Reception Food for Thought…-Dunhill Tuxedos Bridal Blog

The day of the wedding, your guests may notice your perfectly planned favors and adore the ongoing theme throughout the day. Remember though, that your guests all actively participate in dinner so what they’re really going to remember is the food. While your dinner may be the delicious norm of a salad/ entrée /dessert or served family style, you can always find fun and unique ways to make the night extra special with some fun and exciting food bars, buffets, and special treats. Once again, we’ve saved you precious wedding planning time and done the work for you. Check out what we came up with.

Since the idea of the Reception is the “celebration of us”, then really make it reflect who you are by incorporating hobbies, inside jokes, work or reputations into the big party. What a better way to do this then with something extra special before or after dinner. Check with your reception hall and see if they offer any sort of special treat bar (sometimes called the “break menu” or “afterglow menu”) If they don’t, find out if you are allowed to bring your own in. Here are some examples:

Candy Bar- Very popular in today’s modern wedding. Collect different shaped and sized candy, cake, and dessert dishes or trays and channel your childhood for your favorite nostalgic candies. Offer cellophane bags with ribbons or twist ties. Have fun with this and let your guests reminisce about the types of candies and when they used to be 5 cents.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar- I recently went to a wedding where they had one and it was awesome! It came out at 10:30 which was the perfect time for a break from dancing to sit over the sundae and mingle. Great late night addition for your guests. Set up ice cream tubs on ice, with assorted sauces and toppings or candy, cookies, fruit, nuts and whipped topping. Don’t forget the cherries for the top!

Root Beer Float Station- A different, cool and refreshing take on a dessert to also offer later in the evening. Get old fashioned glass bottles of root beer and/or orange soda, grape soda and a cola and serve at the station with vanilla ice cream. Your guests are really going to like this treat.

Junk Food Junkie Bar- If the bride and/or groom are known for their love of junk food this is a fun station to set up later in the evening after dinner and the initial dessert. Everyone enjoys classic cake snacks from their childhood and it will remind relatives of you as kids. Pick your favorites and display them in towers. Twinkie Towers, Ding Dong Towers, Pink Snowballs, Oatmeal Crème Pies, Brownie Bites, or any other favorites…

Coffee/Hot Chocolate Bar-Great for fall or winter receptions. Offer different flavors of coffee, assortment of syrups, creamers, whipped topping, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, cinnamon, different types of hot chocolate, marshmallows and any and everything else that goes well with these comforting drinks.

Cupcake Station- Not your traditional wedding cake but adds for a little fun. Some people choose to do it as the main dessert, others make it an afterglow treat (served later in the night about an hour or two into dancing) Put out an assortment of Chocolate and Vanilla cupcakes with different icings, sprinkles, chocolate chips, peanuts, coconut, colorful M&Ms and anything else you would like!

Decorate your own Cookie Station- Great for kid friendly weddings of big families as it really keeps the kids busy. Adults will enjoy the fun too. It is also a money saver to get un-decorated cookies from a local bakery or if you or someone you know is up for the time and work, make them yourself. Buy white frosting and food color matching your wedding colors mix it up and put it in two big bowls with spatulas to serve and then display an assortment of decoration goodies to let the kids (and the adults) go nuts.

Beverage Stations- This is a trend growing in popularity for a new take on a signature drink. They are made up of several stations that each features a different beverage theme such as tropical drinks, martini bar or a wine tasting bar. This idea gives adds novelty to an open bar.

Baseball goodies bar- If you are the couple that lives, breathes and loves baseball, why not eat it too? Have a baseball goodies bar on your afterglow menu. Serve Cracker Jacks, roasted peanuts, soft jumbo pretzels with cheese sauce, hotdogs and any other ballpark favorite.

It is ideal to serve these items after a good chunk of time has gone from dinner. The fun and unique treats will allow for a break from the dance floor and also give a warm invitation to your guests to really stay and enjoy themselves.

Until next time….Happy Wedding Planning!