6 wedding foods that you should include in your wedding planning

As a Chicago wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed that the wedding food is one of the most important parts of the day. After selecting your venue, it often takes the biggest portion of your budget.

The type of dinner you serve sets the tone for your celebration, whether you’re going for formal, laid-back, or culturally infused. From breakfast, while getting ready to late-night snacks on the dance floor, food plays a major role in keeping your wedding guests happy and the day flowing smoothly.

1. Breakfast, Brunch, or Lunch During Getting Ready for Wedding

Your wedding day will likely start early, so it’s essential to fuel up with a good breakfast, brunch, or lunch depending on your timeline.

If you’re getting ready with friends or family, make sure to order something light yet filling, like sandwiches, fruits, or snacks, to keep everyone energized. Staying hydrated is equally important. When you’re running on adrenaline, it’s easy to forget to eat, but having these snacks available in the wedding foods list will help you stay focused and feel your best.

2. Snacks and Drinks After the Ceremony

Once the formal ceremony is over, it’s time to celebrate! Whether you’re traveling to your reception venue in a trolley, limo, or party bus, having light snacks and drinks on board is a great way to keep spirits high.

Just remember to go easy on the alcohol before your photo session. You want to feel celebratory and relaxed but still look fresh and full of energy in the pictures.

3. Cocktail Hour for Guests

While you’re finishing up your photos or prepping for the reception, your guests will enjoy the cocktail hour. This is when they mingle, sip on cocktails, and snack on appetizers while waiting to be seated.

The cocktail hour is a fun and relaxed prelude to the main event and gives everyone a chance to unwind and chat.

4. Wedding Dinner: Buffet or Plated?

When it’s time for dinner, you have two main options: buffet or plated. The type of service you choose will depend on your preferences, cultural traditions, and guest expectations.

• Buffet: Buffets work best for weddings that feature a wide variety of dishes, especially for Mexican, Indian, or Persian cuisine. These meals typically have a lot of side dishes, making it impractical to serve as a plated meal. Buffets give guests the opportunity to try a little of everything, but they do add an extra 30-45 minutes to the timeline, as the DJ will likely call each table up one by one.
  
• Plated: American-style weddings often opt for a plated dinner where guests pre-select options like chicken, beef, fish, or a vegetarian dish. Plated dinners are more structured and take less time than a buffet but are more limited in food variety.

5. Dessert: The sweet part of the wedding foods

Dessert follows dinner, and this is where you can get creative based on your style and budget. Some couples choose to serve a large wedding cake, while others offer a dessert table filled with a variety of sweets. A dessert table provides options for guests to pick and choose, creating a more dynamic experience.

6. Late-Night Snacks

If your wedding features a high-energy dance floor, consider offering late-night snacks. As the party continues, your guests will likely work up an appetite again.

Popular late-night snacks include pizza, hot dogs, tacos, or other quick bites that are easy to serve and eat. Offering these snacks ensures your guests stay fueled and ready to celebrate into the night.

The wedding food, from beginning to end, is more than just a meal. It reflects your wedding’s vibe, keeps your guests happy, and adds to the overall experience of your big day.

Whether you go buffet or plated, serve late-night snacks, or stick to tradition, remember that the choices you make will set the mood for the celebration. And as your wedding photographer, I’ll be there to capture all of these delicious moments!