Ethnic Wedding Reception Menus - Dos and Don’ts

Serving ethnic cuisine at your wedding reception can be a marvelous way to honor your heritage while putting your own personal stamp on the event. However, there can be some potential pitfalls to serving an ethnic menu, ranging from poorly prepared dishes to excluding guests who come from other ethnic traditions. This is a look at the dos and don’ts of ethnic wedding reception menus.

Do: Consider both the bride and groom’s families when planning an ethnic wedding menu. If you share a heritage in common, this may be a piece of cake. Although even then, each family may have their own ideas about the proper way to prepare certain signature dishes. When the bride and groom hail from very different cultures, be very careful about favoring one tradition too heavily over another. You might end up with some very hurt feelings, not to mention one half of the guest list who is faced with utterly unfamiliar food.

Don’t: Assume that any caterer can prepare your special menu. If you are looking for fairly standard Italian-American dishes, you might find that most any wedding caterer can deliver good food. But if you want something more specialized, you would be wise to seek out a caterer who has experience in preparing classic Indian food or traditional Chinese dishes. If your goal is a wedding which honors your cultural traditions in every detail from wedding jewelry to music to the ceremony, you might wish to consider seeking a wedding planner with experience in planning weddings with couples from your heritage.

Do: View your wedding as a wonderful opportunity to teach your fiance about your heritage and to learn about his. The cultural traditions of the bride and groom are a part of who they are, and are definitely worth learning more about, even if you have a pretty classic American style wedding. Try to include some of the customs from each side of the family in your wedding, even if it means having some wedding reception stations serving spanakopita and others serving corned beef and cabbage. At least it will be a chance for each family to learn about the other, and that it a very good thing!

Wedding Reception Basics

Just beginning the wedding planning process? This is the perfect time to learn all about organizing your wedding reception which follows the ceremony. Whether it is a large party or an intimate event, most wedding receptions will include these same basic elements.

Decorations: Decorations include centerpieces and other floral arrangements, candles, and tablecloths. If your wedding will be more formal or grand, you may well have additional types of adornments. These could include rented crystal chandeliers for a bride who loves the sparkle of crystal bridal jewelry and wants to bring that same kind of sparkle to her venue. Other types of decorations could be ice sculptures, fabric to drape ceilings or walls, and custom lighting.

Music: Virtually every wedding reception will feature some sort of musical accompaniment. This could range from a full orchestra, to a d.j., to an ipod, depending on your taste and the formality of your event. Even for short or small receptions which will not include dancing, it is nice to use background music to create ambiance. It could be as simple as recorded music played over the venue’s sound system, or you could splurge on a string quartet or harpist to play during dinner.

Food: What would a party be without food? At the very minimum, the hosts should treat their guests to cake and punch, although most weddings feature much more lavish spreads. Typically, the reception will kick off with a cocktail hour, during which assorted appetizers and drinks will be served, followed by a full dinner. At fancy weddings, there may also be a “Viennese hour” or dessert bar, and almost every reception will have some form of wedding cake.

Other: This category could include anything you need to rent to furnish your party, such as a tent, tables, chairs, and place settings, if not provided by the venue. It would also include wedding favors, place cards and escort cards, and the guest book. These details can range from extremely important (such as tables) to elements which are customary, but not mandatory, such as the guest book. A lot of it will depend on the reception venue and the style of your wedding.

How to Make Your Wedding a Fun Party

Your wedding reception is supposed to be a wonderful celebration following the marriage ceremony. Some receptions are a blast, while others end up falling flat. This is how to make your wedding reception a fun party that your guests will wish would never end.

Keep the food relaxed. There is a strong trend right now towards comfort food served in an elegant fashion. We’re talking mashed potato bars, mac and cheese shooters, tiny grilled cheese sandwiches, mini Angus beef sliders, cones of fresh crisp fries, and all the good stuff. Family style service is also increasingly popular, as compared to the more traditional stuffy seated dinner. And if you really want to keep the party going, bring out late night refreshments like fresh hot donuts or even a hot dog truck.

