Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Wedding Menu

Wedding menus scattered across a guest table at Pillar and Post.

Planning your wedding menu can be both a delicious and stressful project! Food is one of your wedding’s major expenses, and it’s also one of the things that guests tend to remember most (for better or worse!). We’ve gathered our top tips for planning a menu that your guests will rave about long after your last dance.

Guest tables set up at a wedding inside the Queen’s Landing hotel.

Budget for Your Menu

Image courtesy of Young Glass Photography

Food is always a significant line item on any wedding budget, so it’s important to plan ahead. Remember that the longer your guest list, the more you’ll need to budget for food, and that gourmet dishes involving prime cuts of meat or other premium ingredients will incur additional expenses. Be sure that you ask your caterer whether you’ll be paying a flat rate or whether there’s additional costs associated with certain menu options.

An event caterer setting the table at Bella Terra Vineyards.

Work with Event Caterers

Hiring experienced event caterers is one way to instantly reduce the stress of wedding planning. Experienced caterers take the guesswork out of logistical questions like how much food you need, where and how it should be stored, and what you should serve based on your preferences.

The talented culinary team at Vintage Hotels has catered hundreds of incredible weddings, from elegant plated dinners to more casual buffet-style affairs, and we’d be delighted to help you curate a menu that’s fresh, local, and always delicious.

Beef served with potatoes at a wedding hosted by Vintage Hotels.

Understand Your Guest’s Dietary Restrictions

Image courtesy of Gemini Photography

Inquire about any allergies or dietary restrictions before you plan your wedding menu. Including a card with your wedding invitations where guests can RSVP and state these preferences is an efficient way to ensure that you know what you’re working with ahead of time.

Be sure to provide alternatives based on your guests’ needs. Guests always appreciate having a variety of options!

Seasonal menu considerations taken into account at Cave Spring Vineyards.

Factor in Seasonal Considerations

Image courtesy of Young Glass Photography

The best wedding caterers will consider when your wedding is planned in order to provide only the freshest local ingredients. For example, if your wedding is in the fall, delicious seasonal favourites will benefit from in-season apples, pumpkin, and squash, while summer wedding menus will shine with the introduction of fresh berries, avocadoes, and zucchinis.

A seasonally inspired menu can also be the pièce de resistance to seasonally themed weddings!

Appetizers being served to guests at a relaxed wedding celebration.

Consider Different Menu Types

Image courtesy of Photography by Shelly

The serving style of your wedding meal can set the tone for your reception. Consider the vibe of your wedding: do you envision a formal, black-tie affair, or a more relaxed reception where your guests can mingle freely and dine at their leisure?

Formal receptions will benefit from the traditional plated dinner, preceded by elegant hors d’oeuvres during a formal cocktail hour. On the other hand, relaxed celebrations are enhanced by buffet or family-style meals, where guests can relax, chat, and dine throughout the evening.

Create Your Dream Wedding Menu with Vintage Hotels

Let us take the stress out of planning your wedding! All our wedding venues and winery partners have experienced caterers can help you design the menu of your dreams. With decades of expertise, our experienced team will collaborate with you to design the menu of your dreams, blending culinary artistry with personalized touches. Contact us today to get started on your dream wedding menu!


*Featured image courtesy of Darling Mine Photography

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