The food on your wedding day is going to be talked about almost as long as the dress you wore and the vows. When planning your menu, it’s important to provide food that the two of you love, and also leaves a wonderful impression on guests’ palettes.

Before you panic about your lack of wedding-food knowledge, a good rule of thumb is to start with a meat dish and a vegetarian dish. “Today, the vegetarian or vegan dish is essential,” says David Brian Sanders, L.A. chef. “If your budget is larger, serve a chicken dish as well. If you want to go all out, add fish.” Sanders emphasizes meat over chicken or fish because it’s a wonderful staple. “It’s very hard to go wrong with filet mignon,” he adds. 

Fish has always been a tricky dish, in part because many people don’t like it.  On the other hand, many vegetarians are really pescatarians (meaning, they eat fish, but not chicken, beef or pork), so a fish dish may be a compromise to consider. Sanders recommends a white fish, and to avoid Chilean Sea Bass, as its scarcity makes it politically incorrect.

Culturally Significant Menus
Even if you’re Jewish, your groom is Italian and you have several friends who are Asian does not mean you need to mix and match cultures and religions when deciding on food. “Stick to what you like,” says Sanders. “Obviously, there are restrictions or obligations for certain weddings. If you’re not required to have, say, a Kosher wedding, there’s no need to worry about it.”

Cocktail Hour
For the cocktail hour, the only no-no is a repeat dish. “Your main menu shouldn’t affect the hors d’oeuvres for the wedding,” says Sanders. “But if you’re serving lobster for dinner, you wouldn’t have lobster at the cocktail hour. Other than that, anything goes…even cheese balls.”

Although many couples opt to have a signature drink, your food doesn’t need to be as couple-specific. “It’s all about what you want to eat,” says Sanders. “Sit down together and think about the types of dinners you love, and go from there.”

You should pick your caterer about 6 to 9 months’ before the ceremony, and your cuisine choices need to be decided 3 to 6 months’ before. “You need time to have the tastings,” says Sanders. “Since you’re probably going to list food choices on the invitations, it’s imperative to get everything decided before you send those out.”

-David Toussaint

Check Out Hiring Specialty Reception Vendors
Check Out Inexpensive Wedding Reception Ideas
Check Out Hiring Your Reception Caterer