Plan the music carefully. Have you ever been to a wedding where the d.j. played nothing but lame outdated songs that inspired no one to dance? What about the wedding where just as the party was really getting going, the band took a break and killed the mood? When hiring the musicians for your reception, be very clear about what type of music you do and do not want played. In addition, be sure to have a plan in place for breaks. A band could rotate out members and keep a small crew playing continuously during breaks, or in the case of a band or d.j., an ipod with your favorite tunes can be set up to keep the music flowing while the musicians “take five”.

Provide a lounge area where guests can chill during the reception. This is a fantastic way to transform your reception space into a true party-like atmosphere. The bride can increase the effect by changing into party clothes after the ceremony. Exchange your formal wedding gown and traditional crystal jewelry for a slinky sparkly party dress with more exuberant crystal wedding jewelry. You will be a lot more comfortable for dancing, and the change of clothes will really signal that the party has started.

Finally, when you want to have a fun and lively wedding reception, be sure to add a few elements of surprise. The surprise could be almost anything, as long as it has a “wow” factor, like a Chinese dragon or a fireworks spectacular. Whatever you choose, the big surprise will be just what you need to make your wedding an incredible party that no one will ever forget.

French Inspired Wedding Details

Looking to add a little “ooh la la” to your wedding? Trying to put together a reception with that perfect “je ne sais quoi”? Why not give your wedding a chic European flair with these fabulous French-inspired wedding details? The results are sure to be “magnifique”!

When planning a wedding with French details, the only place to begin is with the wine. Make your wedding an event to remember by serving a flight of fine French wines with dinner. What that means is that a sommelier pairs each course of the meal with a wine which is the perfect complement to the food. It is a truly fine way to present an elegant dinner. Another idea would be to have a tasting of a selection of French wines during the cocktail hour, led by a wine expert. Naturally, French Champagne will be a priority for any Francophile’s wedding!

The food will be one of the highlights at a French-inspired wedding. You can really make a splash during the cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres such as canapes and mini quiches and stations overflowing with French cheeses (Brie in puff pastry!) and fresh baguettes. For dinner, consider serving classic French fare like escargots, poulet a la Provencale (chicken sauteed with white wine, capers, garlic, leeks and tomatoes), or filet mignon (make it special by topping it with a tasty French sauce). Follow with either a regular tiered wedding cake with a French design such as fleur-de-lis, or opt for the authentic French wedding cake, the croquembouche.

Little French touches can be infused throughout the rest of the wedding. The bride can wear a gown made from French lace paired with glamorous bridal jewelry. Music is a wonderful way to convey a mood at a wedding, so why not treat your guests to classic French songs such as those by Edith Piaf, the beloved French chantuese. Splits of French Champagne or wine could be the wedding favors, perhaps personalized with a tag reading “merci”. The style and romance of France is a wonderful source of inspiration for a memorable and chic wedding.

International Wedding Hors D’oeuvres

Weddings are all about blending families and cultures, everything from your great-aunt’s wedding jewelry to your fiance’s family church. Beyond wedding jewelry and the like, another fantastic opportunity for mixing cultures is with the wedding food. Here are some great suggestions for an international array of wedding hors d’oeuvres.

Asian food is very popular and it makes a great place to begin planning your international wedding hors d’oeuvres menu. Fried wontons with little dipping sauces are a sure-fire hit. Another delicious appetizer idea is tiny mu shu pancakes tied with a piece of scallion or other edible tidbits. Little cups of egg drop soup will be much enjoyed by guests on a cool evening.

Greek cuisine offers many tasty appetizer options for wedding cocktail hours. You can bet that guests will gobble up mini pitas stuffed with gyro meat, feta, and a cool cucumber sauce.  Phyllo triangles filled with spinach and goat cheese are elegant and delicious, perfect for a passed tray of appetizers. Stuffed grape leaves are another excellent addition to the cocktail hour menu.

Mexican and Spanish cuisine offer many more delicious ideas for the wedding cocktail hour. Empanadas are loved for their savory/sweet combination, and the closed shape of them makes them an easy food to eat while standing up. Mini tacos or chimichangas may remind the bride too much of sports bar food, but guess what: the guys at the reception will wolf them down. Or arrange for a Spanish tapas bar, serving all the little bites which are so popular: everything from olives, battered squid, chorizo, cured meats, cheeses, and small pieces of bread. A tapas station is an upscale addition to any wedding reception.

