When brides used to research wedding reception menu ideas, it used to be all about food. The wedding food you serve at your reception is still important, but there has been a popular trend among the bridal community that’s taken off in recent years.
Have you thought about how your wedding reception food will be set up? That question has led many brides to learn about food stations and why they’re so great for weddings. Wedding food stations are an easy way to create an appealing display for any kind of food, which makes them fun to work with.
Read on to learn about ten amazing wedding food station ideas that will wow your guests. They won’t be able to resist snacking on whatever food station you decide to set up, since it’ll be an eye catching, mouthwatering place to pick out a bite to eat.
Wedding Food Ideas
1. Salty or Sweet Popcorn Station
If you spend time looking around online at all the different wedding food station posts, brides on a budget may be worried about how expensive they are to set up. Every station can be totally changed to work with the budget you have, like printing out food labels and signs at home.
The food at each station can be cheap too. Popcorn is a crowd-pleasing food station that won’t cost a lot to make. Fill large buckets or decorate glass containers with different kinds of popcorn and label each one. Make sure to set out bowls of cute popcorn bags so everyone has something to scoop their popcorn into.
2. Grazing Fruit and Crackers Table
A food station that works great with five star venues and black tie weddings is a fruit and crackers table. It’s easy finger food that pairs well with wine and champagne, without seeming too casual.
The trick is to combine the right kinds of cheese, crackers and fruit. A good example would be to set out sliced French bread and crackers with sliced green apples, grapes and goat cheese.
Spend some time researching combinations that sound most appealing to you, and that would go well with the reception food that would follow.
3. Candy Buffet Station
Everyone loves a little something sweet, especially at a celebration. A candy buffet is super easy to set up and budget for. Most candy can be bought in bulk bags and glass jars are sold at many discount stores.
This is a great food station for weddings that will have kids in attendance, since they can run up and grab a handful whenever they’d like. Plus, what’s more fun than having a wedding dinner menu filled with candy?!
4. Steaming Seafood Station
Guests won’t expect a steaming seafood station, which is exactly why it will wow them. Fresh seafood is an amazing treat to offer your guests, especially when they can serve it for themselves.
Make sure to choose the best side dishes that will work with a seafood station. At the front of the station, you may set up crab legs. Sides that could be lined up down the station may be roasted vegetables, french fries or even deviled eggs.
5. Cake Slice Table
When it’s time for dessert, don’t worry about having anyone cut and serve cake all night. Set up a cake slice table, where pre-cut cake slices will await your guests. Serve different kinds of cake for a gorgeous visual variety of flavors like chocolate, red velvet and vanilla.
6. Donut Wall Station
Donuts are another super affordable way to provide a bunch of dessert for a large group of guests. Make them fun to look at and even more fun to eat by creating a donut wall station. Each donut can hang on a pegged board and be picked off by each guest, since the donuts can be displayed without needing to be covered.
7. Mini Pie Bar
Mini foods work great with food stations because they’re so easy to grab and go. Fall or winter brides may want to serve warm pies at their reception, so why not add a twist and make them mini? Mini pies can be decoratively displayed on trays and stands at a mini pie bar, drawing in guests who want a taste of this and a taste of that.
8. Cookie Tray Station
Cookies are one of the best kinds of wedding desserts that any bride can serve. They’re loved by almost everyone and can be a made a million different ways, making it easy to cater to guests with different dietary needs.
Set up a cookie tray station to make your reception stand out. The varying kinds of cookies will make the visual display all on their own, but you can still add decorative trays or doilies that match your wedding theme.
9. Chips and Dip Table
A food station can also serve as the way your guests can snack during cocktail hour or as appetizers at your reception. That’s why many brides create a chips and dip table. Have fun picking out what kinds of chips and dips will be available for guests, since there are so many to choose from.
Classics like tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole will definitely be a crowd pleaser, but you can also do something different. Set out bowls of melted cheese dips or even potato chips and sour cream, depending on what foods work best with your reception meal.
10. Ice Cream Station
If you’re looking to enjoy a bowl of ice cream at your wedding, you don’t have to wait until you get home to raid the freezer afterwards. You can rent an ice cream station so everyone can enjoy a sweet cold treat together.
The great bonus of ice cream stations is that it’s the last thing any guest will expect. Set out a freezer station with different ice creams that can be scooped into bowls or cones. Make sure to provide toppings like chocolate syrup, cookie crumbles and sprinkles for anyone who wants to add to their dessert.
Consider Your Wedding Food Menu
As you think about which food station is right for your wedding, think about your menu. What will guests eat as the main course? That’s a good starting point for figuring out which appetizers, snacks and desserts will make a great complementary food station for your wedding.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!
