Back in the day, weddings were notorious for bad bridesmaid dresses and even worse food. But thankfully, both of those things have majorly changed in the past 10+ years. Now, foodie couples and their guests can actually appreciate thoughtful wedding menus that actually feel like you ate at a 5-star restaurant and not your grandma’s catering hall. (And yes, there’s even a chance that you’ll get to hear this longed-after compliment: “That was the BEST wedding food I’ve ever had!”)
We asked our favorite wedding pros to share the wedding menu ideas that are popular right now—and that they think wedding guests will love in 2022-2024. So say goodbye to dry chicken breast and salmon as your only entrée choice. These food ideas will help you craft the perfect wedding menu!
WGM Says: Once you finalize your wedding menu, elevate your guests’ experience by putting it on paper! Minted has a great selection of wedding menu cards that you can match to your invites, or choose a completely new design. Our current favorite? The classically beautiful ‘Botanic’.
The Best Wedding Menu Trends
Here is what vendors are currently seeing across the country when it comes to wedding menus.
Menus that involve an experience
A wedding is an experience after all, so there’s no reason the food scene at weddings can’t be equally experiential, notes Keith Willard, owner of Keith Willard Events in Oakland Park, Florida. “A good example of this is a company called Frost321, which uses nitrogen to freeze alcohol and then adds the makings for ice cream to create alcoholic ice cream,” he says. “Not only is it unique, but the act of using nitrogen creates a billowing cloud and the ice cream is made in small batches, which allows the guests to create their own kind of alcoholic ice cream with the flavor and liquor of their choice.”
Farm (or ranch) to table
As a venue in a ranching community, Kathie Jacobsen, owner of La Joya Dulce in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, often sees a demand for farm-to-market menus. “As a destination, couples are obsessed with providing wonderful meals for all of their guests and are providing beautiful options for vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, and omnivores by being environmentally conscious and asking caterers to source locally,” she says. “This theme allows for organic presentations at charcuterie tables with local cheeses, vegetables, and fruits dominating—complete with greenery from the [farm] being used as part of the décor and presentation.”
Designer food-designated bars
Another fun trend that Jacobsen is seeing is food-designated designer bars for the main course or dessert. This includes potato bars, pasta bars, pizzas or mac and cheese bars, and even ice cream bars where attendants build the dish based on personal preference.
“[You] can customize these designer bars for certain guests who might be vegan or gluten-free, for example,” she says. “We can offer gluten-free cauliflower pasta along with marinara, topped with peas as a substitute for pasta with Bolognese and a meatball.”
WGM Says: Since the pandemic, the buffet has become a less popular option, with guests instead opting for food bars as mentioned above, or family-style meals served on decorative platters for each table.
Home recipes with a twist
“Over the last couple of years, weddings have become more intimate, and who you celebrated with became more specific,” says Willard. “The idea of taking Grandma’s pork rib recipe, adding some interesting twists, and then plating it in a different way, takes the old and makes it new again. Plus, couples can talk about the fact that the dish is anchored in family history.”
WGM Says: Let your wedding theme influence everything from your decor to your food choices. For instance, a vintage wedding venue with a Tuscan vibe calls for rustic Italian dishes such as braised short ribs and tomatoes and burrata. And don’t forget to match your wedding stationery. A printed wedding menu design, like this ‘Farm and Field’ design from Minted, will help accentuate a rustic food theme.
Sauces
Yes, sauces—they’re having a serious moment right now in the culinary world and are being emphasized at weddings, according to Willard. “The little squiggle on the plate looks like a beautiful decoration, but chefs really wanted guests to use that sauce while eating the meal. Now they are being more obvious with it but putting it right next to the food item or on top of it,” he says. “The sauces are also getting more complex. For example, in the past, you might have seen a champagne lemon sauce but now they are adding an array of spices, peppers, salts, etc. to create a layered experience.”
Miniature versions
Mini versions of comfort food are making a big appearance at weddings this summer, according to Nora Sheils, co-founder of Rock Paper Coin and founder of Bridal Bliss. “Whether it’s as cocktail hour food or late-night treats, guests are loving mini mac and cheese bites, mini tacos, mini grilled cheese, and all the yummy comfort food in small versions so you can enjoy several of them,” she says. Paula Ramirez, owner of Historic Mankin Mansion Private Wedding & Event Estate in Richmond, Virginia has also seen this trend come about, especially for appetizers. “The good news is that many things can be made mini—from shots of soup and tiny avocado toasts to smaller versions of a chicken and waffles,” she says.
You Might Also Like: Mini Wedding Food That is Almost Too Cute to Eat
Surprise late-night bites
The longer the party goes, the more likely there will be late-night bites, which is a great thing for hungry guests. “From food carts rolling up, to a pedicab driving around the reception to a dancer or aerial artists passing items, it will be a food experience that guests will love,” says Sheils. “Logistics are key here—you will want to time it right and make sure these items are passed in an area where most guests will be towards the end of the night!”
WGM Says: If you’re prioritizing a late-night snack, go easy on the desserts. A smaller wedding cake in lieu of a massive dessert table will be more economical, and won’t leave guests completely stuffed!
Bespoke desserts
Large cakes have been out for years and, in their place, macaroons, pies, lady fingers, cupcakes and cake pops have reigned supreme, notes Jacobsen. “This allows alternatives that provide a sensory experience, from crunchy to gooey, as well as ensuring that guests can graze whenever they want and do not need to be served cake,” she says. “Find a local bakery that has desserts that not only look good but taste good.”
Our Favorite Wedding Menu Designs
Make your guests really feel like they’re fine-dining with a custom menu placed at each seat. Here are a few of our favorite designs from Minted.
Wildflower Wreath
While warm-weather weddings might come to mind with this floral design, the colors also work perfectly for a fall wedding.
Arcadia
A simple yet chic wedding menu like the ‘Arcadia’ design will blend in with any table decor, and allow your dishes to shine.
Inky
A wedding menu that would fit in just as well at a black-tie ballroom or a modern loft, the colors can be customized to fit your wedding theme.
Wavy
Eclectic lines add a touch of quirkiness to your wedding menu. Keep the ‘wavy’ theme going with flowing chiffon chair sashes.
Watercolor Tile
Paying homage to beautiful Portugese tiles, I could see this working perfectly for a garden wedding where guests dine al fresco under the stars.
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