How to Set Your Wedding Menu

Whether you hire a professional wedding caterer or do all the cooking yourself, you're still going to have to set a menu well in advance of the big day. The type of menu you set will depend largely on the kind of reception you want to have. It may be a formal five-course dinner, a casual backyard barbecue or anything in between. The preferences of you and your guests will also play a role in your menu choices. Knowing how to set the right menu will help make your reception a success.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide on a budget. The total money you spend on all of the food and decorations for your reception must stay within this budget. Your budget will naturally have a big influence on your menu. For example, if the sky's the limit, you could opt for lobster. If you have to stay within certain parameters, chicken or pasta may be a better option for you.

2. Take the food preferences of your guests into consideration. If you have guests who are vegetarian, who keep kosher or who are on special diets, plan for a few menu items that are tailored specifically to them. This will ensure all of your guests can equally enjoy the reception.

3. Decide if your reception will have a theme. If, for example, you want your reception to have a Hawaiian luau theme, your menu should include foods that reflect that theme.

4. Include fun, easy-to-eat finger foods if you plan on having children at your wedding reception. Mints, nuts, tiny sandwiches and miniature pastries are usually big hits with kids.

5. Pick out plates and cutlery that are appropriate to your menu. For example, a formal dinner would require nice china plates and real silverware, while a buffet may only need some sturdy paper plates and plastic forks.

Tips & Warnings

• Find out in advance if any of your guests have food allergies. If so, be a good host and include menu items that don't feature the offending ingredients. Then, make sure your allergic guests know which foods are safe for them to eat. Better yet, leave out the allergens from your reception menu entirely.
• Before committing to anything, get input from your close friends and family regarding your proposed menu. They can give you some much-needed perspective regarding what may and may not work for the kind of crowd you have planned.