Wedding Reception

Most weddings probably end with a wedding reception. These are parties or celebrations of the recent wedding ceremony that just took place, a hospitality or generosity given to those who have witnessed the special event. In wedding receptions, there are actually many things that need to be prepared and organized. But probably the most important of all the necessities in the wedding reception is the foods. For what would a wedding reception be without even water or crackers to offer your guest.

Weddings are held on different times of the day and the time on which it is held is the determining factor of what foods can be properly served. Whatever time the reception is held, one type of food is always suitable to be served the appetizer. Melon balls or muffins are ideal appetizers for a morning reception. For afternoon receptions, light and creative appetizers must be served like stuffed celery or cheese puffs. Evening receptions are in need of more flavorful appetizers like stuffed mushrooms.

When a reception for the wedding is held during the morning time, foods to be served are of course light just like breakfast meals. Food ideas include an assortment of fresh fruits. A budget menu would include muffins, croissants and bagels topped with different kinds of jellies or cream cheese. While a fancier morning wedding reception menu would entail omelet and waffles, bacon, sausage, egg, pancakes and potatoes. Beverages for serving are fruit juices, coffee, tea and for alcohol-based drinks a mimosa (champagne with orange juice) would be served.

Afternoon is also a time when wedding receptions may be held. Appropriate foods which may be included in the menu are filling and finger sandwich. Afternoon wedding receptions on low budget entail servings of Swiss and turkey, ham, cheese, roast beef and cheddar as sandwich fillings. For fancy and quite costly sandwiches there are club, shrimp salad, cucumber and cream cheese-filled sandwiches. Aside from sandwiches, a low cost yet well-loved menu entry is cold salad, either garden-fresh salad, potato salad, fruit salad or the more simpler coleslaw. And for more expensive afternoon foods, there are shrimp cocktails, Japanese sushi’s, Bries and Caesar salads. Served beverages compose of beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, tea or coffee.

Some receptions are held during late afternoons or early evenings. For such wedding receptions or cocktail receptions, foods that can be served are hors d’oeuvres of canapes, cold cuts, cheese, crudites, dumpling and bruschettas. Coffee, tea, sparkling cider, beer, wine, champagne and cocktails are beverages suited for cocktail receptions.

For evening wedding receptions, foods can either be light or heavy but must be filling. Meals are composed of vegetable, starch and meat servings. It could be anything from fish, chicken, beef for meat; potato, bread, pasta and rice for starches; salad, corn or peas for vegetable. These composition are prepared with various dishes but the most popular are pasta & green beans, chicken Parmesan, steak and rolls, burgers, potato salad, seasoned chicken and fries. Fancier evening meals include lobsters, baked potatoes, fettuccine and fresh selection salad. Served drinks vary from coffee and tea, sparkling cider, wine, champagne and cocktails.