Long gone are the days when guests headed to wedding with “rubber chicken” dread. Couples today are all about providing a foodie experience for their guests. Food plays a huge role in wowing the crowd, and today’s trends are all about innovative, interactive, and impressive statements.
Wedding Brunch
A fun and cost-effective way of staying on trend is to have a brunch themed wedding. Couple are opting to save and entertain in the mid-morning/early afternoon hours, with crave-worthy brunch foods and stations. Chefs can be ready to whip up chicken and waffles, biscuits, benedicts and anything bacon. Beignets and pancake stations come with delicious toppings to keep your guests engaged and satisfied.
Eco Friendly
Not only is it hip to be green, but couples today are taking note of sustaining the planet and bringing it into their wedding. Think eco-friendly with your wedding menu by working with your caterer to feature locally sourced ingredients. Ensure that there are seasonal and organic ingredients in your menu. Farm to table style events are super popular because of their warm and inviting appeal. Couples are also reducing their carbon footprint by boldly choosing all vegetarian menus as well.
Color
No longer is the color scheme limited to wedding attire and linens, it has also made its way into food as well. For a red wedding, think a charcuterie display with pepperoni, chorizo, smoked andouille and roasted red peppers along with passed prosciutto melon bites.. For white, work with your caterer on select chicken and fish dishes covered in velvet cream sauces with a swanky mashed potato bar, white cake and meringues – you get the drift.
Global Fusion
The world is trending, and food is hot. Whether it’s their own culture or one they admire, couples are bringing in their favorite global inspired dishes to their wedding menus. Mix it up with a Spanish cocktail hour featuring empanadas and chipotle glazed shrimp, followed by a New Orleans style dinner like Messina’s Creole Chicken and Andouille Gumbo along with Crawfish Étouffée over Grit Cakes, and finish with Italian dessert such as tiramisu and gelato. To bring on the spectacle, work with your caterer on incorporating exotic ingredients like black rice, wasabi sauce, or sumac spice on salad. Perhaps you want to showcase a dish from your favorite vacation spot or where you first met. You can also speak to your caterer about incorporating a favorite family recipe which brings on all the loving family feels
Family Style
Couples today are all about having their guests interact and are opting for family style dishes laid out for guests to pass. Perhaps only sides served family style while the main entrée is served. However you choose to execute, large platters of lobster, crawfish, or filet mignon make for an impressive sight.
Heavy Hors D’oeuvres
Quite contrary, keeping the mingling and fun of the cocktail hour going all evening long is popular as well. Instead of a sit-down dinner, couples are opting for hefty hors d’oeuvres and appetizers like sliders, beef wellington bites and skewers served throughout the evening. Plated or passed, hors d’oeuvres can incorporate heavier entrée and dessert items, pared down into delectable, edible bites.
Stations
Interactive food stations or bars keep guests engaged throughout the wedding. Creative twists like Messina’s Ceviche Bar, Mashed Potato Martini Bar, and Grit Bar keep your guests moving, eating and conversing. For outdoor venues, work with your caterer on food truck service and menu items – hello gourmet mac ‘n cheese! Carts are fun and are rolled throughout to your guests like with dessert or cheese carts.
Late Night Snacks
It’s that fun time of the wedding when everyone’s burnt some energy dancing, feeling the fun of cocktails, and then the munchies hit. Late night snacks are all the rage. Couples are choosing their favorite comfort foods like gourmet fries and nachos to satisfy these cravings and treat their guests to an unexpected course.
Desserts
Although weddings bring to mind the classic wedding cake, couples are now veering away and opting for more memorable and varying options. Popular are individual parfaits, macaron and canape towers, French tartes and pies, sundae bars and ice cream stations. Gourmet churros and New Orleans’ famous beignets are also a unique hit.
Edible Favors
Move over Jordon almonds – besides, who likes them anyway? Today’s brides and grooms are sending guests home with tasty favors like local honey, custom vinegar and oil blends, cotton candy, or homemade jams. Especially if your guests travelled to your wedding, be sure to send them home with a local treat!
Today’s wedding food trends are fun and extremely versatile. Whether you choose to incorporate eco-friendly or color themes, global fusion fare, family style service, interactive stations or late night snacks, your guests will be #hashtagging your party all night long. When it comes to weddings, Messina’s Catering and Events has been New Orleans’ premier full service catering choice for over 58 years. In fact, Messina’s at the Lakefront Airport was named the most beautiful place to get married in New Orleans!
