Ways to Display Food at Weddings
Details are often what make a wedding celebration so memorable. Apply that thought to your food display for a beautiful reception. If you are using a professional caterer or hotel services, ask them what flexibility you have to be creative in your food displays. Often, they will have suggestions for you and rarely will they turn down a request from the client. If a friend or family member is cooking and serving, work with them to design the layout of the food.
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Appetizers
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Appetizer platters are often adorned with flowers or greens. For a cocktail or social hour immediately after the ceremony, appetizers are normally served. Whether some items are passed around, hor d'oeuvres like a cheese or fruit platter will need to be displayed on a table. The platters are often adorned with greenery for garnish and the fruit can be cut and displayed as a floral arrangement or other creative way. (See References 1) If multiple appetizers are on the table, using risers under the tablecloths to elevate the platters at different heights creates a pleasing visual.
Buffets
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Oils and other food items can be used as display decorations. All buffet lines should feature polished chafing dishes for hot foods and matching serving bowls for cold items. Toppings and condiments can be displayed in various containers and elevated with risers. If your buffet has a theme, adorn the tables with appropriate decorations. For an Italian buffet, display jars of pasta, garlic cloves, oil and oregano. Large loaves of Italian bread can be used. If a Spanish or Mexican theme fits your menu, dress the tables with peppers and bunches of cilantro. For an Asian meal, place paper lanterns and over-sized chopsticks among the serving dishes. If your reception has a theme such a beach party, decorate with shells, miniature umbrellas and bottles of sand.
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Stations
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Food stations can be dressed in various ways. If your food will be served at various stations throughout the room, tie each station together by using the colors or theme of the wedding, much like a buffet or highlight the station itself. For a pasta station, decorate with oil jars and basil leaves. Use butcher's block and marinade bottles at a carving station. Adorn a salad station with kale and whole vegetables.
Desserts
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The cake or dessert table is often the easiest to dress. For a traditional wedding cake, the display is often the cake itself. Accent the cake table with the same flowers as used by the bridal party or linens of the wedding's colors. For a more trendy dessert of cupcakes, display them on tiered serving dishes with flowers or theme items around them. If you are offering individual desserts, like creme brulee or chocolate mousse, place them in stemware rather than a traditional bowl. Let your guests make their own dessert from a candy buffet. Fill oversized bowls or glass jars with different kinds of candy. The colors will be decorative on their own. Provide scoops for each selection and plastic or paper favor bags.
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References
Resources
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