with lemon and cayenne mayonnaise. 

4. Pulled pork sliders

The fun of sliders is that you can get creative, and they’re always a hit with everyone. Try fillings like pulled pork, beef with pickles, or halloumi and caramelized onions.

5. Spring rolls or fresh veggie rice paper rolls 

Spring rolls or vegetable rice paper rolls are a great vegetarian option. Try filling spring rolls with rice noodles, Chinese cabbage, and soy sauce. Or rice rolls filled with vermicelli, tofu, coriander, and mint. Add pots of sweet chili sauce for dipping. 

6. Burrata salad

A fresh and simple burrata salad is a perfect appetizer, especially if you’re having a summer wedding. Pair burrata cheese with ripe tomatoes, grilled zucchini, olive oil, and rocket pesto.

Classic wedding dinner ideas

Steak, chicken, and fish reign supreme as the most favorable wedding food main courses. They’re versatile, cost-efficient, and go with almost any sauce—allowing you to modify the main course to match the vibe of your wedding food.

7. Steak

Steak is one of the most popular wedding reception foods. Serve with garlic butter or with sauces like pepper or wine sauce. Or consider red wine-braised beef short ribs or New York strip steak. Don’t forget the sides of herbed potatoes and crisp greens. 

8. Chicken

Chicken is another popular, much-loved wedding food choice. Try the classic chicken cordon bleu or seasoned chicken confit with roasted vegetables. Get indulgent with a chicken franchise, a herb-breaded chicken breast topped with lemon butter sauce. 

9. Salmon

Grilled salmon with lemon caper sauce is an excellent option if you want to stay away from the meats. Other fish dishes like Barramundi and sea bass are also popular.

Food station wedding food ideas

Having food stations is a good way to keep guests spread out and allow them to create their own dishes.

10. Grazing table

Gourmet grazing tables are a trend and an efficient way of providing wholesome food for large numbers of guests to nibble at without having to sit down to eat. Artfully arrange large piles of sliced meats and cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, olives, crackers, bread, dips and spreads onto giant grazing tables.

11. Pizza platter

Pizzas will always be a crowd-pleaser, and a pizza platter as a wedding food idea is no exception. Display whole pizzas on warmed metal plates or wooden boards. Margarita, capriccioso, pepperoni, feta with pumpkin, brisket with camembert—the pizza topping possibilities are endless!

12. Donut station

A donut station can be a fun, finger-licking addition to your wedding reception. Arrange topped and filled donuts on platters and add labels. Some donut options could include glazed, Nutella buttercream filled, iced chocolate, or Boston creme-filled.   

13. Gelato bar

Perfect for a summer wedding, a gelato bar is refreshing and delicious. Try including some alternative flavors outside the traditional vanilla, chocolate, and mint choc chip. Dulce de Leche, pistachio, chocolate hazelnut, white chocolate macadamia, or tiramisu are great choices.  

14.  Cotton candy station

Keep all the younger guests occupied—including your flower girls, ring bearers, or younger bridesmaids—by hiring a cotton candy station with someone to whip up delightful clouds of sugar for everyone.

15. Waffle station

The genius of a waffle station is that this blank canvas can be modified to fit any wedding theme and at any time of the day. Try topping with brunch options for morning weddings or serve waffles with fried chicken and bourbon glaze for an evening reception.

16. Cupcake bar

Make your dessert game decadent with a cupcake bar. Think of it as a little portable wedding cake portion for everyone. Some couples even like to swap the traditional wedding cake for a cupcake display. Stack your cupcakes on little shelving displays for a playful vibe. 

Wedding reception food ideas on a budget

Everyone wants to aspire to serve the most delicious wedding food and hope their guests have an amazing time, but not everyone’s budget can stretch to lobster or gourmet grazing tables. Try these wedding reception food ideas on a  budget to inspire your creativity. 

17. Chili

Chili is a popular and cost-effective dish that can be modified to suit your guests’ tastes or match your wedding food theme. Add beans or meat, serve with rice, roasted potatoes, sweet potato fries, or cornbread. 

18. BBQ beef brisket

The great thing about comfort food is you need less of it to keep your guests satisfied. If you need wedding food ideas on a budget, try having a backyard BBQ and serving beef brisket or roast pork together with heaps of roasted potatoes and corn.

19. Burgers

Burgers don’t have to be a casual affair. Get creative with wedding burger choices such as pulled beef, halloumi, fried chicken and maple bacon, or ginger sesame pork. And pile high the toppings like rocket, swiss cheese, beetroot relish, caramelized onions, basil pesto dressing, stilton sauce, or onion jam.

20. Fish and chips

If salmon is out of your budget but you still have your heart set on having fish on your wedding food menu, consider the classic but budget-friendly fish and chips. Dress it up by swapping regular fries for sweet potato fries or thick hand-cut rustic fries. Serve with lots of homemade tartare sauce, lemon wedges, and aioli for dipping. 

Wedding food planning made easy

Save yourself some time and effort on your special day preparations and shop your wedding food through Instacart. Get convenient, same-day delivery on all of your wedding food and other party supplies that you’ll need to make your day perfect.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Black Bean Salad (1 lb)

Cherry Size Fresh Mozzarella Cheese (lb)

Lobster Roll (each)

Mae Ploy Chilli Sauce, Sweet (32 oz)

Boneless Chicken Breast Fillet (per pound)

Boneless Chicken Breast Fillet (per pound)

Publix Deli Pizza, Supreme (33.7 oz)

Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (26.5 oz)

La Lechera Dulce de Leche (13.4 oz)

Bucky Badger Bourbon Glaze Sauce (12 fl oz)

Beef Brisket (per lb)

Pulled Beef (16 oz)

Stonewall Kitchen Aioli, Gluten Free, Roasted Garlic (10.25 oz)

Instacart

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