Your around the world appetizers stations can also include Japanese sushi, Italian antipasto, and maybe even something American like comfort food (mashed potato shooters, anyone?) or soul food. Whichever cultures and cuisines you choose to represent, one thing is for sure: your guests will not leave your wedding hungry!

Grooms’ Favorite Wedding Ideas

Everyone knows that weddings are really the bride’s purview. Yet these days, grooms are more involved than ever in the wedding planning process, and many of them are bringing their own ideas into play. Here are some of the favorite ideas that grooms have contributed to their weddings.

If you ask any groom what part of the wedding concerns him the most, he is likely to say the food. One trend that grooms can really get behind is serving comfort food, especially for the cocktail hour. Pigs in blankets on silver platters, sleeves of crispy fresh “pommes frites” (french fries), milkshake shots and mac and cheese cups are all high on the list of things that grooms really love to see on their menu. Serve these foods, and you can bet that your guests will love them as well.

Another idea that grooms really go for is the groom’s cake. These cakes are custom made by specialty bakers in a design that represents an interest of the groom’s. It could be a cake shaped like his dog, or sculpted to look like his favorite car, or even the helmet of his favorite NFL team. The point is that the groom’s cake is one part of the wedding that is all about him, even in the most formal and traditional white wedding. Best of all, the groom’s cake is traditionally chocolate.

Something else that grooms love is to have some sort of activity at the wedding reception, beyond dancing and eating. Casino nights have become a popular form of entertainment at some weddings. It can be done in a very hip sort of way (although not every bride is going to go for this idea, no matter how well it is executed). This can tie in well with groomsmen gifts that have a poker theme. The nice thing about those types of groomsmen gifts is that they are a signal to the groom’s buddies that he still intends to hang with them on poker night after he is married.

The more the groom becomes involved with planning his wedding, the better. It will give him a chance to be a part of the festivities, and it also gives the bride a fresh take on what a wedding should be like. When the bride and groom plan their wedding together, the day will feel even more special to both of them.

Family Style Wedding Receptions

One of the more popular ideas for a wedding reception is to serve the food family style. At this type of party, all of the food is placed on the table in large platters that are passed around, rather than having a waiter serve each guest an individual plate of food. Family style service can be less stuffy than traditional plated dinners, and yet more gracious than a buffet. Here are some ideas on how to arrange for a family style wedding reception that your guests will love.

Family style catering ties in with the trend favoring fewer long reception tables over many small round ones. The idea is that this type of set-up is more relaxed and convivial, allowing for a welcoming and intimate reception. It is almost like everyone just happened to stop by your house for an impromptu gathering over good food and great conversation. Sort of like what happens at the end of that show “Everyday Italian” on the Food Network, where all of Giada de Laurentiis’ friends and neighbors show up for a casual yet elegant feast in her backyard.

Certainly, there are some occasions when family style service might seem out of place. For instance, if you are planning a black tie wedding, with everyone in their most formal attire and special handmade wedding jewelry, the more traditional plated dinner service would be much more appropriate. Family style service also tends to limit your menu options more than a buffet or food stations, so that is another consideration.

The types of food that work best for family style service are generally the ones that most families like to eat together. Italian is a very popular choice. It is easy to get good Italian food, it is not particularly expensive, and almost everyone likes it. Italian cuisine is also a great idea if you will be having some vegetarians at your wedding. It is quite simple to have one platter with a meat-free pasta, and another with meatballs and sausages for those guests who enjoy meat. Comfort food is another fantastic option for a family style wedding reception. Your guests will be delighted to be served classics like homemade mac and cheese, slices of meatloaf, and bowls of yummy veggies. When you are looking for a way to unite your friends and families into one big happy group, you might just find that family style service at your reception is the perfect answer.

Country Wedding Details

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Country style is always comfortable, never stiff or formal. When planning a country style wedding, keep that in mind when selecting your reception venue. Instead of a fancy ballroom or a generic hall, consider places like meadows, rustic barns, and country inns. These are places where you can create the welcoming sort of atmosphere that epitomizes the country.

Food is an important part of a celebration. For a country wedding, plan a menu with foods that are familiar and unfussy. They don’t need to be fancy – just delicious! Ideas include down home favorites like country ham, homemade macaroni and cheese, and fresh berries.

