Wedding Reception Food Ideas

Hello! I am getting married in less than two months and I am planning like crazy.

I want to have more than just cake and punch at my reception but I dont want a full on huge meal either.

Any of you have any ideas for a good more than just snack food but not full meal food for my reception? I was thinking maybe little sandwiches but I dont know. I wanted to get some more ideas.

Swedish meatballs!  Just keep them in crockpots, set out some little plates and toothpicks, and you're good to go!

Also veggie platters with hummus and dressing, pita chips; that stuff's always good.

I was at a wedding with a mashed potato buffet and it was GREATness. The idea of a baked potato bar, but with mashed potatoes instead. And they served the mashed potatoes in martini glasses then you were on your own to load them up at the buffet.

Lets people customize how healthy / un-healthy they want to get, and it's good winter food, and it's easy and filling without being over the top. It was very, very popular.

Also like the other ideas. Add in fruit and cheese plates too.

My friend had a buffet at her wedding and it included mac & cheese. It was a huge hit!  She had regular and fancy, with blue cheese, which was surprisingly good.

Are you making it yourself or having it catered? Finger food, veggies and dip, little chicken satay skewers, would all work, without it being a full meal.... I love hors d'oerves (nope, I don't know how to spell that, and neither does firefox apparently)

Original Post by april_bride:

I was at a wedding with a mashed potato buffet and it was GREATness. The idea of a baked potato bar, but with mashed potatoes instead. And they served the mashed potatoes in martini glasses then you were on your own to load them up at the buffet.

Dude, did you got to the same wedding I did? I went to one a few weeks ago with that. Mmmm deliciousness.

I love the idea of comfort food for a winter time wedding. Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, swedish meatballs, you could do all sorts of stuff with comfort food theme. And not all of it has to be unhealthy.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Original Post by april_bride:

I was at a wedding with a mashed potato buffet and it was GREATness. The idea of a baked potato bar, but with mashed potatoes instead. And they served the mashed potatoes in martini glasses then you were on your own to load them up at the buffet.

Dude, did you got to the same wedding I did? I went to one a few weeks ago with that. Mmmm deliciousness.

 HA! I don't know, where was yours? lol

Long Island.

I once went to a reception (not for a wedding, but it would definitely work) where they served Tapas.  It was awesome.

 Just make it tiny/tidy and make sure there is dip!There are a lot of things you can make in a mini kabob type manner. From fruits to Bocconcini skewers. And/Or: Asparagus wraps,JALAPENOS stuffed and grilled are amazing.mmm.

Pita chips and dip, hummus& veggies,etc.

Some people do a desserts only reception. Really simple: Just an assortment of favorite deserts. It can be the least expensive route to go.

Btw: Punch and Cake is great. I suggest that you also have coffee/tea/etc available though! People love that.

I'm getting married in December and we're planning on having a dessert reception (which is just what it sounds like, all desserts).  I've heard of this working out really well for other couples...and I love dessert!!!

I had an event catered recently, and the caterer made a really, really nice home-made tomato basil soup.  What made it so neat was that she served the soup in shooter glasses with a tiny dollop of sour cream stirred in, and a mini grilled cheese sandwich (artisan full grain bread and old cheddar with a dab of seafood sauce and Italian parsley for garnish) sitting on top of the shooter glass!  Yummy soup and sandwich with all the elegance of canapes!

priceless-

How many guests do you have? I had about 140 guests at my wedding last year and I was lucky that I had my Mother in Law AND my Aunt both contributing to a buffet. What I was mostly concerned about was people who may have been dieting, diabetic or allergic. We had a beautiful salad and fruit buffet, homemade lasagna (we had kitchen access, but everything was baked in their homes), Swedish meatballs, lots of bread, cheese platters and baked chicken. There were many snacks added to the list. People were crazy about the food and most went up for seconds. I know it was MY day :-), but I wanted everyone else to be comfortable, too.

p.s. We got M & M's to match our theme; one color with our names and the other color had the date.. We placed them all on the tables...They were fun!

I wish you a beautiful wedding...

Mashed potato buffet? Baked potato bar? <scratches head>

What about serving sushi?

My current favorite is a chocolate fountain with assorted fruit to dip in it.

Pancakes.  With a TON of toppings to choose from.  Or a pasta bar.

OR BURRITOS.

But I'm an addict..

I want a margarita fountain at my wedding. and a chocolate fountain

mmmm chocolate margaritas.

Original Post by amethystgirl:

Long Island.

 Not the same :) 

chocolate fountain would be cool, you could come up with all kinds of yummy stuff to dip - fruit, rice krispies treats, oreos, yummy!

Tapas idea is also a good one!

What about a fall theme with fall-related foods? Hot apple cider, apple pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, etc.

Original Post by april_bride:

What about a fall theme with fall-related foods? Hot apple cider, apple pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, etc.

Stop, you are killing me! Want...

mmm hot apple cider sounds SO GOOD right now doesn't it? We had a cold snap this week but supposed to be up to 80s again here this weekend. This morning it was in the 50's though.

(I live in TX but originally from upstate NY. I miss fall in New York state!!)