For drinks, big glass jugs of lemonade would be the perfect refreshment. Iced tea would be another good drink to have on hand – sweetened if you live in the South or unsweetened if you are a Northern bride.

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Fresh and casual flowers like gerbera daisies, wildflowers, or poppies would be beautiful. You can arrange them in simple glass vases, pop them into galvanized steel buckets, or even loosely arrange them in white pitchers (a basketweave design would be ideal). Another idea is to choose potted flowers displayed in baskets. Tie a gingham ribbon around the basket for a lovely country detail.

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The bride’s attire should also have a less formal look. Fabrics like linen, Swiss dot, or organdy would be lovely choices. The idea is to choose a gown that makes sense in your setting and enhances your theme.

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Your accessories should also look at home in your setting. Handmade wedding jewelry would be beautiful for the bride and her bridesmaids. Look for wedding jewelry that has been handmade with fine details like freshwater pearls and sterling silver. When you find the right pieces, you will have the pleasure of being able to wear them again after the wedding.

Whether you grew up in the country, or are a city girl looking to create a welcoming environment for your reception, you can’t go wrong adding some country details to your wedding. The warm and relaxed feeling of a country wedding will make it a day that everyone will enjoy.

Festive Food Presentation

Did you know that when Jacqueline Bouvier married John F. Kennedy, the wedding luncheon consisted of a fruit cup, creamed chicken, and ice cream in the shape of a rose? That was just what you served at a wedding in those days, even at the Wedding of the Year. Today, even couples having very small or inexpensive weddings want to dish up elaborate feasts that will wow their guests.

It is not just the food that makes a statement, it is the presentation, as well. In fact, sometimes the way in which food is presented can be even more important than the food itself. Some couples will still serve their wedding dinner in the usual way (similar to a typical restaurant), but many are looking for ways to make a memorable statement with the food displays or to tie them into a theme.

For serving stations, couples will often create a theme at each station that ties in with the food. One wedding that I attended had an enormous seafood station in the middle of the room. The stage was set with nautical paraphernalia, such as crates and draped ropes, oysters on the half-shell, and so forth. The display was almost as impressive as the food: mountains of lobster tails, crab claws, peeled shrimp, oysters, and mussels.

Another festive way to present food is in individual bites. One chic trend is to serve a small appetizer in a porcelain spoon. The appetizers make a very attractive display for the cocktail hour. For a cold weather wedding, try serving tasty soups in shot glasses.

When considering the presentation of the food at your reception, don’t forget to dress the table as beautifully as the food. Using special napkins can go a long way towards adding style to the place settings. Pick linens that coordinate with the rest of the wedding. For example, if you are wearing a lot of classic pearl bridal jewelry, you can select napkins with a pearl edge.  It is a gorgeous way to tie it all together.

Every couple wants their wedding and reception to be one that their guests will always remember. A large part of the impression at a reception is created by the food. Serving the best foods in a festive presentation is the perfect way to make your wedding stand out.

How to Pull Off a Multi-Cultural Wedding

Marriage is the union of two people, their families, and their cultures. Paying tribute to your cultural heritage is a way to make your wedding feel more meaningful. However, it can pose a challenge when the bride and groom come from very different ethnic backgrounds. With a little creativity and an open mind, it is possible to blend two contrasting cultures into one fabulous multi-cultural wedding.

The main areas to consider spicing up with your culture’s traditions are the food, attire, and décor. The best way to handle a variety of flavors is with individual serving stations. That way, foods from different backgrounds can co-exist, but they don’t have to inhabit the same plate (it would be pretty unappetizing to serve, say, Tandoori chicken and haggis side by side!).

For attire, the bride may wish to wear the classic white American wedding gown during the ceremony, and then change into another dress for the reception. Choose a second dress that is representative of wedding garb in your culture, such as a red dress for Chinese heritage, or a beautiful sari for an Indian bride.

Strong marriages are built on compromise and acceptance of differences between the husband and wife. Your wedding is the ideal time to start building this foundation. Instead of favoring the heritage of one person over another, with a little planning, it is possible to combine the cultures of both the bride and groom into one fantastic multi-cultural wedding.